A government scheme to train HGV drivers and fix a skills shortage in the industry has been extended to February 2026, with one training specialist awarded £10m in funding.

The Skills Bootcamp in HGV Driving was launched in December 2021 and offers flexible, 16-week courses for people to build up sector-specific skills.

HGVC said the scheme had made a big difference to the driver shortage and it had now been given the maximum possible allocation of £10m to train a further 1,828 candidates over the next two years.

HGVC will focus solely on supporting employers looking to upskill their staff, either by gaining their category C and category C+E licences, or by helping those already holding a category C licence upgrade to C+E.

HGVC will deliver partially funded courses, with large organisations with over 250 employees being offered a 70% contribution to HGV driver training.

For SMEs with under 250 staff, a 90% subsidy is available.

HGVC said its programmes had secured a record number of applications from women, ethnic minorities and younger people.

Since April 2023, more than 7% of HGVC’s trainees have been women, significantly more than the 1% of women who are HGV drivers in the UK.

In addition, more than 25% of trainees have been black, Asian, or from other ethnically diverse groups; currently, just 4% of HGV drivers are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

James Clifford, chief executive of HGVC, said: “This is a hugely positive initiative that the government is undertaking and something that we are proud to again be a part of.

“The Skills Bootcamps have made a big difference to the driver shortage, yet there’s more that needs to be done. This is a long-term issue that requires an equally long-term solution.”

The courses are available at 60 locations across the country and employers can apply at: www.hgvc.co.uk/bootcamp

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