HGV apprenticeship starts are at the highest level since the pandemic, with an increasing number of older learners seeking out the training route according to the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI).
Total HGV pathway starts reached 1,507 in 2024/25, an increase of 1.8% year-on-year. The IMI said heavy vehicle service and maintenance technician was the dominant pathway, accounting for 80.6% of starts, with steady growth over time.
Over five years, starts have increased by 47%, rising from a low in 2020/21 during the Covid-19 pandemic to a peak last year.
The IMI said growth has been modest and stable since 2022/23, indicating a return to more consistent training activity.
Emma Carrigy, head of research and public affairs at the IMI, said: “We are seeing strong signs of steady growth in HGV apprenticeship starts after a sharp decline during the pandemic.
“Indeed, apprenticeship starts have increased by 47% since 2020/2021 and now sit at the highest level for the last five years. However, growth in the last year has been modest at just 1.8% year-on-year, which probably reflects economic pressures on businesses.
“Whilst heavy vehicle service and maintenance technicians remain the backbone of the HGV workforce, accounting for over 80% of starts, there is a shift in demand.
“Bus and Coach Engineering Technician apprenticeships are now the fastest growing pathway, most probably driven by investment in public transport, fleet changes and the transition to zero-emission vehicles,” she said.
“A particularly notable trend in the HGV apprenticeship landscape is the percentage of older learners rather than school leavers, compared to the wider automotive sector.
“HGV pathways attract significantly more over 25s, underlining the opportunities for adults looking to change career or upskill. The sector’s dependence on levy funding however, means the security of adult learners is sensitive to policy or funding changes.”
Carrigy added: “Supporting flexible training routes, protecting adult learner funding and aligning standards with emerging technologies will be critical to sustaining growth and meeting future HGV workforce needs.”
IMI figures also showed a 6% fall in automotive apprenticeship starts for the 2025/26 academic year, which was between 20-25% below pre-pandemic levels.
Its report found that the sector was still heavily reliant on employer funding for apprenticeships; in Q1 of the 2025/26 academic year, 45% of automotive apprenticeships starts were levy funded, compared to an all-sector average of 63%.
