Peterborough, UK: The Road Haulage Association has welcomed an increase to the funding limit for Large Goods Vehicles apprenticeships.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has confirmed that funding for C+E apprenticeships will increase to £7,000 from 1 July. Ministers intervened after the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education had previously set a new level at £6,000 which was rejected by the Trailblazer Group for Transport and Logistics, an organisation that helps develop apprenticeship standards.
RHA chief executive, Richard Burnett said the announcement was a step towards resolving the driver shortage but stressed that much more needed to be done. “We’ve worked tirelessly over the last year to unblock this problem and we’re pleased that the government has listened. But this is only one element to help tackle the growing driver shortage crisis.”
“This move will support firms to recruit and train new drivers in the long term, but the industry needs immediate help as the demand for goods increases as lockdown restrictions are lifted.”
He said manufacturers and retailers need to understand that the cost of distribution will rise as pay rates will have to go up.
The RHA has called on the government to put HGV drivers on the Home Office Shortage Occupation List to allow firms to recruit drivers from overseas in the short term.
Logistics UK Tweeted: “Great to learn from the Transport Secretary that the C+E Trailblazers apprenticeship rate is being set at £7,000, thanks to the work of the logistics industry in pressing for full funding to ease existing skills shortages and encourage new starters into the sector.”
