The upcoming National Apprenticeship Week (7-13th February) is being used as an opportunity to showcase new talent.

For example, Seetec Outsource is working with Breedon Group to attract new drivers to tackle the ongoing shortage.

The theme for National Apprenticeship Week is ‘Build the Future’.

Therefore, it is very relevant to the trucking industry and addresses the lack of drivers.

Specifically, a new Urban Driver apprenticeship was highlighted as an achievable goal for many.

The new apprenticeship standard was finally approved for delivery in December 2021.

As a result, Seetec Outsource has supported Breedon Group in recruiting 30 drivers from across the UK to start the apprenticeship.

The Urban Driver apprenticeship is designed to help ease the driver shortage. 

In addition, it hopes to encourage new and younger drivers into the ageing HGV workforce.

Records suggest an estimated 268,000 people were employed as HGV drivers between July 2020 and June 2021. 

Alarmingly, this is 39,000 fewer than in the previous year.

Furthermoe, it is 53,000 fewer than the peak for HGV driver employment four years ago.

As a result, the Urban Driver apprenticeship is more important than ever. 

For example, nearly a quarter of truck drivers are expected to leave the industry in the next three years, according to a survey by Pertemps.

The Urban Driver apprenticeship focuses on short-haul journeys in towns and cities.

Therefore, they are different working pattens to the long hours that put a lot of candidates off.

The apprenticeship provides drivers with a big opportunity. 

For example, they can gain a Class 2 license for vehicles weighing between 3.5 and 32 tonnes in as little as four months.

National Apprenticeship Week opportunities

Several apprentices are now embarking on successful driving careers in the industry.

For example, Michael Gaughan is one of Breedon’s four successful drivers who achieved a distinction in their apprenticeship.

“Driving is providing me with a much-improved work life balance,” he said. 

“I am delighted to have achieved a distinction and I am looking forward to the future with Breedon.”

Meanwhile, Kimberley Jamieson, had now achieved her goal of working in the construction industry. 

“It wasn’t something that was encouraged 15 years ago,” she admitted. “I’d really like to help bring more women into the industry by communicating my positive experience.”