As Edward Downie, Fleet Director at Bacton Logistics in Suffolk, explains: “We can never say we have enough drivers. That’s because people are leaving the industry faster than the industry is able to recruit new people. It’s not just down to pay and conditions either; personal factors (such as family or career needs) play a big part in people’s decisions to leave.
“As a result, driver recruitment is an ongoing process. We need a steady supply of skilled operators to grow our fleet, and a pool of experienced agency drivers to help us respond rapidly to changes in customer demand. That’s a challenge, particularly in a competitive jobs market.”
Government funding unlocks training for SMEs
Edward first became aware of Skills Bootcamps through the Road Haulage Association magazine. He was particularly interested because the Department for Education funds the courses through its Skills for Life programme. “Thanks to that funding, SMEs like us only pay 10% of the costs – which is a huge incentive to make full use of the training on offer.”
Having done further due diligence, Edward realised that a government approved training provider Insite (formerly HGVC) “held the key to our needs”. Insite is a leading logistics training partner and the largest provider of HGV Skills Bootcamps nationally and regionally.
As Insite’s Senior Account Executive, Aidan James, explains: “We manage the entire HGV and commercial licence acquisition process. That covers everything from eligibility checks to test booking, medicals, theory support, and practical training. We also recruit people for the Skills Bootcamps and introduce suitable candidates to companies, like Bacton Logistics, who are able to offer them jobs.”
“Insite asked us how many drivers we were looking for,” says Edward, “then went out and found them. That meant those on the course knew they were guaranteed an interview at the end of it. Meanwhile, we knew they would be professionally trained and ready to start work.”
From car licence to Class C&E in just 16-weeks
Thanks to reforms introduced during the COVID pandemic, it is now possible for people to go from learning to drive a car to driving an HGV on one course. That means they end up with either a Class 2 (sometimes called class C) licence, which allows them to drive rigid lorries, or a Class 1 (class C & E) licence which permits them to drive fully articulated HGVs.
The HGV Skills Bootcamps last up to 16-weeks and include:
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Onboarding day, including a full medical and applying for a provisional licence if needed
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Theory overview
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Module 1 test (100 multiple choice questions – 85% needed to pass)
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Module 2 hazard perception (interactive videos)
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Practical driver training – 5 days, about 20 hours, for Class 2 (C), or 7 days, about 32 hours for Class 1(C&E)
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About 40 hours for theory training in your own time – self -guided but tracked by Insite through an app to monitor progress
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Module 3A, parallel parking including reversing an articulated trailer into a bay
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Module 3B driving test on local roads and routes
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Module 4, “show me, tell me” how you check and do certain things, including safeguarding.
Matching employee skills to business needs
Bacton Logistics tends to operate more Class 2 vehicles than Class 1. However, Edward saw the Skills Bootcamps as an opportunity to upskill and promote four existing employees to drive Class 1 HGVs. Insite then identified two new recruits for Edward’s colleagues to interview to fill the Class 2 roles.
Bacton Logistics has since upskilled four more team members to Class 1 and recruited a further two Class 2 drivers from Skills Bootcamps commissioned by Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils. Insite handled the whole recruitment and training process, leaving Bacton Logistics to focus on running its business and serving customers across the UK. “Our team had great support from the Insite team, particularly Aidan James,” says Edward.
He was delighted with the calibre of the new recruits too. “They are excellent employees and Insite did a great job of selecting and training them, so they were ready for full time employment. That’s vital if you are to avoid rapid staff turnover, which can happen if they are not properly vetted.”
Driving growth through skills development
Bacton Logistics has been serving UK customers for more than 90 years. It now offers a suite of logistics services, including freight from origin, customs, warehousing and distribution. Its leadership team believes it has a duty to invest in the next generation of talented drivers and other employees.
“It’s in our own interests,” explains Edward. “We’re proud of the fact that we are known to offer good pay, regular, reliable work and good conditions. We need also to be seen as a company that invests in its people and gives them opportunities for career progression. Without that brand reputation, we would find it much harder to retain talent in a highly competitive industry.”
That’s why he is keen to continue using national and regional Skills Bootcamps, as long as government funding remains. “We want to upskill more of our existing workforce, such as our forklift operators, and will consider recruiting more people who complete Skills Bootcamps. There is huge demand across the UK for deliveries, so we are always looking for good people to join us on this growth journey.”
