Starting this September, in partnership with one of its subsidiary businesses, Tack TMI, Gi Group will be offering its new Driver Apprenticeship Schemes across the UK.
The scheme will provide candidates with a full support package, from bespoke training to helping each successful candidate to secure their “dream role” once qualified.
Andrew Fletcher, Operations Manager for the South at Gi Group, stresses that the scheme is open to all:
“There is a stigma in the industry around the gender and age of HGV drivers, but this just doesn’t need to be the case. We’re passionate that the future of the industry can be shaped by young, innovative men and women. Driving offers people a flexible working environment and opens up opportunities to work around your life, with the possibility of some serious salaries.”
Gi Group will start its apprentices off at a salary of around £11/£12 per hour, which it says means most applicants won’t see a dip in their income.
Throughout the course of the 12-month programme, there will also be opportunities for individuals to increase their salary as they progress and become further qualified. The courses on offer cover Class 1 and Class 2 qualifications including “hands-on blended learning” throughout.
Sara O’Brien, Head of Partnerships & Sales, Apprenticeships at Tack TMI, believes the trucking profession has a lot to offer:
“People often think of the long hours involved in driving, but we are here to show this career path offers so much more. It provides people with job flexibility and role progression that many warehouse or office-based roles can’t necessarily facilitate. Driving offers the work-life balance that so many crave with the opportunity to earn a really healthy salary.”
Richard Madej, Gi Group’s Operations Manager for the North, added:
“The industry is constantly struggling to attract enough HGV drivers because I just don’t think people realise the impressive benefits and importance of these driving roles. HGV drivers keep the world turning, ensuring goods are seamlessly transported from A to B. 2022 was a particularly challenging year for the industry, with rising inflation, driver and raw material shortages, it left a lot of room for improvement and that’s where we step in. The industry has been so desperate for a pipeline of skilled workers in the past, we hope our new schemes will stop this from happening in the future.”