class C/HGV training help

webmonkeyuk · 22 Oct 2009 at 19:34

ok so alittle back ground first, im 29 and have been unemployed for 6 months and im currently thinking i really need a career skill after just doing general retail work/shop work since i left school any way ive allways fancyed doing transport logistic work dunno why really just i think id enjoy been out on my own driving around the UK, i know not everyone would enjoy doing that part of the job but id be fine with it. ive been doing a bit of research and your looking at about £2000+ for the 2 licences.

so on to the point of my post, as im unemployed theres no way to afford this much for the licences, so id been into see my advisor in the jobcenter and id asked about this as a career path but to be honest i felt like i was wasting my time asking as i was told theres very little work out there for hgv drivers and when i asked if i could get any help with the training costs she said because i wasnt a lone parent,had health problems or had low skills level there wasnt much they could do for me. is there any options out there for me with been unemployed? at the moment i feel like im not getting anywhere in life and id really like to have some sort of career skill. the only other thing i can see to do is get a loan somehow and work towards a class C licence and then hopefully get a job and save for the Hgv part.

Sorry for the long post its just been abit of a rubbish few months and the jobcenter moron today kinda tiped me over the edge today :rolleyes:

shauncr91 · 22 Oct 2009 at 19:37

Try motors, I'm sure the lorry driver guy with a name that can't be remembered will help you

Skeptic · 22 Oct 2009 at 19:57

Mate, with respect, the job centre lady was telling you the truth. My dad is in a similar position (though he doesn't need a job, he's doing so to pass the time until retirement - so it's not directly comparable). He had an interview today, 200 applicants, 25 shortlisted, one job - £6 per hour. This was class 2, but there's simply not that much work out there.

For two grand there's much better training options, IMO.

webmonkeyuk · 22 Oct 2009 at 20:01

ive been looking around on the net and some jobcenters around the uk have been doing hgv training for unemployed from time to time so it is out there for some people, ive also had alook on the jobcenter website and there was 12 current jobs for transport driving so there are some out there i guess it depends on the time of the year though and where you live also has some say on the amount of jobs too

Skeptic · 22 Oct 2009 at 20:04

Yes there will be jobs, that wasn't my point. There will be few jobs, with millions of applicants - and realistically, a newly trained driver wouldn't stand a chance of getting the position. I'm sorry, but that's reality. I know you've had a bad day, but it's probably for the best. I reckon the man with the lorry name as his sig will come and agree.

How about Taxiing? Can be long distance, and can possibly earn some decent money if you get the correct fares.

utajoker · 22 Oct 2009 at 20:14

my class C cost me £800 last year, to get into it you best going through agencies to do temp stuff rather than straight for positions in companies.

Scania · 24 Oct 2009 at 07:09

fus said:
Yes there will be jobs, that wasn't my point. There will be few jobs, with millions of applicants - and realistically, a newly trained driver wouldn't stand a chance of getting the position. I'm sorry, but that's reality. I know you've had a bad day, but it's probably for the best. I reckon the man with the lorry name as his sig will come and agree.

Entirely I'm afraid.

Anyway, as for the training bit....

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17922449

I get around · 24 Oct 2009 at 12:54

Woudn't bother mate, you'd be better off going to college or something for that kind of money.
Pretty sure you can get an adult learning grant and you'll still get JSA if your hours are less than full time.

webmonkeyuk · 24 Oct 2009 at 13:34

im kind of thick though so im limited on what i can do job wise

I get around · 24 Oct 2009 at 22:44

Doesn't matter mate, you can do anything you like with enough time and effort. Especially in this day and age, I used to have that frame of mind but now i think, don't limit yourself, find a way into what you want to do.
Perhaps consider an apprenticeship? If you go up to your local college, you can see what they can do for you, earn and get qualifications at the same time. You might as well have a try, especially being unemployed at the moment you have the time to do this kind of thing.

dal · 25 Oct 2009 at 13:58

If your going to do your LGV go for it soon, the run up to Xmas is the best time of year for a LGV driver.
What are you people on about, few jobs and millions of applicants, I'm a agency driver and I've had permanant work for the last 3 months, they ring me up asking if I want weekend work as well.

Scania · 25 Oct 2009 at 14:30

dal said:
If your going to do your LGV go for it soon, the run up to Xmas is the best time of year for a LGV driver.
What are you people on about, few jobs and millions of applicants, I'm a agency driver and I've had permanant work for the last 3 months, they ring me up asking if I want weekend work as well.

"I've had permanent work for the last 3 months" - So I assume prior to that you were not in permanent work? - kind of underlines the issue I think.

The point is the OP wants to start his training now and assuming he passes, will be one of many drivers out there after work.

Without experience, he will struggle to get work plain & simple. Unfortunately plenty of experienced drivers are struggling to find regular work so the chances of the OP being picked out of a list of applicants with experience are slim.

Sure, your working now, don't be too surprised when the work dries up in the New year (which it invariably does).

Your on the ladder as such and by definition are gaining experience, the OP has to get onto the ladder in the first place which in this current climate is a lot harder than it already was.

As far as HGV driving is concerned, 2 years is regarded as "experienced" so the OP has at least 2 years of agency work and / or working for companies that few others want to until he gains the experience to move onto something better.

I wish him luck.