The number of places for military veterans to train as HGV drivers will significantly increase under new plans to better prepare service leavers for employment following their military careers.
Under the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) – the Ministry of Defence’s official scheme for those transitioning from the military into civilian life – the current provision of 100 training places will increase to nearly 350 places over the next 12 months.
Courses are available in Cat C, Cat C&E, Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) and ADR (dangerous goods), opening up a range of employment opportunities to service leavers.
Minister for Defence, People and Veterans, Leo Docherty said:
This fantastic initiative will provide service leavers and veterans with valuable skills and opportunities to help them find employment as they leave the military, while aiding a cross-government effort to increase the number of HGV-trained drivers.
“Military service gives you skills for life. This crucial support to those who have served in our nation’s military is our priority, and I am delighted with the opportunity this expansion provides.”
The new training places are made possible because an exemption has been applied to allow veterans and service leavers to use their Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC[1]) to train as HGV drivers.
ELCs can normally only be used for qualifications that are Level 3 or above, on the national Regulated Qualification Framework.
However, this exemption qualifies HGV driver training – usually Level 2 – for ELC funding.
Although an extra 240 training places are being made available, there is the capacity to increase places depending on interest.
