NORTH EAST charity Aberdeen Foyer has secured funding for LGV (Large Goods Vehicles) training to support at least 20 people to find new careers in the transport sector who are currently unemployed or transitioning from oil and gas.
The grant, secured through the Energy Transition Zone (ETZ) Ltd, a partner in The North East Economic Recovery and Skills Fund, will support people to gain a HGV/LGV Cat ‘C’ driving licence, enabling them to drive rigid vehicles over 7.5 tonnes such as tippers, flat-beds and curtain-sided vehicles.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Why? Free to subscribe, no paywall, daily business news digest.
Training will be delivered by one of Aberdeen Foyer’s social entrprises – Roadwise Driver Training, with support from The Foyer’s Employability team, who will provide practical advice on CV writing, interview techniques and other skills development. In addition, The Foyer will also use its wide network of employer contacts to identify available positions that match the newly attained skills.
To be eligible, individuals must reside in either Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire, be aged 18 years or over and hold a clean driving licence (Category B). Priority will be given to those who have been displaced from the oil and gas sector and/or those from under-represented communities. The courses will be available to access from now until the end of March 2022.
Anne Kain, Aberdeen Foyer’s head of employability said:
“We’re delighted to receive this funding from The ETZ, which enables us to provide valuable reskilling support for people impacted by the recent downturn in the oil and gas sector. Many companies are experiencing high demand for LGV drivers due to Covid, Brexit and other economic issues. This funding opens up training to connect people with employment opportunities that they may not have been able to access otherwise.”
Jurgita Mikeleviciute, Roadwise Driver Training Lead commented:
“An HGV / LGV (Category C) licence provides great opportunities for employment across many different sectors – short-haul to international distribution and logistics. Being a lorry driver has long been regarded as a stable career choice with plenty of options and career progression, so we’re delighted to be able to offer these funded spaces to people who find themselves out of work and looking to transition out of oil and gas. Thanks to The ETZ we can provide further support to help people in the North East turn their lives around.”
ETZ Ltd Director, Andy Rodden, said:
“It is widely recognised there is a skills shortage within the transportation sector and this has adversely impacted the North East’s domestic supply chain. I’m delighted that ETZ Ltd is allocating funding to help address this issue by providing LGV training courses to unemployed individuals allowing them transition into new careers. We’re also pleased to be partnering with Aberdeen Foyer to deliver this programme. It’s an exceptional organisation helping lift many people out of poverty.”
The North East Economic Recovery and Skills Fund (NEERSF), which is managed by Aberdeen City Council with its supporting partners, is delivering 29 employment, upskilling, reskilling, business growth and innovation projects that will benefit more than 3,000 people across the region. The project’s focus is on entrepreneurship; accelerated business start-up, development and growth; increasing digital skills in the workforce; equality and inclusion; and upskilling and reskilling people to enter or remain in work and take advantage of new, green jobs as part of the energy transition.
If you’re an individual who is interested in applying for the training, or an organisation who is looking for LGV drivers, please email Pauline Dick, Aberdeen Foyer Development Coach at: [email protected]
