Amazon is training over 400 new HGV drivers, the first of which will be available for work in the UK later this month.
Since May, more than 400 employees from Amazon’s network of fulfilment centres, sort centres and delivery stations have started their company-funded truck driver training. The first will be available for work later this month, helping to plug a shortage of drivers in the haulage industry.
Career Choice is an innovative programme that provides funding for adult education, offering to pre-pay 95% of tuition and associated fees for nationally recognised courses, up to £8,000 over four years. Courses available range from accountancy to HGV drivers and software developers, and are designed to help employees pursue careers at Amazon or elsewhere.
£10 million investment over three years
In May, Amazon announced that it is investing £10 million over three years in Career Choice to train up to 5,000 employees in new skills to meet the UK’s future employment needs outside of Amazon. Amazon is also partnering with the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and local businesses on the programme to identify regional skills shortages and focus training on local demand.
“We’re delighted to be able to support more than 400 of our employees to achieve their ambition to become HGV drivers through our Career Choice programme and play a part in helping to boost the haulage industry.”
“We’re proud of the front-line roles we offer across Amazon, and we also know that they will be a stepping stone for some in their career journey. For people whose ambitions fall outside of our company, we are pleased to support them by paying for training and academic courses that can support their ambitions.”
– Jonathan Gal, Vice President of UK Operations, Amazon
3 Responses
Hi I want to apply for HGV driving job and I’m already have class 1 and 2 license CPC and digital tachograph what can I do?
learn to text while doing 56mph,
pull out without warning,
sit in lane 2 for miles ,trying to overtake a truck doing 1mph less,
climb up the backside of anything doing less than 56mph
at roadworks,
Ohhh Amazon will not fanny about they will and are in a position to throw money at it and sort it for themselves., No sticking plaster fixes here.
I reckon there is going to be a lot of issues this Christmas with the logistics chains for a lot of companies and a few will go under. Former employer of mine as trebled the rate for their 7.5 ton drivers as they simply cannot keep the drivers now.
It will however still come down to the pay ( not these one of bonuses) and working conditions.
Bet there are a ton of caveats for those drivers however