Lorry driver training scheme offers 'second chance'

Paul Brown said training to be a lorry driver had always been a dream, but was previously unaffordable

A free lorry driver training scheme said it had given people who had struggled to find work a chance to succeed.

Road to Logistics was set up during the pandemic and has been offering free training to people in long-term unemployment, ex-offenders, veterans, homeless people and those with neuro-diverse or mental health conditions.

More than 80% of the 400-odd people trained so far were now working full time as drivers.

Paul Brown, one of the trainees, said it had helped him realise his dream.

Mr Brown said he was unemployed and struggled with his mental health before being referred to the programme through his local job centre, with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) contributing to the cost.

He said: "It's been a dream since I was 18, but never had the funds to do it. That's been one of the troubles to get the dream, but at long last I'm here."

The Road to Logistics team had been "amazing", he said, offering continued support.

"When I got in the training truck loved it and just wanted to go again."

Road to Logistics plans to create a hub in Suffolk to tie-in with the amount of haulage work connected to Felixstowe Port, the A14 and the construction of Sizewell C.

Programmes are currently being run in Felixstowe and Ipswich, as well as at Hollesley Bay and Highpoint prisons.

Jennifer Swain, from Road to Logistics, said the programme proved removing barriers helped people succeed

Jennifer Swain, from Road to Logistics, said: "Out of over 400 people we've trained, 83% of them are in full time employment now.

"But considering we are training people who are often marginalised and often overlooked for work, for one reason or another, it shows if you make reasonable adjustments and give the right support, then you remove the barriers and many will succeed."

Julia Nix, from Jobcentre Plus East Anglia, said these kinds of programmes helped more than just the person receiving the training.

She said: "It's a huge amount to find the savings [to train] when you've got a family or a low wage.

"If we can help them come off benefits and get them into work, with a perhaps more substantial amount of money, that allows them and their families to come out of poverty."

Adam Searle said the training was giving people a second chance

CP Transport in Ipswich partners with Road to Logistics to offer training.

Managing director Adam Searle said: "Some people are just unlucky, have had a bad start in life and they're now getting a second chance to get a proper career with good earnings, and a career path that will keep them employed for years to come."