The government has announced it is ending the HGV Skills Bootcamps programme, a decision that has left many in the transport and logistics industry concerned. The scheme, introduced in 2022, was aimed at tackling the HGV driver shortage by offering a fast-track route into the profession. In its three-year run, more than 20,000 people completed the 16-week training, gained their licences, and found work in haulage.

Now, the Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed it will not be renewing contracts with training providers. All training must end by 30 September 2025, and no new applicants will be accepted.

Ongoing Driver Shortage

The decision comes despite warnings from industry bodies about a continuing shortage of HGV drivers. The Road Haulage Association (RHA) recently reported that the UK needs to bring in over 40,000 new drivers every year just to keep up with demand.

Instead of continuing the national scheme, the DfE has said that future Skills Bootcamps for HGV drivers will be managed by local authorities. But this shift raises questions about availability and consistency. According to the Logistics Skills Network, only three out of twelve mayoral combined authorities — London, Liverpool, and the North East — currently have any funding allocated to HGV training.

This means most of the country will now lack any publicly funded route into HGV driving, apart from apprenticeships. However, apprenticeships require participants to already be employed and last 12 months, making them unsuitable for many jobseekers or those looking to switch careers quickly.

Risk to Jobs and Training Capacity

David Coombes, chair of the Logistics Skills Network, warned that ending the Bootcamps could worsen the driver shortage and damage training capacity across the UK.

“These Bootcamps offered a realistic path for unemployed people and career changers to earn an HGV licence and move into better-paid jobs. Without them, access to training will be limited,” Coombes said.

He also pointed to government research showing that 72% of Bootcamp graduates moved into employment, earning on average £13,000 more than the National

Living Wage. Removing this pathway could reduce the number of new drivers entering the workforce by at least 15,000 per year.

The potential fallout goes further. A recent survey by the Logistics Skills Network found that most HGV training providers rely on Skills Bootcamp funding, with over a third saying the programme accounts for more than half their income. Without it, many training centres may be forced to shut down, sell equipment, and lay off instructors.

Wider Impact on the Economy

There’s also concern that a drop in trained drivers will affect the UK’s ability to keep goods moving. Coombes estimated that a shortfall of 15,000 new drivers could mean 150,000 tonnes of freight going undelivered each day.

This could have knock-on effects for industries that rely on logistics — from retail to construction. The government’s own targets, such as the building of 1.5 million new homes, depend on a functioning transport network to deliver materials.

What Happens Next?

As things stand, most regions in England have no replacement training in place. The shift to locally managed programmes may take time, and without consistent funding, many areas could be left without any formal route into HGV driving.

The industry is now calling on the government to reconsider its decision or at least provide more support to local authorities to ensure continuity. With driver shortages ongoing, and training providers under financial pressure, the end of the Skills Bootcamps could leave a major gap in the logistics sector — one that will be difficult to fill quickly.