HELP IS at hand for men and women leaving the services and seeking a career in heavy goods driving thanks to a package put together by Ritchies Training Centre.
Following our story last month highlighting how training former military personnel could ‘battle’ the UK’s driver shortage, Glasgow based Ritchies have come up with a comprehensive scheme that encompasses training on trucks, buses and plant over a three week course that qualifies for army funding through Enhanced Learning Credits (ELCs) supplied by the military to veterans covering tuition, accommodation and travel, but the credits must be fully used within five years of leaving the services and they only cover 80% of the costs.
Explains Stephen Ritchie: “A large number of army veterans have already qualified for their C Licence by driving rigids, often with drawbars, when in uniform, but the ELCs only apply to training for the next level above i.e. C+E, unless other transport training is involved in the course.
“If paying the 20% training cost is an issue, we are advising prospective trainees to apply for the funding balance through Poppy Scotland who have shown themselves keen to help.”
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