Once apprentices have qualified, they stay with Canute for a further three years in order to cut their teeth. To help them progress at a safe pace, Canute have graded each delivery run so that the difficulty rating of each one is rated from relatively straightforward green through to the more difficult red. This allows drivers to build their confidence and fine-tune their skills with the support and mentorship of driver trainers.
And it’s not just young men who are taking part in the scheme; Nicola says she has begun to see a gradual increase in enquiries from women too. 23-year-old apprentice Hollie Ridley has just completed her Class 1 and 2 licenses and is looking forward to a rewarding career in logistics.
“The scheme is brilliant, extremely fast paced when I look back – it’s only been 8-9 months and I already have my C & C+E license,” says Hollie. “The apprenticeship advisor, the trainers and the senior management team have been unbelievably good with us as they know how it feels to be up and coming in the Heavy Goods industry. The sense of security and satisfaction in my job is unreal!”
Of the six apprentices in Manton Wood, two have already achieved their Class 1 (C+E) licence with a 100% pass rate, and three have attained their Class 2 (C) licence with an 80% pass rate. Nicola adds that many of the apprentices they have taken on have clear ideas about what they want to achieve in life, but don’t always have the means to put those things in place.
“Licence acquisition is very expensive, so giving someone that opportunity and the relevant training means giving them a career for life, and it’s great to be able to make that difference to someone.
“We would be so delighted if other hauliers provided these schemes; for a small investment, it’s a great return – for us and for our drivers.”
For more information on Canute, visit www.canutegroup.com
