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| Why don't young people want to be HGV drivers? | Why don't young people want to be HGV drivers? |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Shannan Paterson is the sales and operations coordinator of the HGV School in Willenhall. | |
| Alex Jeavons has always wanted to be a lorry driver. | Alex Jeavons has always wanted to be a lorry driver. |
| Last month the 18-year-old from from Bilston, near Wolverhampton, became one of the youngest people in the country to pass his class one HGV Test. | Last month the 18-year-old from from Bilston, near Wolverhampton, became one of the youngest people in the country to pass his class one HGV Test. |
| One logistics firm warned it is struggling to recruit and retain young people. Less than 2% of HGV drivers are under 25 according to data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS). | One logistics firm warned it is struggling to recruit and retain young people. Less than 2% of HGV drivers are under 25 according to data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS). |
| The stigma of long-distance driving and unsocial hours could be putting young people off, but some industry workers, such as social media influencer The HGV Girl are working to turn that image around. | The stigma of long-distance driving and unsocial hours could be putting young people off, but some industry workers, such as social media influencer The HGV Girl are working to turn that image around. |
| Alex Jeavons, 18, is among a small number of young HGV drivers in the UK | Alex Jeavons, 18, is among a small number of young HGV drivers in the UK |
| For Alex, who has ADHD and struggled at school, it's "one of the best jobs anyone could have". | For Alex, who has ADHD and struggled at school, it's "one of the best jobs anyone could have". |
| He is a fourth generation lorry driver, his great-grandfather was the first to do it for a living. | He is a fourth generation lorry driver, his great-grandfather was the first to do it for a living. |
| "I've travelled all over the UK and Europe with my dad and grandad, so it's always been that goal to reach in life," he said. | "I've travelled all over the UK and Europe with my dad and grandad, so it's always been that goal to reach in life," he said. |
| Within a week of passing his test he had been offered a job driving HGVs at Turners Distribution. | Within a week of passing his test he had been offered a job driving HGVs at Turners Distribution. |
| BJS Haulage in Wednesbury, one of the West Midlands largest distribution firms, said it found young people did not even look at the industry. | BJS Haulage in Wednesbury, one of the West Midlands largest distribution firms, said it found young people did not even look at the industry. |
| "They're not interested at all," said sales director David McWilliams. | "They're not interested at all," said sales director David McWilliams. |
| The 62-year-old, who has driven HGVs for the majority of his career, said it should be marketed to children at school. | The 62-year-old, who has driven HGVs for the majority of his career, said it should be marketed to children at school. |
| '"No one realises how important we are, without logistics the UK stops," he added. | '"No one realises how important we are, without logistics the UK stops," he added. |
| The Road Haulage Association said 200,000 drivers were needed in the next five years to avoid a repeat of the shortage in 2021 which saw empty shop shelves. | The Road Haulage Association said 200,000 drivers were needed in the next five years to avoid a repeat of the shortage in 2021 which saw empty shop shelves. |
| David McWilliams, sales director at BJS Haulage, fears another driver shortage is looming and predicts we could feel its impact by 2026 | David McWilliams, sales director at BJS Haulage, fears another driver shortage is looming and predicts we could feel its impact by 2026 |
| At the HGV School in Willenhall where Alex passed his test they are trying to attract more women into lorry driving. | At the HGV School in Willenhall where Alex passed his test they are trying to attract more women into lorry driving. |
| "If the same amount of females did their HGV tests as there is males, there would be no shortage," said sales and operations coordinator Shannan Paterson. | |
| She said they were also trying to break down barriers so the industry was open to everyone. | She said they were also trying to break down barriers so the industry was open to everyone. |
| "Whether it be a disability or whether it be they don't speak English as a first language we're really trying to help people". | "Whether it be a disability or whether it be they don't speak English as a first language we're really trying to help people". |
| The 30-year-old who is known as 'The HGV Girl' on social media agrees that the industry is not always profiled as an attractive one to young people. | The 30-year-old who is known as 'The HGV Girl' on social media agrees that the industry is not always profiled as an attractive one to young people. |
| The Lifft Group which owns the school has recently invested in new vehicles to appeal to that demographic. | The Lifft Group which owns the school has recently invested in new vehicles to appeal to that demographic. |
| "They're like that new shiny penny that they actually get excited to come and look at and learn," she said. | "They're like that new shiny penny that they actually get excited to come and look at and learn," she said. |
| She also adds that although HGV drivers are due a wage increase, not many people could "get a job for £40-50K, that's classed as unskilled". | She also adds that although HGV drivers are due a wage increase, not many people could "get a job for £40-50K, that's classed as unskilled". |
| People should not be put off by the unsociable hours and long distance driving, she said. | People should not be put off by the unsociable hours and long distance driving, she said. |
| "My partner's a lorry driver and is able to do school pick-up everyday." | "My partner's a lorry driver and is able to do school pick-up everyday." |
| She also echoed the importance of the industry. | She also echoed the importance of the industry. |
| "It's a vital job, we would be nowhere without them." | "It's a vital job, we would be nowhere without them." |