PCV has always been free but you need to stay for a 1year min or something along them lines for any big bus company
HGV stobbart used to do it which was basically a loan but they train you and pay you peanuts, however government are paying some company to train but nothing is free. imagine joining a company and hating every day of it but you get leave cause your broke and you signed a contract
Also there no HGV shortage one big myth