~ Just to update this topic, once again ~
- I got a phonecall back from the company I had targeted initially, with the woman saying they’d reviewed my application submitted via their website (*although due to the format of the boxes on their website’s form, they barely got any info on me tbh / so potentially think I’ve actually been driving HGVs for 10-months :: rather than the reality that not driven one since my test, 10-months ago)…
But that they’d like to offer me an interview + assessment drive.
When I’d spoken to them last week she said it’d mainly be van work they have available (which is totally fine by me, providing it’s an Automatic) :: But so not sure if this will be a Class 2 assessment or a Van assessment.
- I also got an email from a 2nd very big company (Goldstar Transport), who I’d applied to via Totaljobs/Indeed.
The HR lady had asked me to phone her to discuss my application, ran through a sort of mini-interview with me: Asking how long I’d actually driven for (as I had kept using the phrase ‘‘held my license for 10-months’’) / My location & desired shift-pattern (I’ve gone for 4-on/4-off :: days) / And a few other questions about my knowledge of HGV & how good I am at reversing… (I just mentioned that I’d used ratched-straps before / plus am reasonably good at reversing).
She told me that the client (who the shift pattern vacancy I’ve opted for) normally require 1-year actual driving experience (just holding the license for 1-year doesn’t count)… But so tried to encourage I go for the 5-days per week pattern, which would be ‘‘Class 3 work’’.
She’s said though that they will offer me an assessment for the Class 2 job, if I do really well I will still then have to then have a meeting with the Operations Manager, to see if I will be allowed to do the 1-year experience required role, or not.
She also said I will be tested on:
The highway code / WTD regs / Tacho stuff / Plus walk-around checks. 
(So my entire weekend will now be spent purely trying to learn all of that, for these 2 assessments next week)