Hi all,
Wondering for some information. I am planning on getting my class 2 when I finish college.
Going to book my medical next week and start the process from there. Going to do it with Ritchies Training and will cost me £1125 from start to finish.
What I was wondering was the chance of getting work as a 20 year old with no experience in driving jobs.
Is it going to be hard to find work and is it a good idea to register with agencies too ?
Thanks,
Craig
it will be hard what with ur age and lack of experience, u may get lucky but agencies are your only real option rather than trying to find a proper job as there is lots of experienced guys up here
Thought that might be a problem, do you know any good agencies to register to mate ?
Also do you know any agencies that have van work as this could help gain experience.
Craig
hi Craig , welcome im also new to the forum and from Greenock area also looking into doing my cat c with Ritchies .
Thanks mate, I just need to get the funds but its rather hard to raise over a grand when your at college. So im going to do my medical and get the theory disks and try get that out of the way then need to save money up as there doesnt seem to be funding. Just cant wait to start it.
Craig
Craig you can sign up for a £200 grant ,
ilascotland.org.uk/ILA+Homepage.htm
this will cover a little cost its better than nothing i sent mine away last week richies accept ila so it will go towards something at least.
Welcome to the mad house
It will be hard to get a job as gogzy says due to a lot of experienced drivers out there also your age mainly due to insurance ( they normally say over 25 )
But no harm in getting your licence now ( take no notice of the 2 years bit as that has gone out the window ) agencies normally like 6 mth proven experience so you may have to start on vans then work up as they say but it can all be a good learning curve
Depends what you have been doing at collage as you could try to find another job ( to fall back on if needs be ) then when time is right go driving or do some p/t driving when not at work
craig-glasgow:
… I just need to get the funds but its rather hard to raise over a grand when your at college.
Hi craig-glasgow, 
You’ve had a great suggestion form MassMediauk, to which I’ll add that there might be funding opportunities from unexpected sources. 
I’m afraid to say that those can vary due to geography and are therefore patchy in coverage.
One that I can think of is to ask at your college whether they have a logistics department, or could point you in the direction of a college that does.
(They will be able to answer that if they can be bothered to look for you. 
)
Colleges often have access to funding that outside (private) training providers can’t access.
Your local Jobcenter might also be able to help or point you in the right direction with some suggestions.
So, there might be some funding, but you might have to work a bit to ferret out the info.
I wish you good luck.
when i was doing my cat c training , there was a lad who had funding , i think he said he was 18 and was at agri college . His dad had a farm and a artic as they were hay and straw dealers as well as the farming side .
cheers mike
Hi Craig and welcome to the forum.
I did my Cat C training with Ritchies. They are a really good crowd. I’m from Rothesay on the Isle of Bute.
Good luck with raising the funds and keep us posted. Don’t be scared to ask any questions on here as I have found people on here really really helpful.
Regards
Craig
Thanks alot to everybody for the information givin.
I will go have a look at that ILA thing just now and see how that goes. As for college I am in tomorrow so will have to do some digging and see what I can get out of them 
I know my college doesnt have a logistics department but I will go ask about etc and go to the learner services about funds.
Regarding the jobs I know its going to be hard but theres got to be somewere that will take me on, just need to look hard and be willing to wait till I get something. Does anyone know any good agencies I could register with though ?
As for Ritchies I went in last week to find out some info and they seem very friendly and helpfull so hopefully will be seeing them again soon.
And again thanks for the info folks.
Craig
Hi Craig,
From East Ayrshire m’self mate 
I wouldn’t worry too much about not being able to find work, a couple of guys on here posted just a few days back that they have landed themselves a job just days after passing so it will be difficult but you just gotta keep trying mate, hand your name in EVERYWHERE.
Cheers,
Sam
Sam Millar:
Hi Craig,From East Ayrshire m’self mate
Cheers,
Sam
I will do mate, just need to get the funds first.
Got my holiday to pay for and my cars decided to pack it in aswell just when I wanted to start getting into this. Only good thing is i’m doing mechanics at college so think I might be able to fix it myself.
Going to apply for that ILA though, sent away for the form and that will pay for theory, assesment etc; so thats a starting point anyway.
Craig
Im a mechanic too!! LOL Wher you work?
I’m at college at the moment mate, looking for a job still for that too for when my course is done to cover me if I dont get my class 2. Although thats seeming hard too as alot of companys wont give me an apprenticeship because I will be 20 after my course and other jobs want experience 
Need help!! haha
Were do you work mate ?
Craig
I served my apprenticeship with W. & J. Duncan, the local Ford Dealer on the Island. I then went and worked with Cal Mac, the Ferry company for a few years on their Ullapool to Stornoway run then I came back to Bute and have worked for Rothesay Motor Services, Local Renault Dealer, for 5 years and absolutely hate it!!
Been to a few places then mate lol if you dont mind me asking why dont you like your current place ?
Im goin to phone a few hgv places today to see if they are taking on apprentices. Just hoping I either get the funds for class 2 or mechanic job soon though. Lol
Craig
Hi mate,
Firstly, nothing wrong with ritchies training wise as i done FLT training with them years ago and they seemed a good bunch of guys,good rep etc one big issue is they over charge and they are far more expensive than many others.
Contact Pat johnson at highfieldheavies
01294 835248 OR Info@highfieldheavies.co.uk
i done class 2 here, i would highly recommend.
As for work, it will be very hard as many have already said but if you want it enough and willing to do whatever it takes then you will get there in the end.
Good luck to you!
Allan