There have been quite a few posts from newbies around the UK recently stating that after they pass their LGV test(s), they are increasingly finding it difficult to get work with most employers and agencies insisting on 2 years experience.
It has never been easy to get that first foot on the ladder but I think the current economic situation has made it worse.
As, it seems, you only have to hold the licence for 2 years before being let in the door, then all I can suggest to those looking to go for it, is to get the licence 2 years before it is needed - daft, but that seems to be the way it is for some.
If I was going to get my LGV nowadays then I would research the local job market before parting with any money. Then, if I still wanted to get my LGV, I would stay in my current job, whatever that was, and perhaps try to get a day every other weekend as a bit of extra money and to gain a little experience.
Link to weekend driving whilst still in another job.
The occasional shift done at the weekend might even pay for the licence over a 2 year period. For arguments sake, lets say I did 1 day a month for £100 a shift - that would soon build up over 24 months.
Once it got close to the 2 years of holding the licence, I would then seriously go for a full time LGV job.
I know not everyone is experiencing the ‘Brick wall’ but I would advise keeping all options open.
I’ve added this to the first page of this thread 
tachograph:
To be completely honest, regardless of age I don’t think I would really recommend anyone parting with hard earned money to train as an HGV driver in the current economical climate unless they have a job waiting at the end of it.
It seems that companies aren’t advertising jobs and agencies are taking the ■■■■, the simple fact is that at the moment there are more available drivers than jobs and that situation probably won’t change any time soon, at this time of year it should be the agencies that are desperately trying to get drivers regardless of experience but that doesn’t appear to be the case, there will always be those that get lucky but on the whole I would say that peoples money would probably be better spent on other things that have more chance of leading to full time employment.
With more regulation and higher cost for training it has to be asked "economically is it worth it".