does anyone have any thoughts on the Knights of Old Driver Apprenticeship?? i’ve had my fingers burnt in the past with brokers and now i’m a little cautious when something seems a little too good to be true.
thanks
Reputable transport company. Don’t know anything about their training. As a generalisation, these schemes tend to be long-winded and can sometimes tie you into employment for a set length of time. I must make it clear that either or neither of these comments may or may not apply in this case and suggest you do more research maybe with the comments in mind.
Sorry I cant help further,
Pete 
I found information about “buy now pay later” funded training on their web site, but that appears to be just introducing you to a separate training company who don’t specify interest rates for any of their funding - never a good sign.
The company in question, also do something called Fully Funded training which apparently takes a year and sounds a little more like an apprenticeship, but it sounds like they’ve tagged a lot of other stuff onto it to effectively create a “useful” course, eg: maths & English stuff. No mention of pay rates, but looks like you wouldn’t be employed by Knights of Old.
Personally, I wouldn’t want to be paid apprentice wages for a year. Only possible advantage is in theory you could claim a year’s experience, except presumably your licence pass date wouldn’t really match up with that.
This is the scheme mentioned:
merlinacademy.co.uk/page.php … EVELOPMENT
I live 5 minute walk from kettering Knights of Old depo and had a email from Merlin ( KOO sister training company) stating the pay rates for apprentice.
First week £6.70ph
2nd week £8.00ph until gained Class 2 licence and signed off by a experienced driver
After signed off pay is £9.50ph
Any up skilling from Class 2 to Class 1 will commence after 3 months
You have to work for company for 2 years in total ( 1 year apprentice and 1 year after )
You will be required to sit Functional Skills exams as part of the development programme in English and Maths (approx. 2 months in to the programme) – therefore we will need to assess your capability in order of being able to complete this part of the course. Please bear in mind there is a large element of theory/ written work that must be completed that supports this qualification throughout the 12 month programme.
I declined the apprenticeship for these reasons because I already had a Class 2 licence and pay rates were far to low to live off.
I start my first full time Class 2 job next week £460pw basic doing palletised multi drop in MIlton Keynes after 14 years as a supermarket manager.#alottolearn
Knights of old/Merlin training did a competition at Peterborough Truckfest to win a free course no surprise i didn’t win but did get an email to tell me i didn’t surprised they could read my writing haa ha! But it certainly did look ,as already stated here, that you’d be beholden to them for a certain amount of time if going with them for an apprenticeship! though guess the finance/train now pay later would appeal to some people!
would nt touch Knights of Old trust me there a hard company to get money out of (ie. wages) so i dont think they d be giving any training unless it was 100% profitable to them ie. locking you onto there books for a set period of time and at a much lower wage. I looked into it with Mick George who also now do driver training now in a scheme two main issues are very very difficult to get onto as we all know training is very expensive so if companies are offering these services there usually rammed full of people and you go onto a list. This said list will increase and you may find yourself getting pushed back due to friends and family of existing workers getting fast tracked. I decided to do my training off my own back took the finance option as i simply couldn’t afford the full payment i have my test tomorrow so fingers crossed at tomorrow lunch i ll have my class 2 and wont be tied to any company in particular.
Stanny_1985:
would nt touch Knights of Old trust me there a hard company to get money out of (ie. wages) so i dont think they d be giving any training unless it was 100% profitable to them ie. locking you onto there books for a set period of time and at a much lower wage. I looked into it with Mick George who also now do driver training now in a scheme two main issues are very very difficult to get onto as we all know training is very expensive so if companies are offering these services there usually rammed full of people and you go onto a list. This said list will increase and you may find yourself getting pushed back due to friends and family of existing workers getting fast tracked. I decided to do my training off my own back took the finance option as i simply couldn’t afford the full payment i have my test tomorrow so fingers crossed at tomorrow lunch i ll have my class 2 and wont be tied to any company in particular.
That’s the best route pal, as if you get treated like crap, you just walk…
Those that get locked may get ensured employment but at what cost?
More than likely lower wages and treated poorly as the employer has a hold over them…
Best of luck with your VAN test pal! 
Lol cheers next you ll be calling me a puddle jumper! But yeah agree I may struggle to find work in the beginning that’s a given but give it 6months to a year I should be able to switch and change as I please without the worry of being tied into contracts with penalties
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Thanks for all the replies. I have also been speaking to them via e-mail and I have been offered an interview for next monday. it looks like i’m exempt from the maths and english part of the course, so more time to revise for theory and cpc
Driver Development Programme:
We are working in partnership with Hull College from Jan 2016, which means we have been accredited to run apprenticeships for drivers.
This could be a perfect opportunity for you to get your foot through the door of the logistics sector whilst gaining your LGV2 (possibly even Class 1 by the end) at the same time?
We will also be in the position to offer you work as a newly qualified driver once you have completed your 12 month apprenticeship.
I can confirm that the pay rate will be the following:
Start off on (until you are being mentored if you already hold an LGV licence ) £6.70ph – classroom based. Whilst in the classroom, you will be undergoing various theory related training from one of our driver trainers which will include:
· Theory test training (both multiple choice and hazard perception)
· Module 2 CPC Case Studies training
· Module 4 practical CPC training
You will also use your time in the classroom to work through your NVQ workbooks, which will include ERR (Employee Rights and Responsibilities), Maths & English workbooks.
When you gain your Cat C licence (approx. 3 months in to programme) you will then be paid £9.50ph as a Class 2 Driver once you have been signed off by one of our trainers.
The start date will always be the first week of every month, however I’m afraid I can’t confirm the next date as it stands as we have put May, June and possibly July’s on hold for now.
You will be working Mon- Fri but we tell all of our employees to be prepared to work any 5 out of 7…
There is no initial cost to the course however your training agreement/contract will commit you to staying with our company for 12 months after the driver development programme finishes (which lasts for 12 months, so 24 months in total).
You will be required to sit Functional Skills exams as part of the development programme in English and Maths (approx. 2 months in to the programme) – therefore we will need to assess your capability in order of being able to complete this part of the course. Please bear in mind there is a large element of theory/ written work that must be completed that supports this qualification throughout the 12 month programme.
Please let me know your thoughts – if you are interested in joining us under this training programme then I will proceed to book you in for an interview.
To be fair when you compare it to another post on here from someone who had been offered a temp job on class one and basic was £8 an hour you might not be to bad off lol
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They are not known as sh!*es of old for nothing
hotrod_boogie:
They are not known as sh!*es of old for nothing
100000% agree I did a 23 hour shift for them and took me over a month to get paid! All because they don’t no there arse from there elbow
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Stanny_1985:
hotrod_boogie:
They are not known as sh!*es of old for nothing100000% agree I did a 23 hour shift for them and took me over a month to get paid! All because they don’t no there arse from there elbow
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Double manned I hope?
I was drivers mate started at 3am went doing multi drop round London had a full on lesson how not to be a Lorry driver did nt stop for breaks he just put it on break as we unloaded and hand balled all items in the shops. Then he ran out of time 5 miles before south mimms so just pulled his card. Then I had to catch a lift to Luton depot then sit and wait for a trunk driver from Kettering to come down then catch a lift with him back to Kettering depot arrived back at 2am. They then paid me my 8 then spent a month arguing the rest which I got in dribs and drabs. I wouldn’t of minded if I d played up and screamed and shouted but I just went along with it and kept calm and polite.
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Stanny_1985:
I was drivers mate started at 3am went doing multi drop round London had a full on lesson how not to be a Lorry driver did nt stop for breaks he just put it on break as we unloaded and hand balled all items in the shops. Then he ran out of time 5 miles before south mimms so just pulled his card. Then I had to catch a lift to Luton depot then sit and wait for a trunk driver from Kettering to come down then catch a lift with him back to Kettering depot arrived back at 2am. They then paid me my 8 then spent a month arguing the rest which I got in dribs and drabs. I wouldn’t of minded if I d played up and screamed and shouted but I just went along with it and kept calm and polite.
Blimey! 
My friend is as you would put it a Lorry driver (class1) he just said its companies and drivers like that, that ruin the haulage industry
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Stanny_1985:
I was drivers mate started at 3am went doing multi drop round London had a full on lesson how not to be a Lorry driver did nt stop for breaks he just put it on break as we unloaded and hand balled all items in the shops. Then he ran out of time 5 miles before south mimms so just pulled his card. Then I had to catch a lift to Luton depot then sit and wait for a trunk driver from Kettering to come down then catch a lift with him back to Kettering depot arrived back at 2am. They then paid me my 8 then spent a month arguing the rest which I got in dribs and drabs. I wouldn’t of minded if I d played up and screamed and shouted but I just went along with it and kept calm and polite.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yup sounds about right…
deadly long hours with heavy weight pallets 30 drops double shifts…
Merlin is not sister company but their in house umbrella agency tax scam scheme
the 7.5toners vans with big body they run are similar to polishromanian eurovans dont know how they are classified but no tacho - work forewa class 2 you do double shifts start probably 5/6am go for 2nd run 4/6pm, come back whenewer you come… if you ever come back…
pallets are heavy as shait whaever taillift can lift you have to pumptruck wherever you go
goods are damaged clients are scamed to sign and told insurance pays but they dont - signed - busted (agreed received in good condition
so if you receive something shiped by them - dont sign
residential deliveries houses etc…
if youll go for their aprenticeship scam you will probably die in some ditch with broken back or pole in head while fell asleep and ditched…
know guys who did something similar worked may years on class 2 multidrop and hoped for promised class 1 training…
when i was there they paid for tickets if delivery done and damage if you say you will leave if charged
definately hardest work Ive ever done, but to me they paid all correctly… well taxman might be after me but haent catched yet since they did all the taxyscamyshait…
ou yeah and fat ■■■■■■■ ops manger thinks thats easiest job in the world and will tell you that straight in face - this industry mainly is run by complete retarders… but that one has so far been most special for me…stuck in memory like a hiv ticky…
judging by adverts they fed up paying good money for 14h days and transfered to anual salaries so now their deal should be ridicilously shyty…
but they didnt do drivers mates when i was there when i was there there was just slavedrivers on their own
Yep was an utter disgrace the driver was an agency guy from Merlins. They just left him he told them he did nt have night out gear they just so oh well should of come better prepared.
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Stanny_1985:
Yep was an utter disgrace the driver was an agency guy from Merlins. They just left him he told them he did nt have night out gear they just so oh well should of come better prepared.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
dont worry brexit will help aristocracy legalize longer shifts so you dont need to pull your card… till you go over 13th driving hour…