News roundup
January 2024
Happy New Year to customers old and new
December 2023
We wish all our previous customers a very Merry Christmas
November 2023
Midland Machinery Show at Newark Showground on 8th/9th November – HGV driving experience
October 2023
Why not visit us at Midland Machinery Show at Newark Showground on 8th/9th November where we will have experiences driving an artic
We currently have some availability for Cat C and CE courses during October
August 2023
Diamond Driver Training Ltd are pleased to announce for the 2023/2024 EIHL season the Sponsorship of Nottingham Panthers player number 27 – Myles McGurty
Nottingham Panthers Ice Hockey Team
July 2023
If you already hold Cat C and fancy upgrading to CE during August we are offering a £295.00 discount on course prices – quote summer 23 when booking
Summer is finally here why not look at a change of career become an LGV driver – complete packages available initial deposit only required balance due on passing theory tests.
13th May 2023 – Why not have a fun day out and visit our stand at Nottinghamshire County Show, Newark Showground – open 9.00 am – 5.00 pm – fun for all the family
April 2023
There is currently a vacancy for an LGV Instructor
Happy New Year
If you are looking for a change of career this year to become a lorry driver give us a call. All training and practical tests are conducted at our Newark training centre.
2022
December 2022
The offices are closed for Christmas from 5pm on Thursday 22nd December and will reopen on Tuesday 3rd January
DVSA Examiner Strike – Just to update all existing and potential customers regarding the DVSA Examiner Strikes planned for December/January. They are a rolling strike and the EAST MIDLANDS are on strike from 28th December until 3rd January when we are closed for Christmas so this will not affect any of our tests
SPECIAL OFFER FOR JANUARY COURSES – Cat C and CE Upgrade – £300.00 discount please contact us for details
November 2022
Why not visit us at the Midlands Machinery Show at Newark Showground on 16th and 17th November where we will be offering a HGV driving experience on a set course near the Cedric Ford Pavillion or visit our Stand S6
June 2022
Diamond HGV Driver Training are now authorised to conduct the B+E accreditation scheme courses via Skills for Logistics
May 2022
Diamond HGV Driver Training – visit our stand at the Nottinghamshire County Show on 14th May 2022
A new B+E accreditation scheme is due to start shortly which is designed to fill the training gap left by the government scrapping the B+E test in September 2021
February 2022
Diamond Driver Training have had to reorganise completely as a business due to the legislation changes at the back end of 2021 and as a result are now operating 2 rigid Cat C vehicles as well as 3 articulated CE outfits. The 3rd of these arrived at the end of February.
Despite going from one artic to three in less than three months, due to high demand we are still experiencing backlogs for those requiring CE training so please bear with us.
We are also still conducting B+E Health and Safety training for companies requiring their employees to undergo training as part of their duty of care.
2021 Business Round up
Both 2020 and 2021 proved to be extremely difficult years for the driver training industry and Diamond Driver Training due not only to the Covid-19 pandemic but the Government changing legislation by scrapping B+E testing which had been over 40% of our business (running four nissan navara’s and employing three trainers who purely undertook B+E training) this resulted not only in the loss of revenue but the trainers who only conducted B+E were out of a job overnight through no fault of their own or ours. We also had a full book for B+E for the following eight weeks so all the candidates had to be refunded. Thank you to everyone for their patience and understanding during this difficult transition period.
We were sad to loose our B+E instructors who had been with us for a number of years but were given no choice due to the sudden law changes and wish them well in their new careers.
The government also decided to change the process for obtaining a HGV licence by allowing candidates to go straight to CE – again no thought to the companies who actually provide this training. As a company we had only recently purchased a second rigid Cat C vehicle so our fleet at the time of the announcement on the changes we only operated one artic (CE) and two rigid Cat C vehicles. Demand for Cat C ground to a halt whilst candidates decided to wait for the law to change to allow them to go straight to CE.
The government also decided to split the module 3 on road driving test into two separate tests giving very short notice on this change.
All the instructors at Diamond Driver Training still managed to maintain their high standard of service producing excellent results during these difficult times
December 2021
The law has now changed to allow everyone with a Category B driving licence to automatically receive B+E towing entitlement as well
Click here for information on the Changes to B+E towing entitlements 16th December 2021
If you would like information on our trailer/caravan handling courses please feel free to contact us
November 2021
We are pleased to confirm that Diamond Driver Training have been approved by the DVSA to conduct the Module 3a off road manoeuvres test at our training centre at Newark.
The planned changes to B+E towing entitlements from 15th November 2021 WILL NOT BE GOING AHEAD on this date due to a parliamentary delay. It is anticipated to take place later this year . A second draft bill was introduced on 23rd November to parliament so see what happens this time
Click here for information on the Changes to B+E towing entitlements later in 2021
October 2021
Please bear with us as the DVSA have not informed us how the changes to the practical Module 3 test will work in practice and until they do we are unable to advise how this will affect your training and test.
Legislation updates
Click here for information on the Changes to B+E towing entitlements from 15th November 2021
Click here for information on the Changes to LGV/HGV entitlements from 15th November 2021
September 2021
Important notice to all our current and potential customers regarding proposed legislation changes – Please be patient
Although the Government have announced that you will be able to go straight from Car to Class C+E (Class 1) they have not released any dates yet for this to happen and at this stage we only know as much as you do.
Please be patient and wait for the Government to inform us when the changes will take place before calling/emailing us and asking for dates and prices as we can’t tell you what we don’t know.
We are still taking bookings for LGV Starter Packs, Initial Driver CPC, Categories C1, C, C+E, D1 (using your own minibus) ,H&S Duty of Care Trailer Handling courses for Companies and trailer/caravan handling for private individuals
Legislation updates
Click here for information on the planned Changes to B+E towing entitlements in the Autumn
Click here for information on the planned Changes to LGV/HGV entitlements in the Autumn
ONLY B+E TESTS CANCELLED – ALL OTHER TRAINING AND TESTS ARE NOT AFFECTED – As a company we are still here to provide training and tests for C1, C1E, C (Class 2), CE (Class 1), trailer and caravan handling and health and safety duty of care courses.
16th September 2021 – Final B+E test conducted today
We are sad to say it is the end of an era for Diamond Driver Training as a company after the government announced plans to scrap the requirement for an additional test for B+E on Friday night. Today we conducted our final B+E test after over 17 years so it was a bitter sweet moment when the candidate passed their test. Thank you to all our instructors and customers over the years.
B+E Tests ceasing – The government announced on Friday 10th September that the law would be changing in the Autumn regarding B+E towing entitlements and that the B+E test itself will cease to be conducted from 20th September Click here for information on the planned Changes to B+E towing entitlements in the Autumn We will still be providing trailer and caravan handling for those individuals who would prefer to have some training to gain confidence with handling/loading a trailer/caravan and we also provide health and safety duty of care trailer handling courses for companies to show they have provided a duty of care to employees needing to tow safely for work.
HGV CE (Class 1) Changes The government also announced plans to change the way LGV/HGV licences are acquired allowing people to go straight to CE articulated (Class 1) without the need to take Cat C rigid (Class 2) beforehand – again there is no start date for this and how it is going to be implemented so at the moment as a company we are unable to provide any information on course prices and duration for those wishing to go straight to CE until the government/DVSA sets out how this is going to work in practice. To read the transport secretary’s statement Click here for driving test changes
If you already hold Cat C (Class 2) entitlement and want to do your Cat CE (Class 1) training and test we are still providing Cat CE (Class 1) training and tests under the existing legislation.
JULY 2021
FACE COVERINGS WILL STILL BE MANDATORY FOR ALL DRIVER TRAINING CONDUCTED BY DIAMOND DRIVER TRAINING after 19th July 2021 – this is to protect not only our instructors but our customers.
FACE COVERINGS MANDATORY ON DVSA PRACTICAL TESTS after 19th July 2021 until informed otherwise
JUNE 2021
LGV DRIVER SHORTAGE – There is a national shortage of LGV drivers in the UK which is being reported a lot in the news. This is partly as a result of Brexit but there was already a shortage before this.
As a company Diamond Driver Training are able to help with all stages of the process for obtaining your Category C – LGV (Class 2) and initial driver CPC qualification and also your Cat CE – Articulated (Class 1) training and test.
In recent weeks we have been approached by a number of agencies and local companies who are looking to recruit newly qualified Cat C and CE drivers.
DVLA Strike Action – Please be aware that the DVLA are continuing to conduct strike action over a number of weeks which coupled with the backlog from the lockdown earlier this year is resulting in some delay in processing provisional driving licence applications
April 2021
Vocational driver training and testing can recommence from 12th April 2021 however please be aware that there is a backlog due to the last lockdown and examiner resource so there will be longer wait times than normal. Please contact us for up to date availability and bear with us as there is huge demand at the moment and it is taking time to respond to all emails and phone enquiries.
February 2021
Governments Covid-19 response Spring 2021 – under the plans laid out by the prime minister on 22nd February driver training and DVSA theory and practical tests will resume no earlier than Step 2 – 12th April. Fingers crossed the end of this lockdown is now in sight as it will have been a hard start to the year for everyone.
We will be contacting existing customers with courses cancelled during the winter lockdown as soon as possible to start rescheduling courses from w/c 12th April subject to confirmation from the PM on 5th April that Step 2 will still be going ahead on this date and confirmation from the DVSA of examiner allocations so please bear with us during these next few weeks
DVSA Driving tests – England
In England all types of driving tests are suspended whilst we are in National Lockdown and will resume no earlier than 12th April 2021.
For up to date information on driving and theory tests Click here for further information
January 2021
Not a good start to the New Year unfortunately with a new national lockdown but hopefully the East Midlands will be out of tier 4 when the prime minister starts to ease the lockdown
DVSA Driving tests – England
In England all types of driving tests are suspended whilst we are in National Lockdown and the moment there has only been mention that the country may start to return to the tier system after February half term.
For up to date information on driving and theory tests Click here for further information
If you have training booked with ourselves during January and February please bear with us whilst we await news on when tests will be potentially resuming. We are working as quickly as possible to contact candidates but we have a large number of candidates that this affects.
December 2020
DVSA Driving tests – England
In England, driving tests are taking place in areas in Tiers 1, 2 and 3.
All types of driving tests are suspended in areas in Tier 4. You must not travel out of a Tier 4 area to take your test somewhere else.
For up to date information on driving and theory tests Click here for further information
If you have driver training scheduled with Diamond Driver Training and live in a Tier 4 area this will be postponed until a later date – please contact us immediately to rearrange.
November 2020
Following on from the Prime Ministers Statement on Saturday 31st October we have now had official confirmation from the DVSA that ALL DRIVER TRAINING and TESTING has been SUSPENDED in England from 5th November until 2nd December. Unfortunately that means any candidates booked in for training or tests during this period will have to be rescheduled until after this date. We will be contacting everyone as soon as possible but please bear with us as this affects a large number of candidates.
Diamond Driver Training are extremely proud to announce that we have been voted best vocational driver training specialists in the East Midlands at the Midlands Enterprise Awards 2020.
Given the toll the covid-19 pandemic has had so far this year, this award comes at just the right time to recognise all the hard work that everyone involved in Diamond Driver Training has input over the last 16 years to make the company as successful as it is today and to achieve the high standards of training that we are proud of.A huge thank you to the person who nominated us for this award and to our trainers for delivering high first time pass results week in week out.
September 2020
Although the DVSA resumed practical testing for LGV in July this year, tests are still being conducted on a reduced scale. We are currently only receiving 50% of the test allocations we had pre-lockdown. This in turn is creating larger waiting times for certain courses than we would have liked
For all new enquiries please contact us for prices but please bear in mind there may be a longer wait than usual for availability.
August 2020
Thank you to all our customers for bearing with us during this pandemic.
Due to covid-19 we have had to adjust how we conduct our training from our usual 2:1 basis to 1:1 so our course structures have changed to accommodate this. Please contact us for up to date course options.
June 2020
DIAMOND DRIVER TRAINING – COVID-19 Secure Venue
The DVSA have inspected our training centre and we are pleased to inform you that we have been signed off as a Covid-19 secure venue. We have put a number of new measures in place to help protect our staff and customers from Covid-19. Face Coverings are now mandatory for all driver training and tests
DVSA NOTIFICATIONS
July 2020
FACE COVERINGS MANDATORY FOR ALL DRIVING TESTS IN ENGLAND
Theory tests resumed in England Click here to Book Theory test
LGV Practical tests resume in England from 13th July 2020
Jun 2020
Renewing a photocard driving licence
To make it easier for drivers who need to update their photocard licence with a new photograph at the end of the 10 years validity, photocard driving licences that expire between 1 February 2020 and 31 August 2020 will be automatically extended for a period of 7 months from the date of expiry.
If your photocard expires between 1 February 2020 and 31 August 2020 you do not need to take any action as the extension will be automatic. You will be sent a renewal reminder before your 7 month extension ends. If you have already applied online to renew your photocard this will be processed as normal. If you have already sent a paper application to renew your photocard there will be delays in processing but the 7 month extension will apply in the meantime.
This temporary extension applies to the photocard expiry date. This is separate to entitlement to drive. If your entitlement to drive is due to expire, you will need to renew this entitlement in the normal way by making an application to continue driving. It is illegal to drive without a valid licence.
