Driver Pathway Programme

With driver recruitment in the headlines recently, Hills’ internal LGV Driver Pathway programme is delivering benefits for both the company and its employees. The scheme, run by Waste Solutions and Municipal Collections, has seen drivers’ mates and kerbside loaders qualifying as LGV drivers.

To date, four drivers have qualified with Waste Solutions and two with Municipal Collections from the first intake. A further eight employees are at theory test stage with potentially more drivers to come. On setting up the scheme, Pamela Hunt, Head of HR, said; “Waste Solutions were offering their crews an ad hoc driver pathway and we have now centralised this, involving Municipal Collections. The LGV Driver Pathway programme is now offered across both of our waste-handling divisions. Potential drivers now have a clear route through selection, interview, assessments and training. We make sure the process is fair and that trainees have a full understanding of both their, and our, obligations and commitment.’’ Simon Sharland, Training Coordinator, Municipal Collections, said: “As a Class 1 driver myself, I communicate the

responsibilities all candidates face when in control of a commercial vehicle with a crew. Training takes, on average, six months allowing for licence issuing delays at DVLA. “After an assessment and acceptance onto the programme, drivers will be subject to three theory tests and a medical followed by further assessments and a week’s intensive training before their test. Drivers get online support and training materials to help their study for theory tests. Once a driver has passed, they receive further classroom training and two weeks’ familiarisation, where they are accompanied on their rounds by a supervisor.” Neil Luce, Operations Manager, Waste Solutions said: “At the core of our values is a belief that our employees are our strongest asset. We take personal development seriously by providing training programmes to actively encourage our employees to develop their skills.”

As we go to press, two more drivers have also passed their LGV tests. Congratulations to Jason Truckle in Trowbridge and Reuben Quarrier in Salisbury!

Alongside our Driver Pathway programme, father and son employees of Municipal Collections, Dave and Matt Trowell, have also passed their Class 2 licences.

Matt, a supervisor for Municipal Collections, has enjoyed being able to help the crews out on rounds occasionally, while his father Dave needed a change of licence to cover the larger vehicles he now drives.