HGV Day driver

Overview

apetito is the UK’s leading supplier of food and catering solutions to care homes, local authorities & hospitals and the transport and distribution area of the business is a critically important part of our supply chain. Our drivers are the key link between our business and the customers we work with; ensuring our work is delivered professionally, efficiently and on time.

As a professional driver, this role represents a chance to join a growing and forward thinking business as an ambassador for apetito delivering our finished frozen food product to Care Homes, Local Authorities, Hospitals and our Wiltshire Farm Foods franchisees. In this critical role you must be prepared to drive to different geographical locations and manage a demanding delivery schedule – our customers depend on our food and we depend on you. Additionally, you will need to ensure that you provide fantastic customer service as the face of apetito. Start times vary between 04.00am – 08.00am and are based on an initial 40 hour week.

Our main base is Portbury near Bristol but we also have staff at our out base depots in the following locations; Stanmore, Gillingham, South Kirkby, St Helens and Motherwell in Scotland.

Who we are

apetito is the UK’s leading food supplier to the health and social care sectors serving more than 1,300 care homes, health care and education settings.

Our meals are expertly crafted by our dieticians and chefs, and then frozen to lock in the goodness.

Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK’s largest ready meal supplier cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK.

Responsibilities

• Undertake pre-shift inspection (vehicle check) of vehicles.


• Full compliance with the drivers’ hours, tachographs and road traffic regulations.


• Driving style - damage free and economical.


• Making deliveries in a timely manner and phoning transport office with any delivery discrepancies or delays.


• Deliver goods to the customer’s “point of need”.


• Provide excellent customer service and conflict resolution where necessary.


• Be an ambassador of the company.


• Report any customer service issues to transport office or customer service department while delivering.


• Undertake minor vehicle service activity such as cleaning and refueling of both vehicle and refrigerated unit and minor repairs such as the replacement of bulbs.


• Maintenance of a clean vehicle both internally and externally.


• Delivery and collection of vehicles as required to rental suppliers including any due inspections.


• Inspection of hire vehicles pre and post rental.


• Actively participate in a daily debrief process, working with your supervisor to identify safety, service and operational improvements as and when they arise

About you

Essential:

• Full LGV Class C+E Licence (ideally for minimum 2 years)


• Driving experience (ideally 2-3 years)


• Excellent understanding of Drivers hours regulations, working time directive and tachographs


• Good operational knowledge of modern commercial vehicles


• Good geographical knowledge of UK


• Numerate and literate


• Good people and communication skills


• CPC

Desirable:

• Temperature controlled transport


• Experience of multi drop deliveries


• Clean driving license


• Temperature Control Transport


• LGV repair or maintenance experience e.g. bulb changing


• Experience of operating tail lifts


• Experience of working with wheeled delivery equipment

Personal Qualities:

• The successful candidate will be outgoing, friendly, customer focused with a can do attitude and will work well as part of a team.


• Able to demonstrate excellent communication skills at all levels towards both customers and colleagues.


• Able to juggle the demands of a busy schedule, traffic conditions and other road users with safety, customer service and time / efficiency targets.


• Must be calm under pressure.


• High standard of personal presentation to uphold the company brand, including uniform / vehicle cleanliness.


• Flexible and responsive to business needs e.g. if required to complete a different route/start at different time on occasions.

This role is not eligible for sponsorship under the skilled worker route as it does not meet the minimumrequirements set out under the UK Immigration Rules.

Company Benefits

• Competitive salary – accredited Living Wage employer


• 33 days holiday per year, including bank holidays (which are considered a normal working day)


• Option to purchase up to 5 additional days holiday per year


• Discretionary annual bonus scheme


• Pension scheme - employer matched contributions up to 4%


• Life assurance scheme worth at least 1x annual salary


• Free meals, snacks and beverages on site


• Free parking


• Free turkey or voucher at Christmas


• apetito perks scheme including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts

Our Values

As a family-owned business, we take great pride in being a company that makes a real difference and is dedicated to creating outstanding meals to be proud of.

We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well-being for all our customers.

We are driven by a passion for service and dedicated to feeding some of the UK’s most vulnerable people.

We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040.

Our ethical standards are recognised by the ETI and we are an accredited Living Wage employer. Learn more about apetito’s commitment to a more sustainable future.

We embrace inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we're on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential.