At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive HGVs to deliver delicious frozen meals to care homes and hospitals.
- Company: Join apetito, the UK's leading food supplier for health and social care.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, 33 days holiday, free meals, and more!
- Other info: Flexible hours, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for growth.
- Why this job: Be the vital link in our supply chain and make a real difference.
- Qualifications: Must have C+E driving licence and customer service experience.
The predicted salary is between 42986 - 42986 £ per year.
Apetito is the UK’s leading supplier of food and catering solutions to care homes, local authorities & hospitals. 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.
Our main base is Portbury near Bristol but we also have staff at our outbase depots in Stanmore, Gillingham, South Kirkby, St Helens and Motherwell in Scotland.
Responsibilities:
- This role is full-time yard shunting. On occasions, you may be required to shunt to and from our Trowbridge facility, and trunk to our outbase locations.
- Undertake pre & post trip vehicle inspections to ensure road worthiness.
- Full compliance with drivers’ hours, tachographs and road traffic regulations.
- Driving style - damage free and economical.
- Be an ambassador of the company.
- Undertake minor vehicle service activity such as cleaning and refuelling of both vehicle and refrigerated.
- 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.
- Supervise and assist with loading activities at the Cross dock sites.
Qualifications/Personal Qualities:
Essential:
- 2-3 years full-time C+E driving experience.
- Customer Service experience.
- Full Class C+E Licence.
- Excellent understanding of Drivers hours regulations, working time directive and tachographs.
- Good operational knowledge of modern commercial vehicles.
- Good geographical knowledge of UK.
- Driver CPC.
Desirable:
- Clean driving license.
- Temperature Control Transport Experience of multi-drop deliveries.
- Experience of operating tail lifts & double deck trailers.
- Experience of working with wheeled delivery equipment.
Personal Qualities:
- 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.
- Must be physically active due to the nature and demands of the role; for example dealing with heavy goods and moving loaded dollies over uneven ground.
Circumstances:
- Must be prepared to drive in different weather conditions.
- Must live within a reasonable travelling distance to the depot.
- The driver needs to show a great deal of flexibility within this role as the work will be varied and there may be changes to start times if required to cover another night trunk.
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. 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.
HGV Driver in Gillingham employer: Wiltshire Farm Foods
At apetito, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package that includes generous holiday allowances, a pension scheme, and free meals on site. Our supportive work culture fosters employee growth and development, ensuring that our drivers not only deliver outstanding service but also thrive in their roles as ambassadors for our brand. Located in Portbury near Bristol, we are committed to making a positive impact in the health and social care sectors while promoting sustainability and inclusion within our workforce.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land HGV Driver in Gillingham
✨Connect with Local Logistic Groups
Dive into local transportation and logistics groups on platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn. Show up to their meetups if you can – it's a great way to network with industry pros who can share insights, job openings, or even refer you to their own company.
✨Get Behind the Wheel of Job Boards
Look for job boards specific to transportation and logistics, like Logistics Job Site or TransportJobs. These platforms often have listings that you won’t find on general job boards, so they’re worth checking out regularly!
✨Leverage Internships & Graduate Schemes
Many companies in transportation and logistics offer graduate schemes and internships that can pave the way to full-time positions. Don't shy away from applying; even a short stint can make a solid impact on your CV and get your foot in the door at companies like Wiltshire Farm Foods.
✨Apply Directly with Us!
When you find openings at great companies, make sure to apply directly through our website. It not only shows your initiative but also helps us to help you get noticed by Wiltshire Farm Foods. Every application gets us one step closer to landing that full-time gig!
We think you need these skills to ace HGV Driver in Gillingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Experience:When you're applying for a role in the transportation and logistics sector at Wiltshire Farm Foods, make sure to highlight any relevant experience. Whether it's moving goods, coordinating schedules, or using transportation management software, give us the lowdown on your past gigs. It'll paint a clearer picture of what you're capable of!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in logistics! If you've optimised routes, reduced delivery times, or improved customer satisfaction, mention those incredible stats in your CV. This gives us concrete evidence of your impact and showcases your problem-solving skills.
Tailor That Cover Letter:Your cover letter should be more than just a formality—let it breathe your personality and passion for logistics! Explain why you're excited about the role at Wiltshire Farm Foods and how you can contribute to our team. Don't forget to tie in specific skills or experiences that relate to the job description.
Research and Reflect:Before you hit 'submit,' spend some time digging into Wiltshire Farm Foods. Understand our mission, values, and the specific challenges in the logistics industry. This will help you craft a targeted application that shows you truly want to be part of our crew, setting you apart from the rest!
How to prepare for a job interview at Wiltshire Farm Foods
✨Know Your Logistics Basics
Get familiar with the key principles of transportation and logistics, like supply chain management, inventory control, and route optimisation. You might get asked practical questions about how to improve efficiency, so brush up on your problem-solving skills and be prepared to discuss any relevant software tools you've used.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
In logistics, employers love to gauge how you'd handle real-life situations. Expect scenario-based questions where you’ll need to demonstrate your decision-making skills, like how to manage delays or coordinate shipments during a crisis. Practise outlining your thought process clearly and logically.
✨Highlight Your Teamwork Experience
Full-time roles in logistics often require collaboration with various teams, so don't forget to showcase your teamwork experience. Think of examples where you've used communication and collaboration to ensure smooth operations, and get ready to elaborate on how you can facilitate teamwork in a busy environment like at Wiltshire Farm Foods.
✨Show Off Your Attention to Detail
In our world of logistics, missing a small detail can lead to big problems. Be prepared to discuss instances where your attention to detail saved the day, whether it was engaging with clients, managing documentation, or tracking shipments accurately. This will help demonstrate how you can be a reliable asset to Wiltshire Farm Foods.
