Gregory's successful day
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By Hayley Pink
MORE THAN 80 HGV drivers took part in a recruitment day held at Gregory Distribution's Cullompton, Devon depot last week. The event was designed to recruit between 20 and 30 new drivers, primarily to support the Cullompton operation, but also to fill nationwide group vacancies, including those in its Radial and Kay Transport businesses and on the company's Spar contract. Business unit director Darren Beaven said the recruitment day was a success, with a much higher level of interest than anticipated. He said applicants brought their licences along,
were given a detailed interview, shown around the site, given a history of Gregory, and talked to some existing company drivers.
The next step will be to bring back the people Beaven believes demonstrated the right attitude needed for the job, and ask them to undergo a practical driving assessment and further interview.
"What we are looking for is their approach and attitude: we want customer-focused drivers," he added. "We are particularly keen to encourage young, newly qualified drivers. We have our own driver-trainers who can work with them." The company is also planning to relaunch its in-house training
scheme that offers existing employees the chance to train drivers and help them obtain their HGV licence. Beaven anticipates around 20 to 30 people per annum to take up this option once the scheme opens later this year. He said: "We ran it a few years ago and it was a fantastic success."
Beaven added that Gregory Distribution is around 97% complete on CPC training for its 11,000 drivers, with any new employees taken on from the recruitment day helped to achieve their pass through its in-house training team by the September deadline.
"We have been very proactive about Driver CPC," he said.