Aron Marshall progressed from warehouse colleague to Class 2 LGV driver with the Co-op
I joined the Co-op on a temporary contract in 2014. Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to have multiple roles and opportunities; from warehouse operative to transport support assistant, and now class 2 LGV driver.
Working with drivers in my transport assistant role had made me interested in what they did, plus I was looking for a new challenge. In 2019, I applied to join the driver apprenticeship scheme and fortunately I was successful.
The programme is aimed at helping colleagues get their truck licence and giving them the skills needed to perform their role too. Initially, there was lots of theory-based learning, and I spent a couple of months buddying up with other drivers, who acted as mentors and taught me a lot.
Once I passed my HGV class 2 test and got my truck licence, I continued with the classroom and on the job training for another threet to four weeks, and then I was able to hit the road and drive solo.
I love being a driver; it’s such a change from office work. It was of course, a little daunting at first, but the training was incredible. I’ve had so much support from my manager and mentors. I feel like a Co-op ambassador when I’m driving our branded lorries throughout the country.
I’m proud to say I won the ‘Outstanding Intermediate Apprentice (Level 2) Award’ category at the RateMyApprenticeship Awards, which is amazing. My manager put me forward for being one of the top-performers at the depot, but I honestly feel it’s my driving mentors who deserve the recognition. I’m the driver I am today, because of their teaching.
Throughout my career at Co-op, they’ve been great at supporting me to get where I want to be. I haven’t spent a single penny on training and would highly recommend the driver apprenticeship scheme to everyone.
To find out more about apprenticeship training at Co-op, visit jobs.coop.co.uk/apprentices
