Students at Stockton Riverside College were given an introduction to life on the road as part of National Lorry Week.
Stockton Riverside College welcomed members of the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and staff from AV Dawson’s Port of Middlesbrough, who offered an insight into careers in the industry that keep our country moving.
“National Lorry Week is all about raising awareness of the great work our industry does, particularly in these challenging times, to keep goods moving,” said the RHA’s head of training and development, and chair of the Tees Valley Logistics Academy local advisory board, Mark Taylor.
“It is also about appreciating the people that work in the industry; key workers who drive the trucks as well as those working behind the scenes.”
With two trucks visiting the college, students were allowed to take a closer look, as well as ask questions about working life in the industry.
Mark said: “We want to make young people aware of the many career opportunities that are available.”
With one in eight jobs in the UK being in the logistics sector, but only one applicant for every six roles advertised, there’s a great opportunity for young people to make their mark in the profession.
Stuart Bint is a driver with AV Dawson’s Port of Middlesbrough. Always fascinated by trucks, cars and vehicles growing up, he said: “For me it was more of a hobby and then I decided to take it up as a career.”
Previously working as a greenkeeper on a golf course, Stuart took a change in direction four years ago, retraining as a HGV driver.
Today he said: “There’s not many jobs where the view out of your office window changes every day. In this job you get to tour the country and you get paid for it.”
Happy to answer students’ questions, he said: “It’s nice to get the chance to share this with the younger generation and hopefully get them interested in this side of the job. It is also about making them aware of wagons on the road, particularly as potential new and learner drivers themselves.”
Anthony Suddes, marketing and communications manager at AV Dawson’s Port of Middlesbrough, said: “As one of the largest logistics companies in the Teesside area, haulage has always been a big part of the business and probably the most visible.
“Haulage is part of our heritage and still plays a large part in our business, that is why we wanted to be involved in National Lorry Week, to promote the logistics industry and the fantastic career opportunities that are available in our region.”
