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Trainee Driver

Role overview

Summary

This role is for a Trainee Driver at Veolia, focusing on waste management and environmental sustainability. You will participate in a structured training program to develop the skills necessary for operating HGV waste vehicles while ensuring compliance with safety and environmental standards.

Qualifications

  • Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of commencement.
  • Must hold a valid, full UK Car Driving Licence (Category B).
  • Must have already obtained an HGV Provisional Licence (Category C provisional entitlement).
  • Good basic literacy and numeracy skills to pass DVLA theory tests, DCPC case studies, tachograph records, and safety briefings.
  • Full commitment to completing the 16-to-20 week structured learning framework.

Responsibilities

  • Carry out waste collection, loading, bin handling and general depot duties safely and efficiently
  • Complete all elements of Veolia’s Trainee Driver Programme, including theory training, practical instruction, testing and driver shadowing
  • Conduct thorough pre-use checks on vehicles, compaction systems, tools and equipment, reporting defects immediately
  • Safely operate a range of HGV waste vehicles, including RCVs, FELs, RELs, Skip and RoRo vehicles

Key facts

Hard skills

Other skills

  • Customer Service
  • Literacy
  • Communication
  • Teamwork
  • Problem Solving

About the company

Veolia UK logo

Veolia UK

  • Environmental & Waste Services
  • XLarge
  • 10,001+
Veolia UK provides solutions for ecological transformation. We are a company of almost 14,000 employees, although we prefer to think of ourselves as “resourcers”. Every day across the country our “resourcers” design and deploy useful and concrete solutions, which help our customers fight against climate change, prevent pollution of our water and create a circular economy where nothing goes to waste. In 2021, Veolia UK served 1.8 million people through our municipal wastewater contracts. We completed 442 million waste collections across our local authority contracts, serving 3.1 million residential properties; and we treated over 1.5 million tonnes of commercial and industrial waste from our 85,000 private customers. We also produced over 560 MWe of renewable and low carbon electricity, to power over 1.3 million homes. Veolia UK is an exciting and innovative place to work. We challenge the status quo, our purpose is to resource the world and we do this by working together to constantly progress. We are reinventing the way things work to reduce all of our environmental impact and increase efficiency, whether in the reuse of wastewater or the recovery of waste, such as plastics. At the same time, we anticipate the needs of tomorrow with innovative solutions that will decarbonise our energy and heating demands. We do this through the development of microgrids and energy management through our Hubgrade solution, which optimises the management of resources using digital and artificial intelligence. We are driven by optimism and passion, not to see the world as it is, but how it should be; and we are tenacious in our efforts to achieve our goals. These aren't just empty words. Visit sustainability.veolia.co.uk to learn about the three pillars of our success: People, Customers and Sustainability. Or see how we plan to achieve Net Zero by 2050 at the latest here: netzero.veolia.co.uk.

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Job description

Ready to find the right role for you?

Salary: £33,560 to £40,000 per annum (Structured progression) plus Veolia benefits


Hours: 48 hours per week


Location: Beighton, S20 1AH
(Nationwide opportunities available)


Veolia is a leader in environmental sustainability, waste management, recycling, and commercial logistics. Dedicated to ecological transformation, Veolia upholds rigorous standards in workplace health and safety, operational efficiency, customer service, and environmental stewardship. Joining Veolia means becoming part of a team committed to sustainability, continuous training, and long-term career growth


What we can offer you;

  • 22 days of annual leave
  • Refer a driver to us once you’ve joined and earn £1000
  • Access to our people’s pension scheme
  • Stream - Employee financial well being support: early access to your earned pay, savings, budgeting, financial coaching & rewards
  • Discounts on everything from groceries to well known retailers
  • Access to a range of resources to support your physical, mental and financial health; so you can lean on us whenever you need to
  • Ongoing training and development opportunities, allowing you to reach your full potential

What you’ll be doing;

  • Carry out waste collection, loading, bin handling and general depot duties safely and efficiently
  • Complete all elements of Veolia’s Trainee Driver Programme, including theory training, practical instruction, testing and driver shadowing
  • Work closely with experienced drivers and Driver Buddies, applying feedback and progressing through the required induction milestones
  • Conduct thorough pre-use checks on vehicles, compaction systems, tools and equipment, reporting defects immediately
  • Learn and comply with all relevant transport legislation, including drivers’ hours, tachograph requirements, working time rules and vehicle weight limits
  • Achieve the required Category C licence and Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC)
  • Once qualified, safely operate a range of HGV waste vehicles, including RCVs, FELs, RELs, Skip and RoRo vehicles
  • Communicate effectively with colleagues, supervisors, workshop staff, loaders, transport planners and customers
  • Maintain the authority to stop work where a task, vehicle or customer site is considered unsafe, escalating concerns promptly
  • Represent Veolia professionally by delivering reliable customer service, protecting client property and following site safety requirements
  • Apply environmentally responsible working practices, including eco-driving, spill prevention, correct waste handling and vehicle cleanliness
  • Participate in regular progress reviews, wellbeing meetings and ongoing training to support safe and successful development into the HGV Driver role

What we’re looking for;
Essential:

  • Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of commencement
  • Must hold a valid, full UK Car Driving Licence (Category B)
  • Must have already obtained an HGV Provisional Licence (Category C provisional entitlement added to DVLA licence following a successful D4 medical examination and D2 application) prior to joining
  • Must be physically fit and capable of carrying out active, manual work (including manual handling, pushing and pulling heavy wheeled containers, cleaning compaction bodies, and safely mounting/dismounting vehicle cabs in all weather conditions)
  • Good basic literacy and numeracy skills to pass DVLA theory tests, DCPC case studies, tachograph records, and safety briefings
  • Full commitment to completing the 16-to-20 week structured learning framework, including 11 days away from the business for off-site training/exams and independent study
  • Agreement to sign the Veolia Commercial Learning Agreement when entering via the Commercial Training Route

Desirable:

  • Familiarity with online learning management systems and digital tablet devices
  • Prior experience in waste management, recycling, commercial logistics, warehousing, or transport operations
  • Previous employment as a Refuse Loader, Yard Operative, or Driver Assistant

What’s next?

Apply today, so we can make a difference for generations to come.

We're proud to have been named as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work for three consecutive years in 2023, 2024 and 2025. This consistent recognition reflects our commitment to our people, demonstrating that Veolia is not just transforming the environment, we're also transforming what it means to have a rewarding, purposeful career. 

We're dedicated to supporting you throughout your application journey, offering adjustments where reasonable and appropriate. As a proud Disability Confident Employer, we will offer an interview to applicants with a disability or long-term condition who opt-in to the Disability Confident scheme, and meet the minimum criteria for our roles. 

We're also committed to ensuring that all applicants and colleagues receive fair treatment without discrimination on any grounds, aiming to create a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.

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