Your local Neath Port Talbot waste and recycling crew need you!

People in Neath Port Talbot are being urged to get on the road to a new career and help keep essential recycling and waste services running in their local community, thanks to a recruitment drive by FCC Environment.

FCC Environment, one of the UK’s leading resource and waste management companies, is looking to get more LGV 1 and 2 drivers behind the wheel to boost its teams working across the region. The company’s campaign comes in response to the severe national shortage of qualified LGV 1 and 2 drivers – a critical issue now causing widespread disruption across a range of sectors, brought on by a combination of Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic and other factors exacerbated by both changes to immigration regimes and a backlog of training and testing drivers.

FCC Environment is looking to attract more trained LGV 1 and 2 drivers to support all of its activities across the UK, including its teams in Neath Port Talbot. “As well as key worker status, working for a great company and some fantastic opportunities, qualified LGV 1 and 2 drivers joining us will benefit from a generous work and benefits package,” said Sara Atkinson, Senior HR Business Partner at FCC Environment.

Benefits include:

• A competitive salary
• 28 days’ holiday a year (includes public holidays)
• Up to 10 days’ unpaid leave a year
• Part-time working available to fit around family life
• Local jobs, no overnight stays – UK wide
• Flexible hours (assisting work life balance)
• Overtime available for those that want more hours
• Helping the planet by supporting your local area recycle more waste
• Sick pay
• Pension scheme
• Life insurance
• Working outdoors supporting better health
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Best Doctors Service
• Childcare vouchers
• Cycle to work scheme
• Eye-care vouchers
• Occupational Health support
• First class health and safety support
• Job introduction incentives – rewards for assisting in recruiting of new employees by introducing your friends and family
• Access to on-the-job training, plus personal development opportunities

According to Government figures, the driver shortage is reported to have increased over the last five years from 45,000 drivers in 2016 to 76,000 today. A recent Road Haulage Association (RHA) survey put the estimated shortfall at more than 100,000, with the warning that it will take 18 months to train enough drivers to address the problem, even if there are enough candidates to take the roles.

The campaign to attract more qualified LGV 1 and 2 drivers is FCC Environment’s latest step towards tackling the issue. At the end of July, FCC Environment joined others in the sector in urging the Government to do more to protect vital waste and recycling services critical to public health and the environment, as well as the economy. In a letter to the Home Secretary, FCC Environment called for the introduction of a temporary worker visa for LGV 1 and 2 drivers, and for the occupation to be added to the official Shortage Occupation List, until such time that there are enough qualified UK nationals available to fill these positions.

Commenting, FCC Environment Operations Director Steve Longdon said: “All our staff have worked tirelessly throughout the Covid-19 pandemic to maintain our services and ensure household waste continued to be collected but, as we return to normality, the sector is facing new challenges.

“LGV 1 and 2 drivers are essential for the waste and recycling sector, and we are committed to doing everything we can to fill our driver vacancies to continue to play our part in protecting public health and the environment, as well as the UK’s green economic recovery.”

• Find out more about working as an LGV 1 and 2 driver at FCC Environment – visit our website at fccenvironment.co.uk/about-us/careers/driver-recruitment/ email fccjobs@fccenvironment.co.uk or call us on 234 975060.

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