A Proud Day: Training Academy Success

James Capel and Jake Butler, first academy apprentice at Simply Waste Solutions

Back in February, we enrolled our first LGV Trainee Drivers on to our newly formed Simply Waste Solutions Training Academy and we are proud to announce that we have our first graduate.

Jake Butler is the first apprentice driver to gain his category C licence and Driver Certificate of Professional Competence module 4 qualification.

Jake has been with the company since July 2015, as both a loader and van driver, like many other employees, it was obvious that he wanted and deserved an opportunity to improve himself professionally.

Here at Simply Waste Solutions we believe that employees are our biggest assets and with the help of our Training Academy Manager Kevin Barcroft, we have put together a training programme to help progression within Simply. This training is not only about upskilling our current employees but it’s hoped that it will also bring in, the much needed, new blood into the industry by working with local Jobcentre Plus locations and utilising the Sector Based Work Academy model.

James Capel CEO and other key members of the Simply team have worked hard to establish a fully integrated and circular training structure, that will not only bring financial rewards to the company but also establish visible benefits for our employees to ensure they feel they have a career within Simply Waste.

“I’ve wanted my HGV licence for 2 years now and to finally pass feels great. Being behind the wheel on the road is still very new to me but from what I’ve done so far I’m enjoying it”
Jake Butler

Jake in the truck cab

Jake Butler is the first of many that will benefit from the company’s new training strategy. He has already passed a post-driving test assessment, which included, vehicle familiarisation of driving a rear-steer vehicle with a semi-automatic gearbox and additional intensive close-quarter manoeuvring exercises. Jake will continue to be mentored with one of the local company trainers on the road until he is completely comfortable.

We are sure that Jake and the other apprentices will all help us demonstrate that investing in people is the right way forward.

Once again, well done Jake Butler.

To find out more about our Training Academy, see our previous news post here.