I thought this might make an interesting read.
I left school at the age of 16 with not many qualifications. I took a Job as a junior labourer with the local council highways department where I was laying tarmac kerbs etc. when I reached the age of 21 the council paid for me to take my class 2 test ( no theory or hpt tests then) which i passed at my first attempt. I then started driving the tipper trucks also gritters in the winter. Gritting was mainly overtime and I made some good money when the weather was bad, the good wages came in handy because I got married at 22 and was not long fathering 2 daughters.
I always wanted to have a class 1 licence although when I passed the class 2 I could drive draw bars. I decided to pay for my class 1 myself and also passed it first time with a york based training company.
After many years working on the highways and having a class 1 licence burning in my pocket I decided to leave the council and work for a local haulage company. TBH this was a culture shock going from a contracted 37 hour job and being home every night to see my wife and kids to being away most of the week and only talking to my family on the phone. Yes it was a mistake and it wasn’t for me.
I eventually managed to get a driving job at a local timber distributor, this was day work and I was home every night, the hours were 7am-5pm Monday - Friday. I loved this job and the company. We had free social nights out paid by the company, team bonding they called it.
About 8 years ago I was looking through the local paper where I saw a position for an LGV instructor at a york based training school ( where I passed my Class1) I decided to apply thinking I had no chance of getting it but after a few assessments and interviews I was offered the job. I started to go in on Saturdays whilst working my notice (unpaid) to learn the requirements of the Job.
After working for them for a few years I started to think about setting up my own company. My wife eventually said “just have ago and if it doesn’t workout go back truck driving” so yes five years ago to the month I started my own training company.
Believe me starting a business up from scratch is hard work I had to drive for agencies to keep the bank account ticking over. I like to think I’ve broken it’s back now
I suppose the point of this post is to show young people how you can succeed and progress in life even if you have to start from the bottom. After all I started as a council labourer.
Paul 
