Has anyone had any experiences with Taskmaster?
Hi Oldboy, I’m also in the same position as you full time in Prison Service but desperately want out, recently selected for voluntary redundancy but then had it cruelly taken away 
Anyway I have class CE it is difficult to get a break but keep trying I used to drive for Juice personnel in Wakey mainly supermarket work for Asda, prior to them Driver Hire. Having banged at numorous doors I have finally been offered an assessment with Stobarts and whilst I here what everyone says about leaving what would seem to be a secure job they have to experience what’s happening now and the risks we take daily which with staff cuts are becoming greater and greater. Good luck Oldboy I for one can completely understand why you want out just be mindful of working time if working on your days off driving.
Daz
Shame about VEDS for you. If it was offered again id definitely go for it but i think its doubtful in the current climate, who knows.
Ive just received my digi tacho and started putting the feelers out see what comes up!
Good luck with it. At least driving we wont be getting assaulted or potted mate!
Daz one more thing…
How did you find driver hire?
Ok guys so some agencies seem to be a little apprehensive also of newbie drivers.
Talstaff have told me they provide new drivers to Londis, Ill go in and have a chat with them and see what they have to say.
Has anyone worked for londis?
Nick
Not worked for them but would think it’s all small shops, you will learn how to drive doing it but unlikely to last very long due to work being hard
Ive just had a quick scout round the forum and it appears its one to avoid!
Just called taskmaster also, they told me to go in but more or less stated that they dont set new drivers on anyway!
It’s going to be hard to get work agencies will give you work but if full time it will be work that nobody else wants.
You are at Doncaster could you travel to goole to work at stobarts there was an agency in Doncaster looking for class 2 drivers, it’s not the best job going but may be worth trying at weekends
Mac
i thought stobarts only worked with class 1’s? Suppose i could take a look mate.
do you have any details.
thanks 
it was an agency in Doncaster cannot remember the name but think Pegasus don’t no if they still do but maybe worth a call
ok mac thanks ill have a look.
Ok so today i registered with 2 agencies, AS&T (barnsley) and Talstaff (thurnscoe)
As a new driver wanting to gain experience i got offered the following…
AS&T offered me only 7.5ton work to start out with royal mail.
Talstaff will only offer work in class 2 for multi drop with Londis.
What would be the better option to gain experience, im thinking the londis job but maybe the royal mail work would be a better foot in the door?? i dont know, thoughts anyone…
Nick
What pays the best?
neither of them are up to much mac, the royal mail one is better pay but its the experience more than anything im after while still in employment at the Nick.
get some experience and try and move forward.
Talstaff have told me to have an induction tomorrow with Londis, reading here it doesn’t sound the best but i’m just desperate for some experience. I have been applying for all sorts to no joy and so far this is the only thing i’m being offered!
Oldboy NDF:
I have only just received my license, so far it looks impossible otherwise to find a job as i have no experience.i will look into trying to get some while i still work in my current job just to get my foot in the door, but my goal is to become a full time driver.
Nick
Who has your local paddy wagon contract? You’d be a sure foot in with them with your current role. Just a thought.
Danny.
Hello nice to see another screw on here I was a Prison Officer for 15 years, I managed to get out with a pension about 4 years ago and have been teaching bikeability in schools for the last three years I am doing my Cat C in the beginning of March and all I am looking for is agency as I don’t want or need a full time job. I am doing it to cover the boredom of the school holidays.
Anyone who is saying don’t leave a cushy civil service job with full pension needs to stop reading the tory press, Assaults on staff are up month on month due to staff cuts as part of the governments agenda, pensions have been slashed and can’t be taken until 67 now I believe, pay has been frozen now for 4 years with a recommended 1% this year. Its not as secure as people think I thought I was there for life until what happened to me happened (which is another story) I fought the Prison Service for two years to get them to court, with no money coming in, eventually they admitted liability and I got my pension 3 days before the court case.
Anyway when I joined the job the majority of people recruited were not recruited for their qualifications but for their life skills instead mainly ex forces. hence there are still a lot of people working there with no qualifications other than what they have gained in the job.
Driving is a relatively easy occupation to try and get into, I am not saying its an easy job as as yet I can’t comment but if you have a bob or two in the bank you can at least put yourself through your tests and then hopefully find a job whether it be through an agency or if lucky enough someone will take you on. What other jobs are there that for anything up to £3k depending who you train with that you can actually qualify (on paper) in within about 6-7 weeks.
HERE HERE Whitey!
And to think mate since you left the staff on the landings has halved!
I did a shift yesterday with a driver from londis, was good experience and will be out by myself next time, Cages can be awkwered and some shops are difficult to get to. At least they give newbies like myself a try, brand new fleet of trucks so not the old clapped out stuff people have mentioned on here before.
Ill see how it goes
LGVTrainer:
Hi OldboyI am one of Pertemps approved CPC trainers and have done over 50 days for them. Please PM me with a few details and I will call them and try to help. I’m sure I can help.
You could do with helping the Pertemps Manchester Branch as well because they are a bunch of lying B astards !!!