HGV Driver
Ladybridge Learner from 2001 – 2006
Did you go on to study after Ladybridge?
Salford College studying Travel & Tourism. At the end of the course I moved to Cyprus for 2 and a half years. A fantastic experience in which I felt the course at college had prepared me for.
Upon returning to the UK. I started work at Manchester Airport as an Aircraft Dispatcher. A really challenging but fun experience. I was also able to enrol on other courses whilst I was working! Again furthering my education.
What does a typical day in your job look like?
Every day I get to work around 11:30am. Complete my safety checks for both my lorry and trailer. Which I am required to do by law. I then spend the day driving around the West Midlands collecting freight. Usually bulk loads which are primarily materials and packaging supplies for the NHS.
That freight is taken to Birmingham to a depot where other transport companies from all over the country go to as well. The freight I have collected gets unloaded and reloaded on to other trailers and continues its journey to wherever it may be going. I am reloaded as well with freight that’s coming back to my local area for delivery. Mainly Cheltenham and Gloucester.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Driving without a doubt! Get your driving licence as soon as possible and it will unlock so many extra avenues for you. A lot of careers these days require you to hold a licence. So as soon as you’re eligible to learn then I would advise doing so!
I also love the sites you see when driving. Especially in the Spring and Summer months. Driving in the hills of Scotland on a spring evening is one of the most beautiful sites you will ever see. It really does put life in to perspective when you see something so brilliant.
As you can imagine I meet a lot of people in my job. Every person is different and we live in a really diverse world. I just enjoy chatting with people!
What is your favourite memory of life at Ladybridge?
Anything involving Sport! My very first PE Teacher was called Mr Crooke and he got me playing in the football team when I was in Year 7. That really enabled me to develop not only my sporting skills but also my social skills.
In the years that followed I had Mr Dixon and Mr Parkinson all great teachers. Easy to get along with but then again we had a mutual love of everything sport!
What advice would you give a Ladybridge learner looking to study/work in the same field as you?
Concentration is the most important part of my job. Some days I’m driving between 9-10 hours in terrible weather conditions. So concentration is paramount.
What advice would you give to learners coming up to their final 2 years at Ladybridge and making decisions about their future?
Give absolutely everything you have in moulding yourself into the best possible person you can be. Give yourself every opportunity to succeed in life.
You’re in a period of your life which will determine what happens for the rest of it. So work hard don’t be distracted by others trying to lead you down a path going in the wrong direction.
Describe your time at Ladybridge High School in 3 words
I loved it.