Recruitment drive as driver shortage threatens bin collections

Veolia is urging mums to consider a new career as a bin lorry driver as the national driver shortage is felt by councils across the country.

Some local authorities are offering financial incentives for drivers to join their ranks as they struggle to fill vacancies, with a welcome bonus of £1,000 being offered

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) estimates that the shortfall in drivers now stands at 100,000 due to a combination of factors from Brexit, Covid-19 and a testing backlog.

Veolia is reporting an average of 15% vacancy rates for driving roles and says it is proving very challenging to fill this resourcing gap given the dynamics of this labour market.

To combat the shortage, Veolia is now urging parents to consider whether a career in driving might be for them.

The company wants to highlight the benefits for parents looking for part time roles that they may have never considered.

Beth Whittaker, chief human resources officer at Veolia UK and Ireland, explained: “Although all drivers are welcome, we do want to focus on mums looking for a part time job that can wrap around school pick up.

“I am frustrated by the stereotype of binmen as I speak to the women who work here and, even though it’s a minority, they are passionate about what they do.

“We are looking to break down the barriers that are placed there and we would like to increase the number of females working on our teams.

“We offer a really good lifestyle – no overnights, no long-haul or overseas, so ideal for family time.”

Veolia says it welcomes all applicants and is dedicated to creating a workforce for the future where diversity and representation is key.