Jez currently works at Keyline, our civil specialist business, as a HGV driver at the Poole branch – but he didn’t start his career as a driver. Before he joined us, Jez was in the Royal Navy which took him on missions to the North Pole. It wasn’t until he enrolled as a reservist in the Royal Air Force that he started gaining his impressive list of driving qualifications. Although his work history may seem worlds apart from a driving career he feels that the support and training he has received working for the Armed Forces is comparable to that which he’s received at Keyline. Read on to hear his inspiring back story and the achievements and challenges he has faced working at Keyline:
“During my time in the Royal Navy, I patrolled under the polar ice caps for missions where we were given a 25% chance of survival”
Jez has an incredible work history, all beginning in 1986 when he joined the Royal Navy. After completing his basic training, he was selected for specialist training as a submariner where he learnt his trade as a sonar operator – including how to escape a submarine in an emergency. Jez recounts that his first boat, HMS Superb (or sneaky boat as they called it), took him and his comrades on expeditions through the Arctic Ocean where their goal was to track Russian nuclear missile submarines and open fire if they opened their missile doors. Not your average career backstory!
“To put it another way the only thing I can’t drive is a motorbike”
The list of driving qualifications that Jez has gained is immensely impressive. He is currently a reservist for the Royal Air Forces as an MT Logistics Driver, having recently joined in 2016. In that time Jez gained his Cat C license - which he uses at Keyline - as well as his C+E and PCV Coach licenses. But the list doesn’t stop there. During his time in the military, he also earnt his blue light license and authorisation to drive dangerous goods (ADR).
“I was headhunted by a former member of MI6 to become his chauffeur”
On leaving the Navy Jez went to study Graphic Design and Printing at university and forged a good career in the industry before setting up a company with his wife. 10 years on they took the opportunity to move to the South coast and take life a little easier. Here Jez restarted his driving career, beginning as a taxi driver and working up to the higher end as a chauffeur for Bournemouth football club. This led to him being headhunted for some very high-profile work and proves that a driving career can lead you down many exciting avenues.
“What I like about the Travis Perkins Group is the support network that is behind you”
Jez actively encourages ex-Armed Force personnel to join the Travis Perkins Group as it’s the perfect platform for anyone making the transition from military to civilian life. We support our colleagues through every step of their career and our ‘Warehouse to Wheels’ scheme is a great example of this. The scheme helps existing warehouse staff gain the qualifications they need to become an HGV driver. There are also a number of apprenticeships schemes that help you gain industry knowledge and progress your career.
“No day is ever the same, no site is ever the same”
What Jez enjoys most about working at Keyline is that no two days are the same. While his responsibilities remain largely the same, the people that he meets and the new sites that he visits make sure that every day is as exciting as the last. His daily routine begins with a vehicle inspection to ensure the safety and roadworthiness, and that the load is secured for transportation. Once Jez arrives at a site, he conducts an on-site risk assessment and secures the area from pedestrian access before using the crane to offload the goods. Once he’s collected a signature Jez sets off for the next site.
“My biggest asset that I developed in the military which has helped me at Keyline is the confidence to take on any challenge”
Jez uses his military training every day in his current role. In the Air Forces, he would strap down his vehicles for cross country driving which has helped him at Keyline to ensure that his load is safe for transportation. His cross-country driver training has also taught him self-recovery skills, and this has been a huge asset on many site visits as it is not uncommon for trucks to lose traction when the weather is poor.
“My biggest achievement and challenge working at Keyline is my ability to hit the ground running”
When Jez started working at Keyline he was the only driver, but he credits his ability to keep a good pace from the offset and get himself up to speed quickly as helping him to keep up with jobs. His advice to anyone interested in joining the Travis Perkins Group is to keep your head down, eyes up and crack on; this will ensure you get the job done safely and efficiently.
Inspired by Jez?
Check out more HGV Driver colleague stories - Esa, for example, began his driving career 18 years ago and started driving on and off before he came to work for Keyline.
