Trainee Driver

U816 Veolia ES (UK) Limited; Washington; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

22 days annual leave

Refer a driver £1000

Pension scheme

Financial wellbeing support

Retail discounts

Health & wellbeing resources

Ongoing training & development

Job summary

Veolia ES (UK) Limited in Washington is offering a Trainee Driver role with a clear progression path. The role carries a salary of £33,560 to £40,000 per annum, 48 hours per week, and nationwide opportunities.

You will complete the Trainee Driver Programme, work towards Category C licence and DCPC, and learn from experienced drivers while benefiting from Veolia’s training and wellbeing resources.

Qualifications

• Must be 18+ and hold a valid UK Cat B licence and HGV provisional before joining.
• Physically fit for active, manual work and vehicle duties.
• Pass DVLA theory tests, DCPC case studies, tachograph records and safety briefings.
• Commit to a 16–20 week structured learning framework with 11 days off-site.
• Agree to Veolia Commercial Learning Agreement on entering via the Commercial Training Route.

Responsibilities

• Carry out waste collection, loading, bin handling and depot duties safely.
• Complete Veolia Trainee Driver Programme: theory, practicals, testing and shadowing.
• Work with experienced drivers and Driver Buddies; progress through induction milestones.
• Conduct pre-use checks on vehicles and equipment; report defects promptly.
• Learn transport legislation: drivers’ hours, tachograph, working time rules, weight limits.
• Achieve Category C licence and Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC).
• After qualification, safely operate a range of HGV waste vehicles.

Skills

Driving licence Cat B

Physical fitness

Literacy & numeracy

Safety awareness

Education

HGV Provisional Licence required

D4 medical & D2 application

Job description

Ready to find the right role for you? Salary: £33,560 to £40,000 per annum (Structured progression) plus Veolia benefits Hours: 48 hours per week Location: Washington, NE38 8QU (Nationwide opportunities available)

Veolia is a leader in environmental sustainability, waste management, recycling, and commercial logistics. Dedicated to ecological transformation, Veolia upholds rigorous standards in workplace health and safety, operational efficiency, customer service, and environmental stewardship. Joining Veolia means becoming part of a team committed to sustainability, continuous training, and long-term career growth

What we can offer you

• 22 days of annual leave
• Refer a driver to us once you’ve joined and earn £1000
• Access to our people’s pension scheme
• Stream – Employee financial well being support: early access to your earned pay, savings, budgeting, financial coaching & rewards
• Discounts on everything from groceries to well known retailers
• Access to a range of resources to support your physical, mental and financial health; so you can lean on us whenever you need to
• Ongoing training and development opportunities, allowing you to reach your full potential

What you’ll be doing

• Carry out waste collection, loading, bin handling and general depot duties safely and efficiently
• Complete all elements of Veolia’s Trainee Driver Programme, including theory training, practical instruction, testing and driver shadowing
• Work closely with experienced drivers and Driver Buddies, applying feedback and progressing through the required induction milestones
• Conduct thorough pre-use checks on vehicles, compaction systems, tools and equipment, reporting defects immediately
• Learn and comply with all relevant transport legislation, including drivers’ hours, tachograph requirements, working time rules and vehicle weight limits
• Achieve the required Category C licence and Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC)
• Once qualified, safely operate a range of HGV waste vehicles, including RCVs, FELs, RELs, Skip and RoRo vehicles
• Communicate effectively with colleagues, supervisors, workshop staff, loaders, transport planners and customers
• Maintain the authority to stop work where a task, vehicle or customer site is considered unsafe, escalating concerns promptly
• Represent Veolia professionally by delivering reliable customer service, protecting client property and following site safety requirements
• Apply environmentally responsible working practices, including eco-driving, spill prevention, correct waste handling and vehicle cleanliness
• Participate in regular progress reviews, wellbeing meetings and ongoing training to support safe and successful development into the HGV Driver role

What we’re looking for

Essential:

• Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of commencement
• Must hold a valid, full UK Car Driving Licence (Category B)
• Must have already obtained an HGV Provisional Licence (Category C provisional entitlement added to DVLA licence following a successful D4 medical examination and D2 application) prior to joining
• Must be physically fit and capable of carrying out active, manual work (including manual handling, pushing and pulling heavy wheeled containers, cleaning compaction bodies, and safely mounting/dismounting vehicle cabs in all weather conditions)
• Good basic literacy and numeracy skills to pass DVLA theory tests, DCPC case studies, tachograph records, and safety briefings
• Full commitment to completing the 16-to-20 week structured learning framework, including 11 days away from the business for off-site training/exams and independent study
• Agreement to sign the Veolia Commercial Learning Agreement when entering via the Commercial Training Route

Desirable:

• Familiarity with online learning management systems and digital tablet devices
• Prior experience in waste management, recycling, commercial logistics, warehousing, or transport operations
• Previous employment as a Refuse Loader, Yard Operative, or Driver Assistant

We're proud to have been named as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work for three consecutive years in 2023, 2024 and 2025. This consistent recognition reflects our commitment to our people, demonstrating that Veolia is not just transforming the environment, we're also transforming what it means to have a rewarding, purposeful career.

We're dedicated to supporting you throughout your application journey, offering adjustments where reasonable and appropriate. As a proud Disability Confident Employer, we will offer an interview to applicants with a disability or long-term condition who opt-in to the Disability Confident scheme, and meet the minimum criteria for our roles. We're also committed to ensuring that all applicants and colleagues receive fair treatment without discrimination on any grounds, aiming to create a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.

Ready to see the world as we do? Who is Veolia? Where other people see waste, our community here at Veolia see opportunity. We're determined to push for ecological transformation through waste, water and energy, and are committed to getting the tough jobs done. And most importantly, we see the potential of every member of our team, and are giving them the chance to realise it with us. Whether it's their potential, their commitment or their impact, we see it all. And with our values being community spirit, responsibility, innovation, customer focus and respect they keep us focused on those who matter – all 14,000+ of our employees, our customers and our communities too.