National Apprenticeship Week 2023 - Farmfoods HGV Apprentice

National Apprenticeship Week 2023 – Farmfoods HGV Apprentice

This National Apprenticeship Week we spoke to one of our fantastic recent learners, Tom Walpeter, all about how he found doing his HGV Apprenticeship in partnership with SP Training and Farmfoods! He was an incredible learner, recently gaining a DISTINCTION in his EPA. Huge congratulations to Tom! Let’s find out what is was like to be a Farmfoods HGV Apprentice!

The HGV Apprenticeship journey

I started my journey to be a HGV driver in December 2021. To start learning the ropes, we were placed into the warehouse to work, picking the orders to be dispatched the following day.

During this time SP training booked our Theory, Hazard Perception and Mod 2 tests. SP Training helped us to prepare for these, utilising an app called DTS. This was a fantastic tool for learning, allowing up to get up to speed with everything you need to know for your theory tests.

I went into the tests feeling more than confident thanks to the app!

After passing these tests, it was then the waiting game of finding out when my practical training would commence. While we were waiting for the dates, we completed coursework on the OLLIE website (SP Training’s online interactive learning environment). We learned all about the industry, best practises, and more information regarding driving!

Roughly 9 months after starting, I was ready for my practical training and test! I was sent to an amazing company in Lancaster, who taught me how to drive a HGV. The training provided was fantastic and the guys there were brilliant, providing excellent services!

At the end of the Apprenticeship, you have a final exam, interview and driving assessment to pull together everything you have learned. With everything provided by SP Training and Farmfoods throughout the year, I was more than comfortable passing the final exams.

I have now been a driver for Farmfoods for about 5 months and I am thrilled to be a qualified HGV Driver!

Thanks for SP Training and Farmfoods, I am now doing a career I have always wanted to do.

Thank you so much to Tom for taking the time to talk to us about his journey and working with SP Training as a Farmfoods HGV Apprentice. It has been a delight to work alongside him and we are so proud of all his hard work.

Find out more about the Apprenticeships we help businesses build for employees here.