“You have to push yourself out of your comfort zone and go for it – that way you can find a career you truly love, and one which works for you and your lifestyle.”
– Matteo Aprigliano
When it comes to a career change, moving from a kitchen into a cab delivering to kitchens, is quite a jump. One person who has made that leap is Matteo Aprigliano, a former chef, now in his early 30s. After working as a chef for ten years, he recently gained his HGV licence with Driver Hire and is now working as a Class 2 delivery driver for a food wholesaler in Edinburgh.
“I switched careers because driving for a living had appealed to me since I was young – I’ve always loved anything with an engine. When I was a teenager, working as a carpenter in Italy, my favourite days were riding in the work van with the driver – I wanted his job!” says Matteo.
He continues, “One of the main things that attracted me to HGV training was the work-life balance. Working for a chef, you do long, hard days, always 12 hours or more. In my driving role now, I work 6.30 am to 3.30 pm, sometimes finishing even earlier! It’s given me more time for myself and my family. I’d advise anyone considering leaving their current career to become a driver.
“I also switched careers because I wanted to work on my own and to be in charge of my own destiny. In a kitchen, if one person slacks off, the whole team suffers. Now, I work hard and I’m rewarded for it – there’s no one standing in my way. I’m more motivated now.”
“I love being out on the road and interacting with different people every day. I’m currently working for a wholesaler, delivering goods to customers. I start my day at the wholesale warehouse, loading up my truck, and then I’m out on the road on my round, making drops. The customers usually stay the same, but the orders change, which adds variety to the shifts. It’s so different to being cooped up in a kitchen space or an office – I love being out on the road and interacting with different people every day.”
“In life, if we don’t take risks, we don’t get anywhere. I think mostly the reason people don’t change careers is because they are comfortable, even if they don’t particularly like the job. They stick within their comfort zone. You have to push yourself out of your comfort zone and go for it – that way you can find a career you truly love, and one which works for you and your lifestyle. Changing careers was scary, but it’s the best thing I’ve ever done for myself.”
Matteo completed his licence acquisition with Driver Hire Training, the training division of Driver Hire Nationwide, the UK’s largest logistics recruiter, established for over 40 years and a recognised market leader. Driver Hire Training is one of the UK’s major providers of Licence Acquisition training, helping people who want to get behind the wheel to gain the qualifications they need. The company also provides essential Driver CPC courses for all classes of driver across the UK.
With Driver Hire Training you can upgrade your existing Category B car licence to a Category C1 goods vehicle licence, enabling you to drive a 7.5 tonne truck. Or you can upgrade to a Category C licence (to drive a Category C rigid truck). You can then upgrade further to a Category C+E licence which enables you to drive a 44-tonne articulated lorry. Licence acquisition training with Driver Hire is available nationwide, making it convenient for drivers and transport operators to access. If required, you can even arrange finance to cover the cost over periods of up to six years.
“I found the HGV training to get my licence challenging, but rewarding,” says Matteo. “ It was definitely worth taking the leap to leave my former career and do the training – becoming a driver is the best thing I ever did for myself. I’m excited to get more qualifications in the near future and further progress my driving career.”
Thinking about upgrading your licence to become an HGV driver? Take a look at the Driver Hire Training website. If you’re considering work with Driver Hire, get in touch with your local office today.