Wez Thomson 1 (1)

The first of 10 former military personnel to start a new job as an HGV driver has got behind the wheel of an Asda lorry, after the supermarket funded £40,000 into a veterans’ charity.

Asda made the donation to Veterans into Logistics in November last year and the charity said former Grenadier Guards soldier Wez Thomson (pictured) was the first to complete his Class 1 training.

The charity has a two-year established partnership with Asda Logistics Services, which supports its mission of preventing homelessness and unemployment in the veteran community.

Thomson joined the British Army after leaving school in 1996 and he saw active service in Northern Ireland and Kosovo.

He already had his Class 2 but it was too expensive for him to do the Class 1 training himself.

He got in contact with Veterans into Logistics founder and former Royal Artillery Airborne Gunner Darren Wright through professional networking site LinkedIn and over a few brews he agreed to take the plunge.

“I must admit I was dubious at first,” Thomson said. “I couldn’t believe that my Class 1 training would all be paid for and provided by Asda and Veterans into Logistics.

“But it's true and the process has been so quick! This is so good for my family and I can now provide them with the nicer things in life.

“I’m grateful for the Asda funding and I’m pleased to be the first veteran to pass my Class 1 licence and achieve this new driving career.”

Wright said the charity was looking forward to announcing the other nine veterans who will benefit from Asda’s investment: “Myself and the whole team are proud that Wez has become the first veteran to achieve a new driving career with this generous donation from Asda, and Wez’s hard work and dedication,” he said.

“Alongside our driver training scheme, we also provide personal mentoring and understand the skills, discipline, and hard-working ethos that ex-military personnel have from their careers in the armed forces.”

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