JJ Foodservice looks to recruit female drivers to fill gap left by EU workers

Wholesaler JJ Foodservice is aiming to solve its recruitment problems by encouraging more women to consider HGV driver jobs.

It said it wanted to fill the significant gap caused by European workers returning home following the UK’s exit from the European Union by broadening its talent pool.

The company also said research had shown women’s jobs were 1.8 times more vulnerable to the global pandemic than men’s.

“Only 1% of HGV drivers in the UK are women – we want to help change that,” said Joanna Florczak, JJ HR manager.

Florczak added that although the job may not have appealed to females traditionally, advances in technology had taken the physicality out of the job.

“Plus, many of our drivers have helpers and work as a team,” she said. “Our drivers are the face of our business - they are friendly, professional and provide the great service that JJ has become well-known and loved for.”

The company is offering HGV drivers permanent contracts with no evenings or weekends, and salaries of up to £35K.

The company holds restricted licences in nearly all the traffic areas.