A hunt to find the country’s gritter driver of the driver has commenced after more than a quarter of Brits said there were no crucial winter jobs.
Vehicle builder Econ Engineering said the country would grind to a halt in the winter were it not for its customers clearing the roads, often in the middle of the night and in hazardous conditions.
It commissioned a poll, which found 27% of the public thought there was no profession that qualified as being a winter hero and fewer than one in 10 (9%) recognised the importance of gritter drivers.
In response, Econ Engineering has launched The Grit and Glory Awards, which will crown the country’s best gritter and clear the way for raising awareness of these unsung heroes.
Jonathan Lupton, Econ MD, said: “We’re very proud of the role Econ plays in keeping our nation moving.
“This winter, our customers up and down the UK will be gritting, clearing and de-icing, knowing that every Econ vehicle will stand up to the task at hand.
“But none of that would be possible without the dedication and skill of hundreds of highly trained gritter drivers. Getting up in the middle of the night and going to work in all weathers and over the festive period, it’s only fitting that these hardworking individuals get the recognition that they deserve.
“We’re looking forward to crowing Econ’s first ever Gritter Driver of the Year.”
Lettie Fenlon, a 28-year-old gritter driver from Ripon, said: “I love my job as a gritter driver, but it’s not for the faint hearted.
“As soon as the temperature falls below five degrees, we’re essentially on call all the time, which as we know, can be at any time of the year in this country!
“We can be on the roads at any time of day or night too; I was once called out at 2am on Boxing Day!
“It’s such a satisfying job though and I know that it makes a difference to the communities along my route,” she added.
To find out more about the awards or nominate a gritter driver, visit www.econ.uk.com/grit-and-glory-awards.
