Back in November, the Veterans into Logistics charity established a two-year partnership with Asda Logistics Services to support their mission of preventing homelessness and unemployment in the veteran community. Asda also made a donation of £40,000.
Wez Thomson is the first veteran to complete his Class 1 HGV training via the scheme, and he will now be starting a new driving career with Asda.
39-year-old Wez joined the British Army after leaving school in 1996 and served for nearly seven years, seeing active service in Northern Ireland and Kosovo with the Grenadier Guards.
Wez says he has been impressed with Veterans into Logistics’ efficiency and support whilst getting his Class 1 HGV Licence. He already had his Class 2, but it was too expensive for him to do his 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.
Darren invited Wez down to the training office, and the rest is history.
Commenting on that meeting with Darren, Wez said:
“I met him and had a few brews with him, we have the same background and interests. I immediately felt comfortable in his office with the infantry and para flags and memorabilia.
I must admit I was dubious at first. 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. This means so much to me and my family and I’m excited to start. Thank you to Darren and Veterans into Logistics for supporting and training veterans into new careers in the logistics industry.
I would encourage any veteran to contact Veterans into Logistics. Take the plunge, I had a new career lined up within weeks, with better money which means a nice family holiday and being able to enjoy a few more of the nicer things in life.”
Meanwhile, Darren himself added:
“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.
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.
This new year, Wez will be joining other veterans who have been through our training and worked as HGV drivers at Asda for several years. They have established good careers and importantly say they feel respected and appreciated by Asda. We know that Wez will fit right in.
We look forward to announcing the other nine veterans who will benefit from this life-changing investment which will give them structure, stability and financial security.”
Melanie Richmond, Training Manager at Asda Logistics Services, also praised the scheme:
“We are delighted to continue our partnership with Veterans into Logistics with this investment that will help to support 10 armed forces veterans with the opportunity to be upskilled to hold an HGV licence.
We have been working with Veterans into Logistics for the last two years, helping them with their vision of supporting and rehabilitating ex armed forces back into work and civilian life and the next step of their life journey.”
In a press release, Veterans into Logistics described its first two years in existence as “exceptional”, stressing the charity had successfully trained or supported hundreds of ex-military personnel into new HGV driving careers.
Moreover, the charity featured in a BBC 1 documentary and received high-profile ministerial visits from the Cabinet Office, while it was also awarded the prestigious Gold Armed Forces Covenant for their support to reservists, service leavers and the veteran community.