LGV drivers are being offered a £1,000 welcome bonus for taking a job carrying out Somerset's struggling waste collections.

The county has been hit by a shortage of drivers, leaving recycling collections delayed and garden waste collections on hold.

Now, the county's waste collection contractor, SUEZ, is offering a £1,000 bonus for professional LGV drivers joining its workforce as full-time permanent staff.

The incentive reflects tough competition in Somerset, where the national Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) driver shortage is more acute due to many distribution hubs in and near the county.

Staff shortages and the impact of Covid, including the isolation pingdemic, have disrupted Somerset's waste services in recent months.

The one-off £1,000 bonus from SUEZ is conditional on successfully passing a probationary period with associated performance standards.

As well as using more agency drivers in the short term, Somerset needs more than 25 new full-time permanent LGV driver/loaders for work collecting recycling.

To help address this SUEZ is funding training for its recycling loaders to become LGV drivers, with the latest 23 candidates already going through an intensive course.

Matt Canning, SUEZ contract director, said: "Working in recycling keeps you fit and helps the environment. For those who want to develop their careers, there is plenty of scope to get on, such as the loader-to-driver courses.

"Our LGV drivers are working in Somerset, starting early but finishing early, with no overnight stays away from home. Our crews are part of the local community, providing an essential service in all weathers; it’s rewarding work."

Somerset Waste Partnership managing director, Mickey Green, said: “The welcome bonus comes on top of a retention bonus for drivers, a weekly performance bonus for all staff, and considerable efforts to recruit, retrain and retain drivers.

"These measures will take time to have impact, and we apologise to residents of Somerset for the ongoing service disruption."

For more information, and to apply for jobs, visit suez.co.uk/en-gb/join-our-team-in-somerset, email somersetjobs.uk@suez.com, and to discuss the roles, call 07970 724559.

To post a CV, include email and phone details, with preferred role and location, write to: Gary Shimmin, Suez UK, Colley Lane, Parrett Way, Bridgwater TA6 5LB.