BRADFORD-based hygiene chemical company Christeyns has added HGV driving qualifications to its apprenticeship scheme to provide a solution for the driver shortage.

Apprentices, Tom Grundell and Danny Clark, started their apprenticeships in September 2021 and following 18 months of training and immersion in the business, will be out on the road delivering chemicals for use in the Industrial laundry and construction sectors.

Richard Boardman, transport manager at Christeyns UK, said: “The driver shortage has hit the supply chain hard.

“We wanted to find a way to encourage young people into the profession as well as future-proofing our own business.”

Christeyns has also taken delivery of two new DAF XF480FAX Rigid HGV wagons with a gross capacity of 32 Tonnes, taking the fleet to a total of 11.

The average mileage of each of the trucks is 70,000km per year as they travel across mainland UK, Northern Ireland and Eire.

The drivers’ main responsibility is the safe transfer of bulk liquids from IBCs into customer’s bulk storage tanks using specialist pumping equipment on their wagons.

Christeyns develops systems and chemicals that help customers save money and improve the efficiency of their operations by maximising water and energy use and cutting down on waste whilst being kinder to the environment.