NETE Driver "Student of the Year"

Sixty drivers for North Eastern Tyre and Exhausts (NETE) are celebrating achieving top marks in an accredited qualification. As part of its commitment to staff development, senior management at NETE invited the group to complete an NVQ Level 2 in Delivery and Carrying Goods. And, with a 100 per cent pass rate, every one of the 60 drivers who took part in the course, has good reason to celebrate – but perhaps none more so than Steve Martin, who, at an award ceremony recognising the achievements of Gateshead College students completing NVQs, was awarded Student of the Year in his category.

“Student of the Year”

“It’s no surprise that Steve has been awarded this special recognition,” commented NETE senior operations and logistics manager, John Potts. “His approach to completing the NVQ was the same as his approach to his job: with dedication, commitment and a desire to be the best that he can. Steve is an excellent member of the team, always smiling, even when the temperature is below zero and he is unloading an 18 tonne truck full of tyres! He’s an example to us all.” Martin, who has worked with NETE for four years, scored particularly highly on all elements of customer service in the qualification, so is now even better placed to travel across the north of England delivering tyres to NETE depots across the region. The class two wagon driver from Guisborough, explains the importance of the staff training: “One of the benefits of working for a large organisation such as NETE is that there are the systems in place which focus on staff development, meaning that workers like me are given opportunities to improve our career prospects. Training allows us to enhance our skills and knowledge which results in better working relationships both with our colleagues and our customers.

“The NVQ is aimed at drivers like myself whose job involves multi-drop deliveries and customer interaction. Because we were able to carry out most of our training at the depots, the course assessor could really tailor the content to our every day work,” Martin added. Considering NETE’s announcement earlier this year that the company’s annual turnover had increased to in excess of £50 million, it appears the recent batch of staff training has come just in time. Not only did the NVQ course focus on maintaining the safety and security of loads, it also taught the drivers methods and procedures to ensure that their delivery schedule is planned as efficiently as possible, and focused on the provision of excellent customer services. “As an accredited Investors in People organisation, it is crucial that we continually invest in staff training,” said NETE managing director Gavin Marshall. “We value our staff and the importance of their role in helping us achieve our future growth plans. In the current economic climate, where there is turbulence in the employment market, it is paramount to invest in our staff, thus providing them with the qualifications necessary for career progression, as well as ensuring that they are equipped with the skills necessary to give our customers the best possible customer service.” Starting life as a tyre garage in Brotton in Cleveland 37 years ago, Middlesbrough based NETE now boasts six wholesale warehouses, eight North Eastern Tyre & Autocare retail centres and 15 HiQ Fast Fit centres operated under franchise.