Please apply by submitting your CV and adding a cover letter as a supporting document.
Job Description: HGV Driver (7.5T) – Surplus Food Redistribution
Reports to: Head of Food and Logistics
Department: Operations
Salary: £26,000-£27,000 per annum
Location: 4 Sisna Park Road, Estover, Plymouth, PL6 7AE
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Working pattern: Monday to Friday, 08:00–16:30 (with flexibility required between 07:00–18:30 depending on shift pattern)
Contract: Fixed Term until 31 March 2026
Benefits: 32 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays per annum, 5% employer pension contribution. There will be a requirement to work some bank holidays.
Location: Plymouth
About FareShare South West
FareShare South West joins the dots between food waste and hunger, empowering communities to turn an environmental problem into lasting social good. We rescue tonnes of quality surplus food from the industry and share it with charities and schools to bring health, dignity, and routes out of poverty for people across the South West. Our supportive volunteering and employability programmes offer local people the opportunity to thrive.
By joining us, you'll be part of an inclusive, friendly team in a small but fast-growing charity that helps fight the injustice of who gets to afford a healthy diet. FareShare South West is an independent local charity, working in partnership with FareShare UK. By being part of the national FareShare network, we can help rescue more food. By being small and independent, we can remain close to our local partners and people and continuously adapt to meet the needs of local communities. The member charities we share food with transform lives, using food to connect people with other support and routes out of poverty, including children and families, people on low incomes, homeless people, refugees, domestic abuse survivors, people in recovery, older people, and many others.
Purpose of the Role
The HGV Driver plays a key role in FareShare South West's mission to reduce food waste and fight hunger across the South West. You will be responsible for collecting surplus food from suppliers and delivering it to our Plymouth depot. The role primarily involves driving a 7.5T vehicle and may also require operating other vehicles in our fleet.
As an ambassador for FareShare South West, you will provide excellent customer service to food suppliers and work closely with our operations team to ensure food is transported safely, efficiently, and with care.
Key Responsibilities
Driving, Collection & Delivery
* Collect surplus food from food suppliers, farms, and warehouses across the region.
* Deliver stock to our depot in accordance with delivery schedules.
* Communicate proactively with the operations team about route issues, delays, or changes.
* Carry out visual checks on all goods, highlighting any quality issues or discrepancies before loading.
* Maintain accurate delivery and collection records in line with internal and legal requirements.
Customer Service & Representation
* Provide excellent service to all food suppliers, acting as a professional and friendly ambassador for FSSW.
* Build positive relationships with suppliers.
* Act as a point of contact between supplier sites, the food team and operations, escalating any issues as needed.
* Build positive relationships with suppliers, providing feedback from suppliers and contribute to the continuous improvement of our logistics service.
Vehicle Maintenance & Compliance
* Carry out daily vehicle checks and report any incidents, defects, or concerns.
* Comply with all relevant driving laws and working time regulations, including tachograph use and payload limits.
* Liaise with the Head of Food and Logistics on vehicle servicing and repairs.
* Follow FareShare's procedures for Food Hygiene, Health & Safety, and vehicle cleanliness.
General Operational Support
* Support warehouse operations between driving activities, including loading, unloading, and occasional forklift use (if qualified).
* Undertake relevant training in Food Hygiene, Manual Handling, and Health & Safety as required.
* Contribute to a positive, inclusive, and safety-conscious working environment.
Person Specification
Essential
Full, clean UK driving license with Category C1 (7.5T) entitlement
Valid Driver Qualification Card (CPC)
Minimum of 1 years' experience driving a 7.5T or larger vehicle
Physically capable of lifting and moving goods as part of daily duties
Experience working within a health and safety-focused environment
Good geographic knowledge and confident navigation skills
Strong communication and customer service skills
Reliable, proactive, and able to work independently
Positive and professional attitude
A strong alignment with FareShare South West's mission and values
Desirable
* Experience in multi-drop delivery driving
* Accredited forklift truck license (counterbalance)
* Experience in a food handling or distribution environment
* Level 2 Food Hygiene qualification (or willingness to obtain)
* Previous experience working in a charity or community organisation
Behaviours
At FareShare South West, we value people who share our commitment to social justice, sustainability, and teamwork. We expect all team members to demonstrate the following behaviours:
* Mission-Driven: Believes in FareShare's purpose and shows a strong commitment to tackling food waste and food poverty.
* Accountable & Reliable: Takes ownership of tasks, meets deadlines, and ensures a high standard of work.
* Collaborative: Builds positive working relationships and values team input.
* Adaptable: Responds constructively to change and finds practical solutions to operational challenges.
-Respectful & Inclusive: Values diversity and treats everyone with dignity and fairness.
* Calm Under Pressure: Maintains a composed and professional approach in busy or unexpected situations.
* Clear Communicator: Shares information appropriately with team members and partners to support safe and efficient operations.
* Detail-Oriented: Pays attention to the small things that matter — from vehicle checks to food quality and documentation.
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 6 months
Pay: £26,000.00-£27,000.00 per year
Benefits:
* Company pension
* Health & wellbeing programme
* Sick pay
Ability to commute/relocate:
* Plymouth PL6 7AE: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Licence/Certification:
* Driving Licence (required)
* Category C1 Licence (required)
Work Location: On the road