CHILLED and frozen food distributor Nagel Langdons has its roots firmly in Somerset, although it is now owned by a German company.

The firm, which was previously based at Walford Cross, has nine depots across Britain, with two in Bridgwater; one in Showground Road, the other at Express Park.

It has more than 3,000 customers, including companies such as Yeo Valley Foods and Refresco Gerber, operates in this country and abroad and has more than 6,000 vehicles, including more than 500 in England.

It is looking to offer apprenticeships for heavy vehicle service and maintenance technicians over three years; supply chain warehouse level 2 over two years; supply chain operator level 2 over two years; and supply chain specialist large goods vehicle (LGV) driver level 2 over two years.

The firm has offered more than 70 apprenticeships over the past three years.


RELATED: More on the Somerset Skills and Apprenticeships Show


Nagel Langdons training and development manager, Andy O’Neill, said he has been going into schools over the past three years explaining to students aged between 14 and 18 about apprenticeship schemes within the company.

“As soon as I mention the word ‘logistics’ there are a lot of blank faces,” said Mr O’Neill. “But then I explain everything in their homes has been on a truck and they become more interested.”

The firm is keen to attract young people to lorry driving apprenticeships, which involves spending time with a training provider in Bristol to working towards a Class 2 qualification to drive vehicles up to 26 tonnes within 12 months.

Within two years, apprentices will be able to earn a Class 1 licence - earning more than £30,000 a year.

Mr O’Brien said the industry is keen to recruit more lorry drivers due to a potential shortage in the future.


RELATED: More exhibitor profiles 


He said: “The industry has a big problem trying to encourage people to become lorry drivers. A lot of lorry drivers are coming up for retirement and if we do nothing, there will be 150,000 vacancies by the year 2020.”

Nagel Langdons’ warehouses contain 21st Century technology and transport apprenticeship opportunities include fleet management, looking after drivers, route planning and vehicle documents.