truck driver

hgv technician

transportation coordinator

section leader

warehouse worker

Gist

Gist, used to be a good company to work for, how times have changed!

The past few years have been an extremely fast, downwards spiral. Compared to 10 years ago, the business is unrecognisable.

Although there are still some great people operating in the business, unfortunately they are very few & far between.

The most senior managers in the business can only be described as bottle merchants & are so far detached from the actual reality of the operation and it's employees feelings, that the cycle hasn't been broken & keeps on repeating itself.

Job security & staff retention is alarmingly low, anger, anxiety & general unhappiness from staff at all levels, very high.

There is so much uncertainty around key contracts continuing, coupled with radio silence from the company to its staff, this has had a significantly negative impact on employees. The mental wellbeing of staff & absence due to this is very worrying...

The sad reality of working at Gist is you are only seen as your 8 digit employee number. The corporate jargon "progressive, accountable, collaborative, equality" are just a smokescreen. Reality is quite the opposite.

At the Thatcham depot, the level of managerial quality is ridiculously low. Nearly all senior managers are more interested in what can only be described as a "boys club" & maintaining/massaging each others ego's, rather than actually being managers & supporting their team.

If you are seeking a workplace where you feel confident to challenge/report unethical things, this isn't for you. 

Likewise, if you are seeking a workplace that treats all staff equally then this isn't for you.

Training is non existent, yet technicians are expected to deliver to manufacturer level & work on the latest products.

I would find it difficult to recommend this company as a place to work based on my experience.

When I first joined as a warehouse operative, the role seemed promising. There was a strong emphasis on career progression and development, and I was initially optimistic about the opportunities available. However, over time, my experience did not reflect those early expectations.

While the pay is competitive compared to similar roles and is likely a key reason many employees stay, it is unfortunately one of the few positives I can highlight.

In terms of workplace culture, I found the environment to be quite challenging. Morale among staff often seemed low, with many employees feeling under pressure to constantly meet demanding performance targets. Feedback was frequently focused on what wasn’t being achieved rather than recognizing effort or improvement, which can be discouraging over time.

From my perspective, management support was limited. Communication could be lacking, and I did not feel there were sufficient opportunities to raise concerns or have constructive one-to-one discussions. This made it difficult to feel heard or supported within the role.

I also felt that employee well being was not always handled as sensitively as it could be, particularly when it came to health-related absences, which added to the overall pressure of the role.

Overall, while the salary may appeal to some, I personally value a supportive and respectful working environment, and this role did not meet those expectations for me. There may be better options available for those seeking both fair pay and a more positive workplace culture.

Basic job fairly easy if you're a competent HGV driver at this site. Will go to same handful of sites. All shift patterns unsociable  and not managered, so you will get hammered for months whilst others doing very little. Never acknowledged when you have a late finish on last shift, nevermind compensated for following week. Mostly motorway and A road driving, no store deliveries. Fairly relaxed plenty of waiting about at delivery/collection sites so never get short shifts. Not hassled or chased just left to get on with it. Management not really interested in you as person or improving the job for anyone. Major contracts cancelled, no one told.. Very poor communication at times. They don't stand up for drivers when they get messed about at delivery sites. No social of out work activies. Very little team work, everyman for themselves; colleagues will leave vehicles with obvious defects, flat tyres,  not fuelled and dirty. You report or mention stuff, no one is interested; no one seems to care. Christmas came and went without and acknowledgement either work or personal wise. No briefs/ communication in advance or predicted increase volumes or plans for. No cards/wishes from onsite Management for Christmas or New Year at all. Pay is good for what you do extra money for nights and weekends. Good bonus if you wanted extra shifts in December. Use driver scores and put league table on wall each week but don't say anything if your scores aren't great. I would say overall company is better than this location and department. Other than being paid nothing positive about job. 

I had my interview and the staff were really nice. Driver trainers were lovely and set the expectation of the job saying “expect 12 hour shifts” and “I’d join the union because they’ll throw the book at you for anything here”.

Certain things they would get you a disciplinary that you are not allowed to do AT ALL.
1.) going into the trailer. Not allowed full stop. You do so and get caught you’ll get done.
Which is a vital part of a job as a driver to make sure you can secure your load. You’re out on the road and a warehouse doesn’t let you on the bay to sort it you will be waiting for someone “qualified” to come and do it for you. 
2.) using a truck sat nav. Yes you read that correctly. An over reaction to a genuine issue when someone used a car sat nav and hit a bridge causing the complete ban on all sat navs.

When joining I expected not to hit 15 hours unless catastrophic traffic or anything happens. But you’ll find you’ll be due back in 12 hours and they’ll send you somewhere else where they will essentially waste your time. 

I left after a week because after being told about how “we push a good work life balance” I saw in actuality they don’t. 

Not only this but I left over a month ago and I still haven’t received my weeks wage due to their multiple errors with payroll.

In all honesty I wouldn’t touch gist with a barge pole unless you WANT to be worked like a dog. 

I've workeed a couple of years in FTE position. manual job, moving trays and boxes to m&S stores. They provide ppt training later on, but debends in our management decision. sometimes management is very stressful to us to achieve volummes and do taksks. however there are permanent foreigners that are helpful to explain more to new people who get in doubt how to continuee with the job, and smiling alot , they give courage and laugh. I was helped by one of them when I've started that job for many things. He is like top dog, he knows what is going on everywher and he've helped me a lot of to retent in Gist. some of them of those pepple misunderstood by their good intentions by some of the manager and other people who are defensive a lot of because they dont care to change things only to get things done, the job culture  needs improvement. This christmas there were no barriers that they've put before at CC ,and it was difficult to work and ppt pass wothout to touch poeple. Managers are not clear sometiemes as you have no clue  if they are deal ing with ussues as no feedback or yes or no was given straight awaythat they will deal with lorry or floor problem.People was struggling to outload in the same time in certain places this christmas queueing with agency pickers. Connected by car, train, bus or taxi on the busiest days. 

as a woman worker I feel respected in that company. there are female leaders  on the site, but some of men workers were misunderstood due to the high competition and fast paced environment.  Some foreigner managers don't have empathy for them. some permanents men workers have good intentions to change and advise how that depot will change in a better way its job culture. Very common to see a manager and employee speak each other, and manager being rude and don't leave those people to go to senior managers to report anything from the floor as managers will be looked ridiculous that they didn't manage the floor. They put floor marshalls, but only one foreigner short guy fast was moving pallets on Christmas. That Christmas peak period, there were many managers on the floor, but they did have no clue how to manage. no hands-on attitude on busy moments. two of them foreigner managers just speaking, and leave us to struggle on queues with permanents and other agency. people tried to report. people have fear to speak as managers  will misrepresent the facts in their way easily, and just talk to each other they don't want to complain formally.. they give oppontunities to upgrade in some tasks after a request.

Started off greatly. Then I ran into more ongoing health problems which they knew about. Like every other food industry employer they tell you to be off for a minimum of 48 hours if you have sickness and diarrhea,or even one or the other. Unfortunately I wasn't always able to make my work and despite being offered support by one of the on site management I found myself receiving a letter telling me that my employment had been terminated with immediate effect. Also having current issues with payroll. If you are off and receive "optional" occupational sick pay - ie full pay - then chances are they'll just take it back from you via a "claim" or whatever. Very poor taste to be honest. Surely they could have arranged to take small deductions from me had I not been entitled to this optional occupational sick pay? Then again it was payroll's decision and not mine! I would say it's a great place to work but it's not really! Management expect you to stand around in the cold and chilled warehouse when there isn't anything to do! Most of the tipped inbound goods can take hours before it's scannable and pickable! Always have far too many agency staff in when they know there is probably going to be little work! And some of the management are rude!

I have been working for Gist for 3 years.I have been a HGV diver for 27 years and this has been the best company I have worked for,its also the easiest work I have ever had as a driver.The work is clean,the vehicles are well maintained and the staff get trained for the job,There are always staff to help if you have any issues,Yes its true most of the office staff have never been drivers,but they will listen if you offer advice.Planning of routes can sometimes be a bit hit and miss,but if you go out and give it your best shot,then thats all they ask,just dont have a give up before you start attitutde.Gist have a good pension scheme open to all Gist employees.A standard week is 5 shifts which include 1 weekend day,i.e Sun - Thur. Anyone that ever says working at Gist is hard work has obviously never worked for a general haulage company,roping,sheeting,and out 4 nights a week.The management are friendly and approachable,and are on a first name basis with everyone,Its true some other jobs pay more,but be warned you will work  hard for it,Overall Gist is a good, friendly company with easy clean work,and the pay is very good for the type work

Gist-BELLSHILL

AVOID...unless you like starting at 06:00 only to find there's no unit or trailer available for you, which means sitting in canteen for up to 4/6 hours, then youre expected to catch up all the work you shouldve done when you were sitting in the canteen, this is a daily event..

Thats after standing at office window for half an hour being ignored by staff in office looking back at you, or should i say through you, extremely poor planning, poor maintenence of equipment ie trailers and units, bellshill service thier own equip, but the mechanic does not posses a c+ e licence, so how can he road test his repairs?

Management treat drivers like dirt and ALWAYS side with customer if complaint is made about driver, regardless if driver is in the right, very poor morale amongst drivers due to managements incompetence and ignorance, wrong people with wrong attitude doing a job thats out thier depth, also turn a blind eye to infringements as long as load is delivered, now theyve painted themselves into a corner as no driver worth thier salt in a 50 mile radius will touch them with a barge pole, this place is a shambolic excuse for a transport company.

Gist-BELLSHILL

AVOID...unless you like starting at 06:00 only to find there's no unit or trailer available for you, which means sitting in canteen for up to 4/6 hours, then youre expected to catch up all the work you shouldve done when you were sitting in the canteen, this is a daily event..

Thats after standing at office window for half an hour being ignored by staff in office looking back at you, or should i say through you, extremely poor planning, poor maintenence of equipment ie trailers and units, bellshill service thier own equip, but the mechanic does not posses a c+ e licence, so how can he road test his repairs?

Management treat drivers like dirt and ALWAYS side with customer if complaint is made about driver, regardless if driver is in the right, very poor morale amongst drivers due to managements incompetence and ignorance, wrong people with wrong attitude doing a job thats out thier depth, also turn a blind eye to infringements as long as load is delivered, now theyve painted themselves into a corner as no driver worth thier salt in a 50 mile radius will touch them with a barge pole, this place is a shambolic excuse for a transport company.
Pros
Easy work
Cons
How long have you got??

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Truck driver 102 salaries reported	£20.50 per hour
Hgv technician 30 salaries reported	£50,722 per year
Transportation coordinator 42 salaries reported	£31,573 per year
Section leader 22 salaries reported	£35,088 per year
Warehouse worker 40 salaries reported	£14.56 per hour

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