Transport minister Claire Perry, Nigel Mills MP celebrate with Derbyshire trucker from D2N2 area, top brass Rod Dubrow Marshal Derby University with the Master Carmen Lt Col Paul Holder and D2N2 LEP Lindsay Allen.
Illness appeared to be the end of the road for Derbyshire truck driver. Determination to beat diabetes, training at Ripley and support from his employer Sports Direct, saw Jamie Potter train up into a management role and stay in transport.
When illness forced 42-year-old trucker Jamie Potter from the road he feared for the future.
Living east of Matlock he was anxious about his employment prospects when diabetes meant he could no longer drive on his HGV licence.
Now thanks to the support of his employers Sports Direct and the team at Ripley-based AIM Commercial Services he is looking forward to 2015 and continuing in the industry – as a transport manager based at the firms massive Shirebrook distribution centre.
Top brass including the transport minister Claire Perry, Nigel Mills MP and Lindsay Allen for D2N2, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire region LEP with University of Derby deputy Vice Chancellor Rod Dubrow-Marshal and the Master Carmen, Lt Col Paul Holder RLC were all on hand for a special presentation to Jamie at the AIM training centre where he did his management truck CPC course.
“I am proof it is not the end of the world, but it was at the time,” said Jamie. “Luckily for me Sports Direct gave me a chance to change direction.”
It has not been easy swapping life behind the wheel to life behind a desk and effectively going back to school to earn his Transport Manager CPC.
Through the training provided by AIM he obtained the necessary professional qualification and has been honoured with an Outstanding Achievement Award for his efforts.
“It’s a big change for me I had always been out on the road to go into an office environment was totally different.”
Jamie said he is very grateful that Ian Baldwin, Sports Direct’s Global Warehouse Manager and Allison Kemp at AIM have shown such faith in him and his ability to take on a new challenge.
“I am really grateful to Allison and her team who have been so patient and it is thanks to their efforts and support that I have achieved this success.”
Ian said: “He had always been reliable, keen and willing to learn so we did not want to lose him.”
Allison, Managing Director of AIM, said: “We were determined to do all we could to help Jamie. It has not been easy but through hard work and determination he has achieved a great result.”
The 10-day intensive course delivered by AIM, a leading training provider offering support and expertise to the transport and logistics industry, saw Jamie pass first time.
The award to recognise his achievement was presented to Jamie by Roads Minister Claire Perry MP during and event to launch of D2N2’s strategic plan for the sector, attended by over 100 haulage companies and industry leaders.
For more about the courses on offer from AIM visit www.aimcommercialservices.com
