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Gareth Hoyle

What driving license do you need for a driver job?

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The driving licence that you require for driver jobs will differ depending on the exact role for which you are applying. If you are a taxi driver, for example, you will need to have held a full driving licence for at least twelve months (or for three years if you are working in London). If you wish to work as a bus or a coach driver, meanwhile, you will need a PCV license in addition to a full EU driving licence.

Alternatively, you may be interested in working as a delivery van driver. For this role, a standard driving licence will be sufficient to drive vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes if you gained your car driving licence before 1 January 1997. If you gained your car licence after 1 January 1997, you can drive vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, but will require a separate category C1 licence to drive vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes. You must be at least 18 to gain this licence, and are required to pass medical, theory and practical tests.

Alternatively, you may want to become a Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) driver, which involves driving commercial vehicles over 7.5 tonnes. For this role, you will need a valid LGV licence. To get this, you need to be competent in English and Maths so that you can take the LGV theory test. You will also need to be 18 or over to hold such a licence, in addition to having good eyesight and a good driving record. You will also need to pass a medical as part of the LGV test.

There are several ways to get a LGV licence. If you are already employed by transport operator, for instance as a clerk, then you may receive training from them. If you do not work for a transport operator, you could pay for training through a driver training school before looking for work. The LGV licence is divided into two categories. These include the aforementioned category C1, as well as category C, which allows you to drive rigid vehicles over 7.5 tonnes. This would be followed by a further test that would allow you to drive vehicles with trailers.

If you wish to work as a community transport driver, meanwhile, you will only require a full driving licence as long as you are only driving smaller minibuses or cars. You will need a Category D licence, however, if you intend to drive larger passenger carrying vehicles with more than nine seats.

Bob Blazel writes for a range of job related topics, including skills needed for driver jobs.

What Is Ethical Investment Management?

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The Fair-trade, green and eco friendly movement has arrived into the mainstream in recent years, with an abundance of products now available for shoppers who want to shop ethically. Whilst many people would agree that the ethical provenance of a product is increasingly important to them – affirmed by the fact that ethical goods spending almost tripled from £13.5 billion to £36 billion in the decade from 1999 to 20091 – do investors think in the same way? [Read more…] about What Is Ethical Investment Management?

What qualifications do you need for a construction job?

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Strictly speaking, formal qualifications are not required to gain employment in the UK construction industry. Nonetheless, they remain highly advantageous for applicants to construction jobs.

An extensive set of National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) exist in the UK which provide an education on the theories involved in many vocations and trades. They are known as Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) in Scotland. You can complete an S/NVQ alongside an Apprenticeship and they contain 5 levels. Level 1 is equivalent to a site operative or labourer, Level 2 to a craftsperson, Level 3 to an advanced craftsperson, Level 4 to a manager or professional, and Level 5 to a senior manager.

It is becoming increasingly important to be able to prove that you meet a certain level of certification for a construction job, and indeed it has become a prerequisite on many construction sites. There is also now a very strong emphasis on construction industry occupational, health and safety training. This has led to the development of various certification schemes that provide construction site workers with an official photo ID card which provides proof of their qualification level.

You may find it advantageous to your prospects of finding a construction job to belong to a certification scheme, even though it is not currently required by law. Various different certification schemes exist for different roles.

If you are a carpenter or joiner, a bricklayer, a plasterer, a steel fixer or ceiling fixer, you will need to apply for the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Card, which is known as the CSR in Northern Ireland. The CSCS Card comes in a range of colours that indicate your qualification level. Trainees that are working towards a certified status have red cards, while operatives that have basic skills and that have achieved level 1 S/NVQs, or an equivalent qualification overseas, have green cards. Blue cards, meanwhile, are reserved for experienced workers that have a number of years of on-site experience but who do not have formal qualifications. Finally, skilled workers that have achieved their level 3 S/NVQs or an equivalent qualification abroad have gold cards.

As previously mentioned, you can get a job in construction via an apprenticeship, while in more specific areas there are college courses that may prove advantageous for construction jobs ranging from construction plant mechanic to painter and decorator. Keep in mind that the range of apprenticeships that are available in your area will differ depending on the nature of the local job market.

Bob Blazel writes for a range of job related topics, including skills needed for construction jobs.

The Top Five Reason to Move to Kent in 2011

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Named the Garden of England, Kent is an ideal location for both families and professionals. If you are considering a move in 2011, there are a great variety of new houses for sale. With its desirable location and rich heritage, it’s easy to fall in love with Kent. What’s more, its great links to London make it ideal for commuters. If you’re considering a move to somewhere new, here are the top five reasons to choose Kent:

London Commuter Belt: This road network connects Lympne, Richborough, and Dover with London, which gives Kent a great link to the capital. If you work in London, or would like to in the future, you can easily commute to and from work.

Rich Heritage: Kent has been in the crossfire of many well-known conflicts, including The Battle of Britain in World War II where East Kent earned the moniker Hell Fire Corner. We have heavily relied on Kent’s ports throughout the past 800 years during times of war and peace. On a clear day, France can be viewed from both Dover and Folkestone.

Hop Gardens/Orchards: Henry VIII always enjoyed a bowl of Kent cherries and he’s not the only one. For hundreds upon hundreds of years, Kent has earned a reputation for the best in gardening and agriculture. While its reputation for agriculture has diminished a little recently, it’s still rightfully crowned the Garden of England. Whether you simply go for a trip or choose to buy a home in Kent, you’ll be amazed by its elegance and beauty. Some of the more famous gardens in Kent include Vita Sackville-West’s Sissinghurst and Winston Churchill’s home and garden, Chartwell.

Education: Kent has three universities—University of Kent, University of Greenwich, a London University with Kent campuses, and the Canterbury Christ Church University, In addition, nearly a quarter of the UK’s grammar schools are to be found in Kent. Many families are attracted to the area so their children can attend the good schools around the area.

Popular County: The BBC determined that Kent offers a better quality of life than Sussex, another plush residence. In fact, Kent is so popular that it was named one of the best places to live in England by Country Life Magazine. BBC figures highlighted that Sevenoaks in Kent had an average price of £377,663 and Thanet contained the cheapest properties averaging £169,490.

Arthur Sperks is obsessed with homes, architecture, design and the property market; particularly new homes for sale. He writes frequently on these subjects and enjoys guest posting on numerous blogs throughout the Internet.

What do vegetarians eat to ensure they don’t miss out on nutrition?

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A vegetarian can be defined as a person who does not eat or believe in eating meat, fish, poultry or animal products such as fat. They may eat dairy products like milk and cheese as the animal was not killed to obtain it: it is vegans whom refuse to eat or use any animal product – even leather.

Nutrients that may be lacking in a vegetarian diet

Protein

Poultry such as chicken and turkey is an excellent source of protein, which is needed by the body for a range of functions including energy metabolism and the growth and developments of cells1. The good news for vegetarians is that there is a wide range of plant based foods that also contain protein.

Nuts, seeds, beans and pulses make up the bulk of vegetarian friendly protein-rich foods. Lentils, black beans and soybeans are particularly rich in protein2.

Vitamin B12

The body only needs a small amount of this vitamin each day; however it is nonetheless an important nutrient. Vitamin B12 plays a role in the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system, and in the formation of blood3.

For vegetarians, dairy foods such as eggs and cheese are the best source. As no plant source of vitamin B12 is known, many vegans opt to take supplements to ensure they get all their body needs.

Iron

Red meat is one of the richest sources of iron, and this mineral is easily extracted from red meat by the body. Despite this, there are a number of other non-meat food sources that are rich in iron. We’re all familiar with Pop-Eye getting his strength from cans of spinach, and indeed spinach is a good source of the stuff. Other fruit and vegetables which contain iron include figs, spring greens and baked beans4.

If you are considering changing your diet to exclude meat, poultry, fish or other animal products it is wise to consult a nutritional professional, who will be able to advise you on how this may affect your health.

Haylee Hulme writes on a range of health related subjects, looking at nutritional issues such as including supplements in the diet.