Life on the Road: Ian Stevenson

In our previous meet the team profiles, we have featured employees that work in our offices and production facilities in Aberdeen, but one of the most essential parts of our business is getting the products we manufacture from the factory to our customers. Our driver, Ian, helps to make this happen. We caught up with him to find out what his role as a driver entails and what he enjoys most about working life on the road.

Background and Experience:

When I started working at Nu-Style, I was the only lorry driver and drove the company's only 7.5-tonne lorry. Over the years as the company has expanded and grown, we now have four permanent drivers including both 18 tonne 26 and 7.5 tonne lorries, and a pickup truck to cope with the number of deliveries we now do.

I haven't always been a driver as I trained as a baker when I left school in my hometown of Orkney. I worked in various bakeries and moved to Aberdeen in 2000. Five years later, I decided I wanted to move away from baking and try something a bit different and shortly after got my first role as a driver. Although technically still in the baking trade as I was delivering products to Warburtons. This role was very unsociable and had a very early start (3am), so I decided to join the team at Nu-Style back in 2009.

Delivering Across the Country:

I am one of the delivery drivers, and I predominantly work across Scotland. My routes can vary from Thurso to areas within the central belt and everything in between. I deliver all types of products such as our Perform Panel shower boards, roofing materials and furniture.  I also sometimes help out in the stores' department to cover busier periods which I enjoy too as it can be a different kind of challenge.

When I arrive at work, my lorry is usually loaded or being loaded ready for me to set off on a day filled with deliveries to customers. I love the freedom of being on the road and being able to explore a variety of different places throughout the week – it makes my job very interesting as everyday is a different journey – literally!

COVID Challenges:

One thing that was massively restricted as a result of COVID was the freedom to move around in the way that I'd been doing for work for the last 15 years. I found this strange at first. As restrictions were lifted in the beginning, adhering to physical distancing had an impact when out making deliveries due to longer waiting times to enter delivery yards on site. We have managed to be more efficient as the weeks have passed, and this now just feels like the new norm.

Hobbies and Interests:

As well as spending time with my family, I am a member of a local running group. I'm also a keen Liverpool supporter, so you will often find me cheering them on at home, but I also try and get down to Anfield when I can to watch them live. Unfortunately, COVID has put a stop to that for now!