During the lockdown period, the company's employees were designated as key workers as they collect and process mail and parcels for delivery to consumers around the UK.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA), the representative body for the operators of commercial vehicles, wanted to ensure that those who work in the haulage industry were also recognised through its HGV Heroes campaign and Whistl was approached by the RHA to nominate its HGV Heroes.

The first to be nominated are Glasgow’s John Thomson and Fraser Hickman and Bedford’s Bryn Williams, David Bareford, Piotr Lipinski, Vincent Ambridge, John Welbourne and Karim Meridji.

Thomson was nominated because he went above and beyond in order to fulfil his customers’ requirements during the lockdown period and remained optimistic throughout, while Hickman was recognised because he continued to provide the same level of professionalism to customers, even within the restrictions imposed by social distancing.

Williams, meanwhile, was nominated for carrying out urgent collections when he wasn’t due to, in order to fulfil customer needs.

Whistl chief executive Nick Wells said: “We are pleased that the key worker status of the delivery industry has been recognised by these awards.

“Our transport team are an integral part of the business and it is important that they are recognised as the HGV Heroes they are.”