Almost 30 years since the phrase ‘White Van Man’ was coined, the working class stereotype once sneered at by a Labour MP has been given a modern makeover.
Van drivers in Britain are swapping pints, fry-ups and energy drinks for matcha lattes, protein shakes and overnight oats, new research has revealed.
Of over 1,000 drivers surveyed by Mercedes-Benz, two-thirds (64 per cent) believe they are healthier than previous generations.
Up to 21 per cent would opt for a matcha latte over builder’s tea and 18 per cent would choose overnight oats instead of a bacon sarnie.
More than a third (36 per cent) would choose a protein shake over an energy drink, while almost a quarter (23 per cent) would have a protein bar over a sausage roll.
Seven out of ten (69 per cent) prefer to identify as entrepreneurs or business owners and over half listen to self-development podcasts between jobs.
Additionally, up to 57 per cent of van drivers are striking deals on the padel court rather than the pub, with 40 per cent making business connections through sport.
The research also found that image matters more than ever to this generation of van drivers with eight in ten agreeing a well-presented van can help cinch the deal.
Van drivers in Britain are swapping pints, fry-ups and energy drinks for matcha lattes, protein shakes and overnight oats, new research has revealed
The transformation comes over a decade after Attorney General Emily Thornberry sparked backlash when she told the Daily Mail she had ‘never seen anything like it’ after tweeting a picture of a family home draped with England flags in 2014 (pictured)
The transformation comes over a decade after Attorney General Emily Thornberry sparked backlash when she told the Daily Mail she had ‘never seen anything like it’ after tweeting a picture of a family home draped with England flags in 2014.
The owner of the home, Dan Ware, famously turned up at the MP’s home in north London to demand an apology but she had already left for work.
He said the Labour MP ‘should have asked me first’ before taking the picture of his three-bedroom home, which he bought with wife Maria for £119,000 in 2002.
The father of four said he had simply put up the three St George flags to celebrate the World Cup, and that it was ‘not political’.
Referring to Ms Thornberry, he said: ‘She’s a snob. What’s she got, a three-storey townhouse in Islington? These flags can be found anywhere you look.’
Then Labour leader Ed Miliband sacked Ms Thornberry for showing ‘disrespect’. Asked what he thought when he saw white vans, he responded: ‘Respect.’
Announcing her resignation Ms Thornberry accepted her tweet had ’caused offence to some people’. She added: ‘That was never my intention and I have apologised.’
Cardiff business owner and mum-of-four Ruth Holland is part of the new generation of business-savvy van drivers dubbed ‘Vantrepreneurs’.
Then Labour leader Ed Miliband sacked Ms Thornberry (pictured in 2014) for showing ‘disrespect’. Asked what he thought when he saw white vans, he responded: ‘Respect’
The owner of the home, Dan Ware, famously turned up at the MP’s home in north London to demand an apology but she had already left for work
The 53-year-old runs Cygnus Airconditioning alongside her husband Jamie.
A keen padel player and runner, Ms Holland has won new business through sporting connections and is now training for her first marathon.
She said: ‘The traditional white van man stereotype is definitely outdated.
‘We’re a working company, but we like to look nice. Our engineers wear uniforms, our vans are well looked after and we take pride in how we present ourselves.’
Her colleague Craig Jones, 46, takes so much pride in his van that even his neighbours have noticed.
He said: ‘My neighbours normally buy me car shampoo and sponges for Christmas because they know I’m outside cleaning the vehicles on a Sunday, rain or shine.’
Iain Forsyth, managing director at Mercedes-Benz Vans UK, said: ‘Britain’s van drivers are built differently today. They’re ambitious, business-minded and increasingly conscious of how they present themselves, both on and off the road.
‘For many, their van is more than just a tool for the job. It’s an extension of their business and a reflection of the pride they take in their work. They want a vehicle that works hard for their business and feels comfortable to spend time in.’
