Blue collar bourgeois! ‘White van man’ stereotype dismantled as research shows a third of tradies are privately educated
New research has challenged the ‘white van man’ stereotype – as it is revealed that a third are privately educated or went to grammar school.
According to new figures from Mercedes-Benz Vans, ’33 per cent of van drivers under the age of 35 went to private school’ and ‘just under half’ have a degree – be it foundation, bachelor’s or master’s.
The data appears to bust the famously hailed image of the travelling tradesman, often associated with being working class, and suggests a ‘new wave’ of middle class graduates in the profession.
As reported by the Telegraph, it’s an increase from the demographic only making up around 12 per cent of the vocation in 1995.
Earlier this year, ‘white van men’ were ranked to be among the UK’s ‘most British institutions’ – topping roast dinners and the Royal Family.
In a poll of 2,600 conducted by Direct Line, people were asked to rank what they thought made Britain the place it is today.
Shockingly, it turns out that the UK’s army of white van drivers were found to be more of a British institution than the Royal Family.
The poll also found that food dominated what we think of as the ‘most British’, with a Sunday roast and Full English in the top five.
New research has challenged the ‘white van man’ stereotype – as it is revealed that a third are privately educated or went to grammar school. Stock image used
White van drivers clocked up 56 per cent in the poll, while the Royal Family notched up just 33 per cent – with a whopping difference of 23 per cent.
A Sunday roast dinner and Full English were next as they both received 24 per cent. Following them was tea, complaining about the weather and black cabs (all 20 per cent).
Queuing (19 per cent), fish & chips (16 per cent) and the seaside (14 per cent) made up the rest of the list entries.
The phrase ‘white van man’ was coined in the nineties to describe the estimated millions of men and women who travel around in vans working in various trades.
Among them include builders, locksmiths, painter and decorators, plumbers, electricians and delivery drivers – usually self-employed or running a small business and driving a light goods vehicle, aka a white van.
The study, however, also found that the reputation of a white van man had changed over the past 27 years, with 72 per cent of those polled saying they considered white van drivers to be ‘courteous’ drivers.
The data appears to bust the famously hailed image of the travelling tradesman, often associated with being working class, and suggests a ‘new wave’ of middle class graduates in the profession. Stock image used
A spokesman for Direct Line said: ‘The white van is a classic symbol of the nation. So deep is our connection with the great white van that 23 per cent of Brits see them as more British than the Royal Family.’
He added: ‘We also found that white vans are a more iconic symbol of Britishness than Sunday roasts (24 per cent), black cabs (20 per cent) complaining about the weather (20 per cent), and queuing (19 per cent).’
Eva Sandstra-Bennett, of Direct Line, said: ‘White vans and their drivers are a British icon and backbone of the nation, travelling an estimated 57 billion miles a year to repair our homes, fix utilities and deliver our orders.
‘It’s refreshing to see that people appreciate the hard work of white vans and their drivers and that old stereotypes are starting to wane.’
