Apprentice HGV Technician careers guide

What Is An Apprentice HGV Technician?

Similar jobs: Motor vehicle technician

Have you always been interested in trucks and large heavy goods vehicles? And perhaps wondered how these monsters of the road are constructed?

An apprenticeship in the world of HGV (heavy goods vehicle) mechanics will teach you this and much more.

You’ll gain the skills to be able to maintain and repair these powerful and iconic vehicles.

What Does An Apprentice HGV Technician Do?

As part of a Level 2 HGV technician apprenticeship you would be trained in heavy goods vehicle servicing and repair, health and safety, craft skills, fuel, electrical, transmission, steering, suspension, brakes, exhaust, cooling and engine. Motor Industry Training offer industry specific training to employers, schools and young adults. Delivering apprenticeship training on behalf of the government bodies in employer premises and in Motor Industry Training training centres.

If you enjoy the learning process and impress your employer, you can progress to Level 3 in Heavy Vehicle maintenance and repair.

Useful Skills To Put On Your CV:

• Customer service skills – you’ll need to talk about any repairs which might be needed, how long they’ll take to do, and how much they’ll cost
• Good practical and problem-solving skills – every vehicle fault is a problem, and you’ll be using your brain and hands to fix them!
• Being able to follow both spoken and written instructions to carry out servicing and maintenance in the way that’s been asked of you
• Being able to pick up new heavy vehicle tech trends. Being able to think sideways with what you already know and apply it to new situations or upgraded vehicle systems is a big plus.

How Do You Get These Skills?

Vocational qualifications and work experience will help you build these skills over time.

Remember, when you apply for an HGV technician apprenticeship, employers don’t expect you to have knowledge and experience. They just want to see that you are interested in working with heavy vehicles and learning mechanical maintenance and repair skills over time.

Build Your Skills With the FREE Young Professional Programme

You can become an apprentice HGV technician as a school leaver, even before sixth form or college. You don’t need A-Levels or their equivalent to shine in this career.

You will often need three GCSEs or their equivalents in English, maths and IT (minimum grade 4 and above in each) to apply. Many Apprentice HGV Technicians start when they are aged 16-17.

You’ll earn a salary while carrying out a nationally acknowledged apprenticeship (which takes three years to complete).

You’ll work with a wide range of vehicles while learning in-depth about the industry to a nationally recognised standard.

You’ll be trained to understand and work with the very latest in vehicle technology.

Some of the activities you’ll get trained in during your apprenticeship include:

• Heavy vehicle repairs
• Servicing the vehicles
• Doing regular brake inspections and repairs.

Training is provided alongside the role.

These employers all carry our Youth Friendly Employer Mark. We work with them to make sure that they are providing great support and opportunities to young people.

Click on an employer to find out more about them and the youth-friendly opportunities they offer, from work experience and apprenticeships through to graduate schemes.