Heavy Vehicle Mechanic
A Heavy Vehicle (HV) technician services, inspects and repairs HVs, categorised by the Department of Transport as category N2 or N3, and associated trailers, with the associated ancillaries. They work in either a dealership that focusses on a particular manufacturer, or for an independent garage, franchise or large fleet operator that deals with many different makes of vehicles. They work on all the systems found within the vehicle. The nature of the work ranges from replacing simple parts through to solving complex faults with the use of diagnostic methods and equipment. The day-to-day tasks faced by the technician are constantly changing, driven by the introduction of ever more complex technologies and diagnostic techniques. Today’s technician has to demonstrate expertise in the technical side of their role. They must have strong problem-solving skills and a good grasp of the theoretical and practical aspects of vehicles systems and associated ancillaries. They must be able to work independently but also operate as an effective team member, understanding how their workshop and the dealership/garage/branch functions from a commercial perspective, have good customer handling skills and identify ways in which they can work more efficiently.
Basingstoke (/ˈbeɪzɪŋstoʊk/ BAY-zing-stohk) is the largest town in the county of Hampshire.[b] It is situated in south-central England and lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon, at the far western edge of The North Downs. It is located 30 miles (48 km) north-east of Southampton, 48 miles (77 km) south-west of London, 27 miles (43 km) west of Guildford, 22 miles (35 km) south of Reading and 20 miles (32 km) north-east of the county town and former capital Winchester. According to the 2016 population estimate, the town had a population of 113,776.[c] It is part of the borough of Basingstoke and Deane and part of the parliamentary constituency of Basingstoke.
Basingstoke is an old market town expanded in the mid-1960s, as a result of an agreement between London County Council and Hampshire County Council. It was developed rapidly after the Second World War, along with various other towns in the United Kingdom, in order to accommodate part of the London 'overspill' as perceived under the Greater London Plan in 1944.[2] Basingstoke market was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 and it remained a small market town until the early 1960s. At the start of World War II, the population was little more than 13,000. It still has a regular market, but is now larger than Hampshire County Council's definition of a market town.[3]
Basingstoke became an important economic centre during the second half of the 20th century and houses the locations of the UK headquarters of Motorola, The Automobile Association, De La Rue, Sun Life Financial, ST Ericsson, GAME, Barracuda Networks, Eli Lilly and Company, FCB Halesway part of FCB, BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions (the leasing arm of BNP Paribas in the UK) and Sony Professional Solutions. It is also the location of the European headquarters of the TaylorMade Golf Company. Other industries include IT, telecommunications, insurance and electronics.