Latest crop of HGV technicians welcomed into Mercedes-Benz’s fold

A new cohort of qualified truck technicians was welcomed to the Mercedes-Benz UK dealer network last month, with a rallying call from its MD that the candidates represented “the future” of the company.

The 55 attendees of the truck maker’s graduation day celebration were told by Heiko Selzam how he had once been in their shoes, having begun his career 27 years ago with an internship at parent firm Daimler Benz.

“This is a people business,” Selzam said.

“We rely on you to take us forward, and to help deliver the services that our customers depend on.”

Jessica Heppenstall, a 22-year-old graduate, said her obsession with vehicles and engines began when she was eight: “After leaving college I took a job in a local independent garage, but joining the Mercedes-Benz apprenticeship programme opened up a path to a career with better qualifications, higher earning potential and support for continued development,” she said.

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Lee Lousvet, 20, said he had wanted to be a mechanic since he was very young and had previously been involved in ‘banger’ racing: “I was delighted to win a place as a Mercedes-Benz apprentice straight from school at 16 years old,” he said.

“I much prefer working on trucks – compared to a cramped car engine bay there’s so much more room to manoeuvre!

“Now I’ve reached this stage I definitely want to stay with Mercedes-Benz. My next goal is to increase my knowledge and experience so I can gain the higher qualifications to become a diagnostic technician, then to keep learning and developing to go as far as I can.”

An industry-wide shortage of heavy vehicle technicians has been raised by trade associations, manufacturers and hauliers as a serious problem that needed to be urgently addressed.

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