Aaron Roberts - Apprentice of the Year 2026 shortlist

Commercial Motor Apprentice of the Year 2026

Aaron Robers, Heavy vehicles service & maintenance Apprentice, C & W Commercials Ltd/MIDA Commercials

• What first attracted you to the road transport industry, and who encouraged you to pursue it?

From a young age I have had an interest in HGVs and was very mechanically minded. Many members of my dad's side of the family were involved with the road haulage industry; my dad being an HGV driver, my uncle being an owner driver in Canada and my grandad being involved with driving and mechanics over his lifetime. Being surrounded by this I was heavily supported and encouraged to follow my passion in becoming a heavy vehicle technician. 

• What does a typical day in your apprenticeship involve, and what skills are you developing?

A typical day as an apprentice involves finding out who I am working alongside or if there are any jobs available that I can carry out repairs on my own such as: battery changes, replacement of brake discs and pads, and services. Every day I was developing and refining my skills, a couple that stand out the most are observation skills and technical knowledge. There is always something to learn. For example, when replacing and non-serviceable part I ask what has caused it to fail or become faulty. This knowledge is transferable to every job I come across. 

• What part of the job do you enjoy the most, and why?

I really enjoy diagnostics; it creates a huge amount of satisfaction when I find what the problem is. It’s like doing a jigsaw puzzle with only a small part of the reference picture.

• Tell us about something you’ve learned during your apprenticeship that really surprised you.

What surprised me the most is the range of repairs that you can do in a day. You can go from brake to electrical faults to an inspection. There are never two days that are the same. There are also never two jobs that are the same either - which keeps it interesting. 

• Where do you hope your career in the industry will take you over the next 10 years?

With time comes experience, in 10 years I would like to see myself in a position where my knowledge and skills are more diverse, allowing me to carry out more complex diagnosis and repairs. 

• If you could change one thing about how young people see the transport industry, what would it be?

I would change how important young people think the HGV industry is. Many people only see them as huge vehicles that are slow on the roads, when they are machines that keep the world turning. Without the haulage industry we would be in short supply of pretty much everything - medication, food, fuel, raw materials etc. Additionally, the industry is a career path you can grow in. There are so many different avenues you can take whether that is be transport logistics, parts, business, or road safety. It is not just driving and fixing vehicles. 

Who nominated Aaron and why?

This award recognises apprentices who go above and beyond, showing dedication, enthusiasm in excelling to be the best Technician they can be and Aaron is a great example of this.

His willingness to learn, positive attitude, and commitment to learning is second to none, not only did he complete his apprenticeship almost 12 months early he also achieved a distinction.

This is why we at MIDA Commercials feel Aaron is a perfect candidate and deserves to be put forward for this award.

Jo Willaims

C&W Commercials Ltd/MIDA Commercials