Name: Gareth Baker
Job Title: Workshop Supervisor
Company: Turner Groundscare's Tarvin
Age: 23

23-year old Gareth Baker is workshop supervisor at Turner Groundscare’s Tarvin, Cheshire depot. He works with eight other mechanics dealing with golf and turfcare equipment that ranges from portable generators up to tractors. Enjoys motivating the workshop team, has professional pride and impressing customers with trouble-shooting skills. Won service technician of the year at GLEE two years ago, and provides product training for customers.

Q. What’s in a typical day?
A. In the winter, its mostly workshop-based tasks, but in the summer, I’m out on site a lot, servicing and repairing at customer’s premises.

Q. Did you always want to be a technician?
A. Yes. I like to be hands-on, and I enjoy mechanical and technical problems. Makes you think laterally at times, too.

Q. What was your first job?
A. This really is my first job which I’ve had for four years after finishing a degree course in engineering at Reaseheath college. Though I’ve only been made up to workshop supervisor in the last 12 months.

Q. What do you like about the industry?
A. Outdoor life is great, and the people we work with – colleagues and customers – are all very different characters. There’s plenty of variety in what we do. We don’t do boredom.

Q. What perks does your job offer?
A. A company van, good pay, mobile phone, clothing and boots, and good workshop conditions. Oh, and we have a good laugh with colleagues.

Q. What skills do you need for your job?
A. You need good communication skills to understand products and customers needs. I have advanced mechanical engineering, NVQ level 2 in welding and fabrication and a diploma in agricultural engineering too. They’re all useful to help me work my way up the engineering ladder.

Q. What is your biggest challenge?
A. Taking many different types of machine apart and putting it all back together again so it works better, and more efficiently. I like to think I make a difference.

Q. Given your time again, would you choose a different career path?
A. Probably not. But I do feel a bit too specialised working with just farm machinery, golf and turf equipment. I’d like to be able to work on a wider range of equipment.

Q. What is your family background?
A. My parents are dairy farmers, but I couldn’t see much of a future in farming for myself. And I’d rather work with machinery than animals.

Q. What gives you a buzz?
A. To know what’s wrong with a machine straight away and then impress customers by giving them a fast, efficient repair to get them back on their way.