You just finished your HGV training and it is time for you to take your practical test. The test lasts around 1 1/2 hours. It includes the road drive, controlled stop, reversing exercise and “tell me show me” questions. Your instructor will have discussed the test scenario with you and trained you according to the standard necessary for passing the test; you can find instructors at Surrey and Hampshire HGV Training. The following are our top tips that will help you obtain the results you are looking for.

Top 20 Tips

1. Make progress – this is very important You need to make progress wherever it is safe to so. You need to show that you can keep up with traffic and that you are aware of the speed limit.

2. Forward plan – don’t wait until the last minute for everything. Always look ahead. Keep in mind that it takes longer to stop a truck than it does a car.

3. Use the reversing marker – when the marker attached to the rear mudguard on the truck is used it will help to ensure that you can perfectly get the back part of your truck into a box. Your instructor should show you how to do that.

4. Licence – remember to bring both parts of your licence (as well as your theory test certificate). You will not be able to take the test without having those documents.

5. Pre-drive – it is not recommended to train for many hours on the day of your test. Instead, it is important to be ready and refreshed, and not drained and tired. It is recommended that you take a 40-60 minute pre-drive.

6. Use your mirrors –  a very important factor before you do anything (slow down, change gears, speed up, move off, etc) is to make sure that you check your mirrors.

7. Brakes to slow, gears to go – it is not acceptable to use your gears for slowing down and will cost you fault. Brakes are used by a competent driver to slow and then choose the right gear to move forward.

8. Familiarise yourself with the test area – you won’t know what the test route is ahead of time. However, it is a good idea to become familiar with the overall testing area.

9. Stopping – on several occasions you will be required to stop your vehicle when it is safe to do so. Whenever the test examiner requests that you stop, don’t keep driving for an additional 1/2 mile. Safely stop as soon as you can, apply your handbrake, and then cancel the indicator and choose neutral.

10. Face forward – when dismounting and mounting the truck, face forward. Use the steps and handrails.

11. Be refreshed – the night before taking the test, go to bed early.

12. Smooth ride – keep in mind the examiner is human. Like everyone else, he will appreciate a controlled and smooth drive.

13. Meet oncoming traffic – whenever you are meeting oncoming large vehicles, make sure you are prepared to slow down or stop your vehicle as necessary. It is a lot easier to assess uncertain situations when moving slowly or stationary.

14. Vehicle checks – conduct a pre-use vehicle check before taking your test. While performing the check you can go over all possible tell me show me questions that might be on your test.

15. Seat belt – when performing the reversing exercise, take off your seat belt. It will get in your way. After you have completed the manoeuvre, don’t forget to put it back on.

16. More mirrors – you always need to check your blind spots and mirrors whenever moving off from a stationary position.

17. Dress appropriately – it isn’t necessary for you to wear a suit. It is sufficient to work comfortable attire and work boots.

18. Don’t dwell on your mistakes – remember that you are allowed to commit up to as many as 15 minor faults and pass the LGV practical driving test still. If you happen to make a mistake on the test, just move forward and forget about it. You will tend to make more mistakes if you dwell on past ones.

19. Reversing exercise – if necessary, you are allowed up to 2 shunts. Make sure of a shunt if you need it. You are also allowed to get out of your vehicle one time. You should do this if you need to make sure you have placed the rear part of the truck in the right place.

20. Turn off your mobile.

Your love for people might have motivated you to get a job in human resources. But being a successful HR manager requires more than appreciation for different perspectives in life. And to help you, consider the following 10 skills all HR managers should aspire to.

1. Good with Numbers

At face value, your job as an HR manager should not involve crunching numbers. And this misconception is why many people choose to follow this career path. The truth is you need to understand statistics, and you will be doing compliance work, both of which actions require a good grasp of basic mathematics.

You will also be responsible for providing valuable information like turnover reports, estimating accurate salaries, and you should be able to understand affirmative action reports. Thus, you need to put effort into your maths skills if you want to be a successful HR manager.

2. Professional Attitude

Nobody is questioning how complicated personal lives can get. But if you are serious about having a successful career, you have to be able to keep the two separate. Once you step into your office, you should be focused and clear-headed. Once you start blending your personal and professional life, it simply gets too complicated to sustain.

The reality is that HR managers have a tough job, and they cannot afford distractions.

3. Compassionate

As mentioned, you probably already like working with people. However, an HR manager also needs to be compassionate. Remember that a big part of your responsibilities involves listening to problems experienced by employees. No, you are not a therapist. But you need enough patience to guide employees in the right direction if they need professional help.

4. Basic Knowledge of Employment Law

While you do not need to be an attorney to be an HR manager, it adds to your ability to be familiar with laws around employment. You also want to know the legal consequences of certain choices. More importantly, you need to know when you should consult an attorney.

5. Being Everywhere at Once

Even though you will be appointed with specific duties in mind, expect to constantly multi-task. Especially if you start working with a big company and a big fleet of employees. Moving back and forth between responsibilities is going to be part of your daily life.

6. Knowledge Regarding Benefits and Health Insurance

It is your job as the HR manager to help employees understand their benefits and health insurance better. Of course, if employees want in-depth knowledge, the insurance companies should be able to take things further. But you have to be in a position to aid employees in making the best decisions according to their circumstances.

7. Effective Recruiting and Hiring

When jobs are being offered, there are good and bad ways to make this information public. You also want to maintain the image of the company while getting people through the door. Keep in mind that hiring and recruiting is deeply rooted in public relations as well.

8. People Management Skills

While nobody is going to answer directly to you, the HR manager is still expected to manage people when the situation calls for it. For example, when managers and their teams are not getting along, can you mediate the problem? Can managers and employees trust you to be the neutral third party that comes up with a solution?

9. High Level of Discretion

HR managers are not bound by confidentiality laws. However, this does not mean you are at liberty to share all the confidential information you hear every day. Respect what people choose to share and use a high level of discretion before repeating it.

10. Letting People Go

Firing employees is a tough job that needs to be done. But it can be done with tact. In other words, a good HR manager will fire an employee in a subtle way that inspires them to take the next step.

Nobody expects you to excel in all the above-mentioned skills, but striving towards them can take you far as an HR Manager. Check out vivoHR for more ideas.

Do you ever wonder why nannies seem to enjoy their jobs? I am asked this question all the time when people discover I work as a nanny. Surely taking care of children should be tiring and frustrating, but I couldn’t imagine myself in any other role. This article will point out the reasons why being a nanny is so enjoyable!

#1: No Two Days Are the Same

As a typical office worker, you will find that each day is relatively similar. You punch in at the same time each day, work at the same desk, and complete all the same tasks as the day before. This doesn’t apply to nannies. While nannies do have set routines to which they must adhere, the routine changes constantly. For instance, one day we may head to the zoo but the next day may be spent doing crafts. Not only do days differ but they are far more challenging than mundane office work.

#2: The Laidback Dress Code Is a Perk

Everyone has had a moment where they want to remain in their pyjamas. Trust me, this happens more often than not for nannies. However, as a nanny, we have a degree of flexibility with our daily dress code. I have often arrived at work wearing a pair of black yoga pants with my hair tied up in a ponytail. Furthermore, all Fridays can be ‘casual Friday’ if you wish it. You have the option to wear jeans during the week or even shorts in the summer months. An office worker has a formal dress code to consider, including specific dress trousers, skirts or suits with well-done hair and makeup.

#3: No Boss Hovering Over Your Shoulder

Parents employ nannies with the confidence that you will complete all tasks set before you during the day, as well as trusting you with their children. This is a great deal of responsibility; however, being left alone to work can reduce feelings of pressure. Unless you are employed to work in a house where the parent or parents are present, you do have ‘room to breathe’ and can relax when doing tasks. You are your own boss in a way.

#4: Being a Nanny Offers Flexibility in Childcare

I do not use this perk in any way, but I have colleagues who have the option of bringing their own children to work while caring for their employer’s children. While this is not always the case, some families are open to childcare flexibility for the nanny. In fact, some families feel this is a good way for their children to socialise with people outside of their family.

#5: The Pay Is Good

I didn’t want the issue to be a large consideration in this article as there are numerous reasons why I enjoy being a nanny but pay is an important part of all jobs. When I started my childcare career, I worked at a nursery. The work was overwhelming, and the pay was minimal. I felt dejected, underappreciated and hated my job. One of the reasons I chose to leave the position at the day care centre included the issue of payment. While my friends who work at an office earn minimum wages ($10 or less per hour), I have the option to ask for more as a nanny and my employer simply updates the nanny PAYE.

#6: Good Job Security

Education and childcare are fields that have in-demand positions; in fact, they will always remain in demand. Think about it: people are not going to stop having children and there are always those who want others to help with childcare. While the larger employers may hire and fire office workers without thought, everyone looks for nannies. It may take time to find the ideal match, but this match does exist for each nanny. Many of my friends who studied at college and spent thousands of dollars for degrees find themselves unemployed while I enjoy a well paid position.

When it comes to classification, timber can be classified into softwood and hardwood.

These terms can be misleading as not all the hardwoods are hard and not all the softwoods are soft. Take the example of Balsa wood. It is a deciduous angiosperm but it is called a hardwood even when the wood is very soft. The only thing you need to remember is that this classification is based on various properties. Both these types of wood have different properties that suit different requirements. The main difference between softwoods and hardwoods is their cellular structure.

The terminology of softwood and hardwood does make some sense. Deciduous trees are denser as compared to evergreens which makes evergreens easier to cut, whereas hardwoods are too dense which makes them harder to cut. As the example of Balsa wood demonstrates, classification as hardwood doesn’t require the wood to have any minimum weight.

Our manufacturer uses many different types of woods.

Sapele – Hardwood

Windows made from this wood are highly popular. It is a stable, durable and strong tropical hardwood that is perfectly suited to joinery manufacturing. West Africa and the Cameron are the main sources of this wood. In terms of durability, it has a Class 3 to 4 rating which means it moderately durable. It looks attractive as it has a dark reddish brown appearance which makes it perfect for a transparent coating.

Major Benefits

• It doesn’t require preservation treatment due to its lack of permeability, which makes it treatment resistant.
• The density of this hardwood is 640 kg/m² when compared to the European Oak density of 720 kg/m² and European Redwood density of 510 kg/m².
• More than 50% of our purchases from the manufacturer are verified progress.

  It is especially suitable for heritage properties as well as conservation area properties.

Oak – Hardwood

Oak is a type of hardwood that has been traditionally used for making windows. In fact, it has been used for this purpose for hundreds of years. It offers incredible strength and durability making it suitable for heaviest of uses. Also, proper maintenance can make it last a lifetime. Windows made from oak look incredible due to the subtle aesthetics of the timber grain. These aesthetics also make it the perfect traditional choice.

Major Benefits

• It offers a heritage aesthetic due to its incredible wood grain effect.
• It is extremely durable and strong, and long lasting.
• It is one of the most popular traditional choices for windows.

  It is suitable for traditional aesthetic homes, conservation area properties as well as heritage properties.

Redwood – Softwood

The biggest advantage of redwood is that it has a low moisture uptake which makes it relatively weatherproof and helps in enhancing the lifespan of the window. This property makes it perfect for use in a wide range of settings. Windows made from redwood timber are the perfect choice for adding that traditional charm without the need to compromise on the modern aesthetics.

Major Benefits

• It offers excellent durability and dimensional stability.
• It has an enhanced lifespan due to its low moisture uptake.
• It is perfect for modern yet subtle aesthetics.

  It is essentially suitable for new builds as well as properties with modern looks.

Accoya – Softwood

This is a type of softwood with amazing properties. It is specially treated to change its cellular structure which helps in enhancing its overall performance. The treatment process is the non-toxic acetylation treatment process. In addition to its exceptional weatherproofing and thermal performance properties, it also have the advantage of an estimated lifespan of more than 60 years. It also looks great and is capable of repelling insects. Doors and windows made from Accoya are perfect for modern as well as traditional properties. It is sourced sustainably and if you want to know more about this softwood, take a look at our Accoya page for a video presentation and other relevant information.

Major Benefits

• It is extremely durable and has an estimated lifespan of more than 60 years.
• In terms of insulation, it is 40% better as compared to hardwood.
• Factory applied coatings will make it last much longer.
• Any products such as windows and doors made from Accoya are least likely to distort.

Take a look at our range of double glazed windows in Basingstoke.

Cabinetry is one of the most important style decision you need to make when planning your kitchen. Though cabinets are key, you should not undervalue kitchen worktops. You need to invest time and effort in the process of choosing the best worktop that is going to work with your kitchen. Many companies, like Stone and Chrome, provide a variety of different worktops, so it’s really up to you.

Manufacturing methods have become advanced and reliable, and this has resulted in a radical change of worktop materials. There is a wide range of options when it comes to worktop materials, and this means you will be able to find one that you like and within your budget. Technology today has enabled a wide variety of selections for kitchen worktops that are durable. If you are interested in a kitchen worktop that is perfect for your kitchen, then a glass worktop should be at the top of your list.

Many designers have made glass their favourite asset for many years. This is because glass can provide brightness to an area while boosting the light levels. Cleaning spills and splashes are easier when working with a glass surface. This is why glass has become a great option; it is practical, functional, and looks elegant.

Exclusive and Contemporary

Apart from the functional benefits it comes with, glass worktops are the perfect substitutes for traditional kitchen worktop materials.

They come in a wide range of designs and colours, making it easy for you to find one that will be able to work well with your current kitchen setting. If you are considering making it the focal point of your kitchen, then you can install it on a tabletop. One factor that is going to determine the worktop materials to choose is the look you are interested in. You can decide to go with bright and vibrant colours or go with darker colours that are going to give out a traditional vibe.

There are also worktop options that are going to make your kitchen look amazing and larger than it is. With glass worktops, you have the chance of giving the space a very different look.

Safe and Hygienic

Another reason to choose glass is that it is safe and hygienic. The glass worktop has been designed to be compact and resistant to heat, which will guarantee the safety of your family and guests. They are easy to clean and maintain because they are non-porous.

Although there is a wide range of options in the market when it comes to kitchen worktops, glass has remained as one of the most popular options for many people. The advantages it comes with plus the aesthetic value makes it the perfect option to choose.

The world today is going to choose replacements over repairs. Glass worktops have managed to bring out the best in today’s world. With it, you are guaranteed a traditional material that comes with an innovative design, style, and colour.

Throughout its existence, a glass worktop will maintain its beauty; if you want an amazing kitchen, a glass worktop is the perfect option for you.