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Ariens Appoint Masport

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Ariens Appoint Masport: Ariens Company has announced the appointment of Masport to represent the company and the Ariens and Gravely brands in New Zealand, Australia and Oceania countries. Ariens is a family owned business manufacturing snow blowers, lawn tractors and zero-turn mowers for commercial and high end consumer markets. The US company, which has been manufacturing since 1933, acquired the Countax and Westwood garden tractor business in the UK in 2010 and formed a UK and European base.

“Ariens are delighted to secure this new partnership with Masport in the Australia and New Zealand territories,” says Darren Spencer, Ariens Company Vice President EMEA and Asia, “during our discussions it quickly became apparent that Ariens Company and Masport Ltd’s principles of doing business are well-aligned, both companies share a commitment to forming long-term partnerships and creating responsible and sustained business growth.”

Ariens Appoint Masport

The Masport business began in New Zealand in 1910 and became an iconic New Zealand brand that is renowned in both New Zealand and Australia for being a leader in lawn mowers and barbecues. Masport also supplies under its Masport and Morrison brands’ other products such as ride-on mowers, various other outdoor power equipment and barbecues.

“Masport is excited about this new relationship with Ariens to distribute and provide after sales service for their products in our home region.” says Steve Hughes, Managing Director of Masport Ltd. “We see the Ariens and Gravely brands to be a perfect match with our current portfolio of quality products and this will allow us to offer an extended and wider product line to our specialist dealer base.

“Masport are proud to be commencing a partnership with a company that is aligned with Masport’s values and we see tremendous future growth opportunities in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Island region for their quality line of Zero Turn machines”.

In 2017, Masport became part of the AL-KO Gardentech Group based in Germany, which enabled them to add to their product offering with items such as water pumps & robot mowers. The company has offices in New Zealand and Australia and distributes to over 45 countries worldwide.

“Masport is a highly respected distributor of high-quality power equipment with an outstanding reputation within the local dealer network for exceptional service and support,” adds Darren Spencer, “I have no doubt that Masport will provide exceptional representation of the Ariens and Gravely brands.”

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Training For Success At John Deere

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Training For Success At John Deere: A total of 54 young service technicians are being trained in this year’s John Deere Ag Tech, Parts Tech and Turf Tech advanced apprenticeship programmes, run in partnership with national training provider ProVQ – a increase of just over 60 per cent on the previous year’s intake.

John Deere has also been listed for the second consecutive time in 2018 as one of the best 100 employers for school leavers in the UK, the only agricultural and turf machinery company to be so recognised. The AllAboutSchoolLeavers.co.uk’s Top 100 Employers for School & College Leavers rankings are based entirely on the opinions of apprentices and school leaver trainees from hundreds of UK organisations.

Training For Success At John Deere

John Deere’s and ProVQ’s successive annual awards were made in recognition of their programmes’ quality and the opportunities they present to young people working productively in the agricultural and turf sectors.

“We have beaten some very strong competition from other household names, coming first for an engineering and manufacturing company and third overall in the Best Intermediate Apprenticeship Programme category in 2017,” said ProVQ managing director Julian Lloyd.

“We’ve also been recognised in the Advanced Apprenticeships and Engineering categories this year. To be recognised as one of the country’s top 100 employers for school leavers, as judged by the apprentices themselves, makes us all very proud of our achievements.”

Even more recently John Deere and ProVQ have won the Manufacturer Excellence Award for Training in the 2018 Agri Machinery Trade News Awards. The award judges commented that “the enthusiasm and encouragement of the trainers shone out in the nominations” and that John Deere and ProVQ were “exemplars of what it takes to deliver world class training”.

ProVQ’s Ag & Turf Tech apprentice assessor Simon Seago was specifically mentioned in one of the nominations from a John Deere dealer, who said: “Simon’s enthusiasm and encouragement transfers to our apprentices, enabling them to reach their potential during their initial industry training.

“Our industry depends on a constant input of quality young people who train to become the agricultural and turf technicians required to service and repair past, current and future technologies. People like Simon make this possible.”

Training For Success At John Deere

Julian Lloyd added: “This was just one of a number of general nominations from dealers who praised the John Deere training programme. The award is truly excellent news and reflects extremely well on the changes implemented within the programme over the last few years, and the efforts of all our front-line staff involved in implementing these changes. As an award voted for by the dealer network, it has significant currency.”

John Deere’s three-year Ag Tech and Turf Tech and two-year Parts Tech apprenticeships lead to IMI Level 2 & 3 Diplomas in Landbased Engineering and Vehicle Parts Competence, and registration at LTA Intermediate level in the industry’s Landbased Training Accreditation scheme. In subsequent years qualified technicians undergo further education and adult training within the John Deere University programme, on a career path that can ultimately lead to the highest possible LTA Master Technician accreditation.

 Now in its 26th year, Ag Tech was the first such scheme to be introduced in the UK and won a National Training Award at the end of 1997, the only one ever made to an agricultural machinery apprenticeship programme. Since the first programme started in 1992, well over 700 apprentices have graduated through the three main schemes and are now working in the company’s nationwide dealer network.

For more information, visit: www.JohnDeere.co.uk

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Toro Best For North Foreland

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Toro Best For North Foreland: Ten new machines are scoring top marks for results on the ‘Long’ and ‘Short’ courses at North Foreland Golf Club, based in Broadstairs, Kent.

The purchase marks a change in strategy by course manager Simon Grand, who joined the club two years ago, and greens chairman Mark Strand as Simon explains: “The frontline machinery was suffering from under investment and the number of breakdowns we were having were coming at a significant cost.”

Toro Best For North Foreland

The order of two Reelmaster 3575-D, four Greensmaster TriFlex 3400, two GreensPro 1260, a Groundsmaster 4700-D and a Workman HDX-D is the first lease deal for North Foreland, and has brought big differences to the courses’ appearance and the club’s maintenance regime.

“This investment, which is spread over five years, has solved all our equipment issues,” says Simon. “It’s made us competitive and efficient, and the change in the presentation of the courses is undeniable – members noticed a difference within weeks.”

And that’s down to the quality of the machines, as Simon explains: “It’s been said many times before, but you really do notice the difference when it comes to Toro. The quality of cut and reliability it offers makes a big difference to the way we do our job; it’s so much easier now. We’ve also been impressed by the increased operator protection provided by the addition of the new Toro golf ball protection cages we have fitted to all the mowing machines, as well as the way using Toro is changing the way we manage the cutting of certain areas. For example, with the Reelmaster 3575-D we can close-cut the run-off areas around the links-style greens because the machines are so lightweight and benefit from ‘no tread’ balloon tyres.”

The deal comes as the club, which is one of only six designed by two of golf’s pre-eminent golf architects, Herbert Fowler and Tom Simpson, enters a period of restoration as Simon tells us: “We’re restoring the course to its original downland design, including the refurbishment of the bunkers. This will be aided greatly by all the Toro machines at some point, but especially the Workman HDX-D for transportation.”

Richard Wood, from Reesink, an official UK distributor of Toro, says this is a classic example of how easy it is to catch up on machinery replacement: “This deal marks North Foreland’s return to machinery leasing and is already making a significant difference. It’s provided a huge boost to the club, the course and the team.”

Simon agrees: “Investment reflects and demonstrates the value placed on the work we do. It’s been great to see the way the team has responded, and how much more enjoyable and less frustrating the work is.”

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Artificial Pitch Burnt By Vandals

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Artificial Pitch Burnt By Vandals: Kelty Hearts’ artificial pitch has been burned, seats have been vandalised days after being installed, and youngsters have been seen on the roof of the club’s new stand.

The damage to the community facilities could see the club, which turned senior last year, lose its SFA licence because of regular pitch testing.

Police are now patrolling the area around New Central Park in a bid to stamp out the problem.

Meanwhile, the club is going to be footing the bill for CCTV, something it says it can ill afford.

Treasurer George McTrusty said the spate of vandalism had been wrecking improvements almost as soon as they were completed.

“We’re building a new stadium and they are trying to destroy the seats as they are getting installed, and they’ve been burning the pitch.”

The park with a 3G pitch, a community asset that is open to the paying public, is witnessing trespassing and vandalism on almost a daily basis.

This week has seen burn marks left across the main and children’s pitches.

Council community use team manager for Cowdenbeath Sarah Roxburgh said: “It’s incredibly disappointing that this enjoyment is being spoiled by a thoughtless minority who are determined to cause costly damage.

“We will be working with the club and police to help tackle this issue and make sure the park is a safe place for all to enjoy.”

Fife Council has invested £665,000 in the park for the whole community.

Local councillor Alex Campbell expressed his disgust at the behaviour of a minority of youths.

He said the club serves the community, from five-year-olds to 75s, and it was sad that so many local people worked really hard to deliver facilities for the community and “these vandals come along and destroy such a fantastic project”.

He added: “It is totally and utterly unacceptable that some youths are causing this mayhem.”

Police Scotland inspector Gavin Cameron said: “The abuse of these facilities is hugely disappointing for the community, and we are working closely with Kelty Hearts FC to tackle this issue.

“We are carrying out patrols in this area and I would urge people to please report any anti-social behaviour or damage being caused while it is happening so we can respond quickly and appropriately.

“We want local children and young people to enjoy their summer holidays and to make use of facilities like this sensibly and responsibly.

“Parents and guardians have a vital role to play by ensuring they know where their children are, and reminding them that such behaviour as we have seen here is not acceptable.”

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Greenfields Awarded Constructionline Gold Certificate

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Greenfields Awarded Constructionline Gold Certificate: GreenFields (Sports Surfaces) UK Ltd have proudly received the Constructionline Gold Certificate, an accolade which is testament to the team’s commitment to excelling in project delivery, workplace and health and safety practices.

Constructionline is the UK’s leading procurement provider and supply-chain management service providing potential buyers with minimised risk combined with optimised supplier performance evidenced by businesses such as GreenFields meeting a range of crucial industry standards.

The gold (level 3) accreditation ensures that a company abides by current legislations in areas such as modern slavery, anti-bribery and corruption and equal opportunities as well as assessing high standards in environmental management, quality management, equality and diversity, governance and risk management. In addition, GreenFields were assessed for and awarded a Health and Safety SSIP Certificate in SMAS (Safety Management Advisory Services) demonstrating compliance in health and safety legislation to potential buyers.

GreenFields have held Constructionline Silver accreditation for over four years and their demonstration of professional practices has ensured a promotion to the advanced gold level.

Paul Milton, Director at GreenFields commented: “We are proud to have been awarded Constructionline Gold certification, this new accreditation displays to our potential customers that we are a committed and responsible organisation dedicated to building high quality sports pitches and to meeting industry standards as well as relevant legislation and practices.”

With over 300 high quality pitch installations across the UK at a number of educational institutes and high-profile sports facilities, GreenFields UK offer clients a turnkey ‘one-stop shop’ solution combining R & D, manufacturing, design and installation services with performance testing and ongoing pitch maintenance.

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