Tag Archive for: $500

Nine apprentices win £500 bursary to support agricultural engineers

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Nine apprentices win £500 bursary to support agricultural engineers: Nine agricultural engineering apprentices were recognised at this year’s Midlands Machinery Show after being named winners of the 2026 Midlands Apprentice Engineering Award.

Each receives £500, paid in two instalments across their first and second year, to support their development.

Nine apprentices win £500 bursary to support agricultural engineers

Nine apprentices win £500 bursary to support agricultural engineers

The initiative is run by the Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society, in the legacy of former president Geoffrey Bond.

Among the three first-year recipients were two apprentices from Sharmans Agricultural.

Edward Moisey, 19, is based at the company’s Pytchley depot, joining in August 2022. He did not grow up on a farm, although his grandfather worked in agriculture, and came into the industry with a fresh eye.

He says the size, power and variety of the machinery, along with the appeal of a job that changes every day, drew him to the job.

He said: “I’ve always been hands on and really into engines and machines. Tractors are big, they look cool and I wanted to do something different. I thought I’d give it a go and it has just grown from there.”

Ed is already being steered towards working more with implements and attachments, an area he is excited to develop.

“I’d love to specialise in balers. There are so many different types and everything works differently, so there’s a lot to learn. That’s what makes it interesting,” he said.

He plans to put the first-year award of £250 straight back into his toolbox.

“It will all go on tools. I’ve got the basics but I need more specialist stuff like torque wrenches. They’re not cheap so this really helps,” he said.

Tobin Royalls, 20, also collected a first-year award. He joined Sharmans straight after finishing his GCSEs in 2021. He recently became the sole engineer at the Loudon depot, which means he handles all manner of servicing and repairs across the dealer’s livery.

Tobin said: “Agricultural technicians like us work hard in this industry. The hours can be long, and the work can be hard in all weathers, especially in winter.

“Winning this award genuinely gives you a lift. It shows people notice the effort you’re putting in and it helps keep you pushing forward.”

Tobin said most of the money will go towards new tools. “That’s the sensible answer. But I might treat myself as well!” he said.

Sir Mark Spencer, incoming President of the Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society, praised the winners and the commitment they have shown.

He said: “Congratulations to all the winners of the apprenticeship award. The career path you have chosen is going to be challenging but rewarding. We need the brightest and the best in young engineering talent and it is fantastic to see the enthusiasm and commitment that you are showing for our industry.”

The awards ceremony took place at the Midlands Machinery Show, held at Newark Showground on Wednesday 19 November, with the ceremony supported by B&B Tractors.

The 2026 Midlands Machinery Show will be held at Newark Showground on 18 November.

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Agricultural engineering apprentices invited to apply for £500 bursary

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Agricultural engineering apprentices invited to apply for £500 bursary: Young people starting their careers in agricultural engineering are being invited to apply for a £500 Midlands Agricultural Engineering Apprenticeship Award. 

The award is run by the Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society (NNAS), in association with the Midlands Machinery Show, and provides a £500 bursary, paid in two instalments, to apprentices aged 17–25 to help with training and career development.

Agricultural engineering apprentices invited to apply for £500 bursary

Agricultural engineering apprentices invited to apply for £500 bursary

To qualify, applicants must be working for an agricultural engineering business, studying at an academic institution, and employed by a company exhibiting at this year’s Midlands Machinery Show.

William Vines from Chandlers Farm Equipment in Spilsby, Lincolnshire, was one successful applicant who was presented with his award in 2024. He said: “I applied for the award because I felt like it was a really good way to bring in new apprentices to the industry.

“The £500 is massively helpful. It’s expensive to buy tools nowadays, tools that you do need in order to do your job better and more efficiently. It’s definitely worthwhile getting involved and applying for the award.”

Simon Eccleston, Chief Executive of NNAS, said: “We’re very proud of our long-standing initiative which shines a spotlight on young engineers at the very start of their careers.

“Apprentices are vital to the future of agricultural engineering. They bring energy, fresh thinking and new skills into businesses at a time when machinery performance, efficiency and productivity has never been more important to businesses.

“This award not only gives them recognition, but also provides practical financial support to help them invest in tools, training or resources that will set them up for the long term.”

The winners will be announced at the Midlands Machinery Show on Wednesday 19 November 2025, when the event returns in a new one-day format at Newark Showground.

Application forms and full entry criteria are available at www.midlandsmachineryshow.com with the deadline for submissions set for Friday 10 October 2025.

Now in its eleventh year, the Midlands Machinery Show brings together a wide range of exhibitors and features everything from the latest tractors and machinery to agri-tech innovations, business services and live demonstrations.

Highlights of the 2025 show will include the NFU’s Conference, BASIS and NRoSO points, machinery and UTV test drives, plus a packed schedule of events in the demonstration ring and plenty of networking and social opportunities around the showground.

Entry to the show is free for visitors who register in advance at www.midlandsmachineryshow.com.

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Green-tech to Row 500 Miles for St Leonard’s Hospice

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Green-tech to Row 500 Miles for St Leonard’s Hospice: After raising an incredible £30,000 for five charities in 2024, the Green-tech team is coming together again to make a splash! This time, they are picking up the oars and hoping to row their way to charity success.

The team has taken on an ambitious challenge of rowing 500 miles in just 5 days, to raise vital funds for St Leonard’s Hospice, their chosen charity for 2025.

Green-tech to Row 500 Miles for St Leonard’s Hospice

Green-tech to Row 500 Miles for St Leonard’s Hospice

This means, starting Monday 9th June:

  • 5 full days days
  • 8 hours of rowing each day (from 8am–4pm)
  • A gruelling 100 miles to cover daily

This challenge will be a test of teamwork and personal endurance to support a charity that provides outstanding care for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families across Yorkshire.

Green-tech is well known for backing industry events and initiatives and for supporting the local communities it serves. Each year, a member of the team nominates a charity close to their heart. That charity becomes the focus of the fundraising efforts for the year, with staff coming together to support it through a mix of team challenges, fun events, and donation drives.

Last year, their impressive ‘£30k for 30 Years’ campaign brought together the whole Green-tech community from colleagues and customers to suppliers and family, to support five fantastic charities. That same spirit of generosity and energy is powering this year’s rowing challenge.

Marketing Director Kate Humes explains, “We are proud to be a business that gives back to our industry and local communities. Green-tech’s commitment to giving back goes beyond fundraising. The business actively supports the industries we serve through on-site training, backing industry initiatives, and engaging in community support. We firmly believe in getting involved and making a difference.”

St Leonard’s Hospice provides exceptional care for people with life-limiting illnesses and support for their families. Green-tech is proud to support the hospice and help ensure it can continue its vital work. Help them raise some much-needed funds. Donate using this link – https://www.justgiving.com/page/green-tech-stleonardshospiceyork

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Wiedenmann Super 500 to super charge rough management

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Wiedenmann Super 500 to super charge rough management: Panmure Golf Club in Carnoustie, Angus, has added a Wiedenmann Super 500 sweeper collector to its fleet, principally for rough management duties.

“Our last machine had over 30 years’ service; but as conditions needed to be dry for it to collect, it limited us to cutting rough in September. Changing the dynamics of the golf course at that stage of the season, didn’t suit, so we knew it was time for a replacement,” explained Head Greenkeeper, Gary Nicoll.

Wiedenmann Super 500 to super charge rough management

Wiedenmann Super 500 to super charge rough management

With the arrival of the Wiedenmann Super 500 in mid-January, Gary says it has brought renewed vigour to their programme.

“Our programme was in a good place, but a few areas had become tricky and unmanageable. I always knew the new machine would turbo-charge efforts. We can work in different conditions, even when it is damp or if there’s frost. It just powers through. When you start it up, it just sounds efficient and full of energy, literally, it is tearing through everything, cutting and collecting in one pass. We cut against the way the grass is lined up, so it’s a more aggressive cut. We are also reaching into areas previously off limits. We run it with our Wiedenmann Terra Rake. We’re about to spray sulphate iron as we have a bit too much moss. Our rake will take out rank grasses and we’ll  go in again with the flail and give it another tidy up. We’re just mastering how to judge the hopper capacity, but I couldn’t be more pleased with our choice.”

As well as a Wiedenmann Terra Rake and Super 500, the club has a Whisper Twister Blower and a Terra Spike GXi 8 HD deep aerator.

Installation and induction training was by Wiedenmann UK’s lead demonstrator, Andy Kerr and Mike Lindsay, Area Sales Manager, from local dealer. Fairways GM, at Kinross.

The Carnoustie site has 14 acres of managed grassland. The historic course combines the best elements of links and heathland, with tight fairways, challenging carries, undulating greens and sandhills forged by nature.

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Downfield GC choses Super 500

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Downfield GC choses Super 500: The resourcefulness and positivity of Course Manager, John Watson, and his team of six, at the parkland course of Downfield GC, Dundee, saw them through a tough ‘stop-start’ winter.

“You can only worry about what you can control,” said John Watson, brushing aside that a relentless combination of ice and 12 weeks’ snow cover, played havoc with well laid plans for the first quarter of the year.

Downfield GC choses Super 500

Downfield GC choses Super 500

Fortunately, John Watson’s purchase of two machines from local dealer, Fairways GM at Kinross, last November, helped him make the best of any weather windows.

The first was a Wiedenmann Super 500, 3-in-1 high dump, sweeper collector, which is famed for being able to keep working in frosty conditions.

“It’s been permanently attached to a hydrostatic tractor; it works a treat on that, so smooth. Primarily, it was for leaves and then of course, rough management. It picked huge amounts of leaves right away, and then a few storms meant we virtually had to start again. Leaves are vacuum packed nice and tightly. We high dump them into one of our 5 tonne cage sided trailers. We’ve taken photos of what it does and quite honestly, it’s so good, people think we’ve used Photoshop,” continued John.

The second machine is the Maredo MT200 Flex Verticutter, supplied via GroundPro to Fairways GM and indeed, to all Wiedenmann UK dealers.

The Maredo has three mechanically driven heads which follow contours individually and can give either a light groom or verticut, or a deep scarify, down to  a maximum 25 mm, particularly appropriate to greens, tees and aprons.

“I chose the Maredo for its manoeuvrability. It’s on a three point linkage behind the tractor so when it comes to doing tees or greens, it’s just a case of pulling up the lift lever. They are light, quick and easy to position in the tightest of spots. What I like is they drop the organic matter and debris behind the machine rather than up in the air and there is no running it over.  I was also conscious if you hit a stone, it wasn’t airborne, so for me it surpassed the H&S requirements and it worked better for us than others demonstrated. Just in the last few weeks have we been out scarifying the practice area ridding it of moss and organic matter down to about 8 mm. It’s neat and thorough.”

John’s ethos is to work smartly and productively, maximising output with all of his team involved.

“We have three tractors and they all work in tandem when we cut and collect the rough, we have one tractor running back and forward with the trailers, taking them to be emptied and to drop off points around the course, one blowing and the other working the Super 500 constantly with no wasted journeys back and forward to empty.  Same principles with the Maredos; when we are scarifying, we use our blower to row up the debris, the Super 500 to collect and trailers positioned for high dumping. None of this is rocket science but organise well and you make the most of a good day,” continued John Watson.

Mike Lindsay, Fairways GM’s Area Manager said: “The Super 500 and Maredos will work well together.  John had been keen to add them to his machinery feet for some time and now they are doing exactly what he’d planned.”

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