Tag Archive for: Apprentices

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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New generation of John Deere apprentices graduate

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New generation of John Deere apprentices graduate: More than fifty apprentices have graduated from John Deere’s renowned Ag Tech, Turf Tech, and Parts Tech programmes, joining dealerships across the UK and Ireland as qualified technicians and parts specialists.

The graduates, trained in partnership with ProVQ at the John Deere Apprentice Training Centre in Upper Saxondale, Nottinghamshire, were recognised at a special ceremony celebrating their achievement and the ongoing success of one of the longest-running manufacturer apprenticeship schemes in the industry.

New generation of John Deere apprentices graduate

New generation of John Deere apprentices graduate

Jacob Ellwood from the Thomas Sherriff dealership was named Technician Apprentice of the Year for 2025, while Alex Hind from Farol won the Parts Apprentice of the Year award. Both received trophies and iPads to mark their success.

Now in its fourth decade, John Deere’s apprenticeship scheme continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of modern machinery dealerships. The programme equips students with a mix of technical, diagnostic, and digital skills, alongside customer service and communication training.

“Our apprenticeships continue to play a vital role in developing the next generation of talent for our dealer network,” said John Deere Training Centre Manager Allan Cochran. “The industry is moving fast, with connected machines, advanced diagnostics, and precision technology becoming standard, so it’s essential that our apprentices leave fully prepared for those challenges. Seeing them graduate and take their next steps with our dealers is hugely rewarding.”

Apprentices on the Ag Tech and Turf Tech courses work towards the Land-Based Service Engineering Technician Level 3 qualification, while those on the Parts Tech route complete a Level 3 parts diploma.

The expanded Parts Tech programme, introduced last year, now includes greater emphasis on technical knowledge and customer interaction in response to the growing importance of John Deere’s aftermarket and service support.

An apprenticeship programme is also available to those working in the construction industry with the John Deere-owned Wirtgen Group.

Since its inception in 1992, the John Deere apprenticeship programme has supported well in excess of 1,200 young people to find skilled roles across the company’s worldwide dealership network. Recruitment for the next intake is now underway, offering school and college leavers the opportunity to build long-term careers in the agricultural and turf machinery industries.

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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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Ceremony marks next step for John Deere apprentices

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Ceremony marks next step for John Deere apprentices: A 39-strong group of John Deere apprentices are starting the next stage of their careers having qualified as service and parts technicians working in dealerships across the UK.

The talented cohort’s achievements were recognised at a graduation ceremony in Nottingham on Friday night (20 October) at a dinner attended by their friends, family and mentors who have been at their side throughout the course.

Ceremony marks next step for John Deere apprentices

Ceremony marks next step for John Deere apprentices

It was also an evening of celebration for 17 Master Technicians – individuals who have achieved the top-tier service technician qualification – who received their prizes at the event.

John Deere Branch Training Manager Allan Cochran said: “Our industry-leading apprenticeship programme has been running for more than 30 years and has trained well over 1,100 talented individuals who have gone on to have exciting careers across the John Deere dealership network.

“Graduation ceremonies are always special, and this was no exception. To be able to celebrate the fantastic achievements of those in the room was hugely rewarding for John Deere as a company, as well for the dealers who have helped nurture this talented group to reach its potential.

“We wish the graduates all the best as they embark on the next stage of their careers within the John Deere family, and look forward to working alongside them long into the future.”

It was an extra special night for two technicians who won overall awards. Samuel Crichton from Tuckwell’s Framfield depot in Sussex was named Technician Apprentice of the Year, while Kael Horton from Thomas Sherriff’s Hexham depot in Northumberland was presented with the Parts Apprentice of the Year award.

Oliver Coupland from the Retford Ripon Farm Services depot in South Yorkshire, and James Hancock from Smallridge Bros’ Barnstaple depot were both named as runners-up.

Among the Master Technician graduates, Craig Braithwaite was singled out for his outstanding effort in becoming the first person to complete an apprenticeship and Master Technician assessment in just four years.

The individual prizes were presented to the winners by Will Young – best known as Farmer Will on TikTok – who addressed the room on life as an influencer creating content on a farm.

During the evening, presenters acknowledged that many of the class of 2023 had taken on apprenticeships during one of the most challenging times in the programme’s history.

For many, the covid lockdown took effect just six months into their studies, meaning distanced learning replaced what had been intended as classroom sessions.

“The apprentices coped admirably with the challenge laid down to them,” Allan said. “Being able to adapt to new and changing surroundings and issues is part of being a technician, but this group of young people did themselves proud in the face of adversity.”

It was also the first graduation for apprentices from the Wirtgen Group; a construction machinery manufacturer which was purchased by John Deere in 2017.

John Deere’s apprenticeship programme is provided by ProVQ and involves students being trained in engineering, electronics, hydraulics, diagnostics, communication skills, computing, sales, and marketing.

Ag Tech and Turf Tech candidates study towards the land-based service engineering technician qualification (level 3), while in Parts Tech individuals complete a retailer apprenticeship standard (level 2).

New students are enrolled each year, and the standard programmes include on-the-job training and assessment as well as up to eight weeks each year at the John Deere Apprentice Training Centre.

To find out more about starting a John Deere apprenticeship, or to apply for open positions, go to dealerjobs.deere.com.

2023 Apprentice Graduates:

Ben Burgess: Benjamin Cox, Honor Miles, Callum Clarke, Ethan Langley.

Cornthwaite Group: Benjamin Glover, Kyle Wells, Graeme Riddick, Alfie Thompson, Thomas Howard.

Farol: William Duggins, Daniel O’Donohue, Makayla Wench, Andrew Gray, Luke Hand, Joseph Scott.

Geary’s Garage: Patrick Cremin.

John Deere Forestry: Sean Cochrane, Jamie Duncan.

MacGregor Industrial Supplies: Duncan Fraser-Anderson.

Masons Kings: William Chaffe.

Ripon Farm Services: Liam Dunn, Oliver Coupland.

Smallridge Bros: James Hancock.

Stephen W Moore: Reuben Bingham, Dominic O’Kane.

Tallis Amos: Michael Cock, Ellis Morris, Ben Vose, Lewis Gutteridge,

Thomas Sherriff: Cameron Marshall, Fraser Robertson, Conall Fairbairn, Jamie Clyne, Kael Horton.

Tuckwells: William Coleman, Sam Crichton.

Wirtgen Group: Thomas Holt, Jack Anderson, Stan Smith.

2023 Master Technician Graduates:

Ben Burgess: Cameron Smith, Lewis Jaggard, Callum Luker, Jonathan Smith.

Cornthwaite Group: Craig Braithwaite, James Sudell, Ed Crocker, Matthew Higgins.

Farol: Iain MacKinnon, James O’Neill, Jamie Speir, Lawrence Thompson, Matthew Welbourne, Alistair Donaldson.

Ripon Farm Services: Andrew Smith.

Tuckwells: Oscar Mayhew, Oliver Rumsey.

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Updated standard for greenkeeping apprentices

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Updated standard for greenkeeping apprentices: The Greenkeepers Training Committee (GTC) has released information about a new qualification that will provide golf greenkeepers and other sports turf apprentices with advanced knowledge as they work to produce exceptional playing surfaces from grassroots through to professional levels.

The Level 3 Advanced Sports Turf Technician apprenticeship has been approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) and is now available for delivery.

Updated standard for greenkeeping apprentices

Updated standard for greenkeeping apprentices

Sponsored by the Department of Education, IfATE is an employer-led organisation that supports employer groups in the development of world-leading apprenticeships and technical education systems. During 2020, IfATE undertook a review of apprenticeship standards within associated industries. The Advanced Golf Greenkeeper Apprenticeship had been approved for delivery in January 2020 but as a result of the review, the Greenkeeper Trailblazer and Sports Turf Trailblazer groups were approached by IfATE to develop a Level 3 Standard and End-point Assessment Plan (EPA) that could sit across both disciplines.

Trailblazer groups are responsible for developing a new apprenticeship for an occupation and then revise the apprenticeship as needed. Both groups understood it would be challenging to develop an apprenticeship that aligns comfortably across greenkeeping and the various other sports turf disciplines, but after many months of discussions between employers, training providers and IfATE, the Level 3 Advanced Sports Turf Technician apprenticeship has been produced and approved.

Improvements to the apprenticeship include more comprehensive assessment of knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs), which are undertaken through a written test, the creation of a project that must then be presented and a professional discussion and facility walk.

The Standard and End-point Assessment Plan can be accessed on the IfATE website.

Les Howkins MG is chairperson of the Golf Greenkeeping Trailblazer Group. He said: “It is great that we have been able to come together and work with the Sports Turf Trailblazer Group to develop a comprehensive Level 3 apprenticeship that we feel works across all disciplines within the sports turf sector and provides a career progression from the well-established Level 2. Following a lot of hard work alongside the Sports Turf group, we believe the Advanced Sports Turf Technician apprenticeship delivers what employers and apprentices in our sector need.”

Delivery director at IfATE, Robert Nitsch, said: “We are pleased to announce that the Advanced Sports Turf Technician Level 3 apprenticeship has been approved for delivery. The Sports Turf and Golf Greenkeeping Trailblazer groups have worked together to develop a standard suitable for sports turf technicians across a wide range of settings. This apprenticeship will form part of a suite of sports turf and golf greenkeeping apprenticeships and will provide a progression route for those previously achieving Level 2 qualifications. The apprenticeship will become the recognised standard for all advanced sports turf technicians.”

The Advanced Golf Greenkeeper apprenticeship will continue to be offered until it is decommissioned in 2023. The latest start date for apprentices will be 31 August 2023. There is no impact on those already registered on that standard.

The following employers all contributed to the creation of the new standard, along with support from training providers and End-point Assessment Organisations: British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA), Crosfields School, Edgbaston Stadium, England Golf, Frilford Heath Golf Club, the GTC, Gaudet Luce Golf Club, Grounds Management Association, Highfield Sports Ground, Leicester City FC Sports Turf Academy, Leyland Golf Club, Portmore Golf Centre, The Richmond Golf Club, Trentham Golf Club, Myerscough College, Kings School, Nottingham University, Oaklands College, Whitgift School.

For more information on the Advanced Sports Turf Apprenticeship, contact The GTC’s Fiona Lyttle on (01347) 838 640 or fiona@the-gtc.co.uk

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