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Training for turf technicians
John Deere led the way in dealer apprentice block release training when it launched its National Training Award winning Ag Tech programme for service technicians in 1992, in conjunction with Brooksby Melton College in Leicestershire.
The equivalent Turf Tech programme was launched 10 years later to assist groundscare dealers and their service departments in the recruitment, training and retention of suitably skilled technicians. Around half of John Deere ’s commercial & consumer equipment dealers have so far put their new apprentices through the scheme, and managing director Robert McEwan of Glasgow based Nairn Brown Ltd is convinced of its benefits.
“The Brooksby course develops a technician’s ability and skills far better than if he never left the dealer workshop,” he says. “With a City & Guilds qualification at the end of three years, and the option to complete a fourth year John Deere Diploma, we find it extremely valuable as a training resource for our young technicians – it’s the best foundation for future career development they can get.”
Turf Tech students need to be resident in the UK, sponsored by a John Deere dealer and aged 16 or over. The standard three year apprenticeship covers all the normal engineering principles and systems, and includes regular sessions at the John Deere Training Centre in Langar. During the additional fourth year, the trainee works at the sponsoring John Deere dealership, and attends at least three service schools at the Training Centre.
Nineteen year old apprentice service technician Peter McKinlay of Nairn Brown Ltd recently completed his Groundcare Service Engineers NVQ Level 2, and will return to Brooksby in September for his third year.
“In addition to the college course, we get really good hands-on experience with John Deere machines and the latest technology at the Langar training centre,” he says. “We are also encouraged to help and train each other, by sharing different experiences from our own workshops, identifying problems and the different solutions we come up with.”
Martyn Bentley, age 25, started with Nairn Brown in 2002 and graduated with a Diploma in 2006. He was one of the first group of seven Turf Tech service technician apprentices to become fully qualified through the programme.
“I always planned to do the fourth year Diploma, right from the start of the course,” he says. “Getting this qualification was very important to me – it was a great incentive, as I value the job and it allowed me to measure my progress.”
New Turf Tech student intakes are in September each year. Anyone interested in applying can obtain a brochure outlining the scheme from Brooksby Melton College, area careers officers, John Deere Limited at Langar, Nottingham, and John Deere dealers nationwide.
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