ROLE MODELS
Hard working, dedicated & talented
by Service Dealer Editor, Steve Gibbs
 
Steve Gibbs

A perennial issue which is discussed on this Weekly Update, in our magazine pages, at trade associations, in manufacturer's offices and dealerships across the country is how to attract young people into the industry?

 

Looking through archive issues of Service Dealer to compile the Flashback feature for the magazine, it's clear to see the subject has been discussed at length for many years.

 

Just as an example, I was reading through a copy from March 1995 this week where a story entitled 'BAGMA develop the modern apprenticeship' caught my eye.

 

That story began with the dramatic assertion, "Garden machinery dealers, already facing a serious skills shortage, could soon be in serious trouble unless the trade is able to train its service staff properly".

 

The story continued to explain how BAGMA were responding to this challenge by developing a modern apprenticeship for the garden machinery industry, a scheme which had received backing from the Department of Employment - which at the time was keen to see BAGMA strengthen its role as an industry training organisation and lead body.

 

The association said In March '95 all the projects they were involved in were aimed at encouraging young men and women to consider a career in the agricultural and garden machinery sectors and to provide them with an opportunity to gain nationally recognised qualifications.

 

BAGMA are still very much involved in doing this today - alongside the AEA and IAgrE. I'm aware as part of their efforts to promote the industry to young people, that a new careers brochure has recently been jointly produced by the three associations and is soon to be published. Tools like this are invaluable for spreading the message about the industry - getting information into the hands of careers officers and the like.

 

In today's Weekly Update there's a story about IAgrE, in partnership with CNH Industrial, announcing new, prestigious student awards, which are open to students in higher education. Rob Alker, Current Product Improvement Manager at CNH Industrial is quoted in the article, saying, "As a key player in the Agricultural Equipment sector, the future of our industry relies on nurturing the best possible engineers to design and build the products of the future."

 

So there's clearly a concerted effort across the industry to attempt to encourage young people to join. Continued promotion of what a rewarding and varied working life it can provide need to be the order of the day.

 

I'm therefore delighted that the next issue of Service Dealer magazine, which is shortly to hit the presses, can hopefully contribute in some way to that effort. Our cover star for the March/April '18 issue is Chris Garlick of Garlick Garden Machinery - winner of the Garden Machinery Dealer of the Year award last November.

 

Chris started up his own garden machinery business five years ago, at the grand old age of 21. He is a shining example of the success hard work, dedication and talent can bring young people starting out in this sector. He tells us he has already taken on an apprentice and over the coming years is looking to expand his showroom, take on more products and employ more staff.

 

Chris is not a lone example of a younger dealer finding success. There are increasing numbers out there, doing things their own way, and building excellent businesses.

 

Hopefully their stories can be promoted by the industry, so these young men and women can act as inspirations for the next generation making their initial career choices. They are role models to aspire to.

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In this issue
EDITOR'S BLOG
ROLE MODELS
NEWS
DEALER AREA CHANGES FOR DOOSON
TILLAGE LIVE HEADS TO SCOTLAND
STUDENT AWARDS LAUNCHED FOR LAND-BASED INDUSTRY
GGM MAKE SALES APPOINTMENT
TRACTOR REGISTRATIONS STAY STRONG IN JANUARY
KUBOTA CONTINUE NORTHAMPTON SAINTS PARTNERSHIP
AFTER SALES DIRECTOR APPOINTED BY OPICO
SEVERN FARM MACHINERY TAKES ON MASCHIO GASPARDO
NEW DISTRICT COMMERCIAL MANAGER FOR BRP
MULTIPLE INNOVATION AWARDS FOR CASE IH
JOBS
UNI-POWER
T H WHITE
BAGMA
Sponsored Product Announcements
HUSQVARNA INTRODUCES TWO NEW COLLECTING RIDERS
EVOPOS - THE ALL-IN-ONE SERVICE DEALER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
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January / February 2018
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