The latest Labour Force Survey from the Central Statistics Office showed, for the second quarter of 2023, the highest rate of employment since the current series of records began in 1998. Only 4.4% of people are unemployed.

While this comes as good news to many, for a lot of employers, it confirms the difficulty that exists in trying to fill vacancies. Full employment means less candidates available to choose from. Within our industry, we are all too aware of how hard it is in trying to find and hold on to staff. This problem has been ongoing for quite a number of years and the situation is not improving.

The sectors that showed the largest increase in employment were those working in construction and IT. The largest percentage decrease was in the sector closest to our own industry, i.e. the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry, which recorded a 6.3% fall.

Just over a week ago the Leaving Certificate results were announced and many delighted students got their third level college places. Ahead of the results, colleges advertised their courses in local and national newspapers. Apprenticeship courses are also available and these are of particular interest to our industry as they include agricultural mechanisation courses. To be eligible for an apprenticeship, the applicant must be at least 16 years of age and must be employed by an approved employer.

As an incentive to make them stay, it might be worthwhile giving some of your employees an opportunity to further educate themselves by offering them an apprenticeship. You might have a promising up and coming employee in the workshop that you would be keen to hang on to. Offering them an opportunity to further education and skills could prove beneficial to you and the employee.

Another way of introducing potential candidates to your team would be to take on Transition Year (TY) secondary school students. Part of the TY curriculum allows students to get work experience in nearby businesses and establishments. However, the time given for the student’s work experience is limited to usually two full weeks or one day a week for up to 10 – 12 weeks, by which time another student can be taken on for the same time. The student has no expectations of getting paid, though some employers will give the student vouchers or gifts.

Taking on TY students is a good way of introducing them to an industry that they may not be familiar with and, who knows, they may even decide that this is the career for them. This is a long term strategy as the student will still have another two years of study left before sitting their Leaving Certificate exams. It might be an idea to approach the principal of your nearby secondary school to find out when the next school’s Careers Open Day will take place when you could set up a stall promoting your business as a possible career choice.

In the meantime, a lot needs to be done to address the shortfall in employing dealership personnel. We will need to think of unique ways of enticing potential candidates to our workforce while, at the same time, trying to hold on to them.

Service Dealer has announced another breakout seminar session for this November's Conference.

Sophie Brooks

Sophie Brooks, founder and consultant at Certified B-Corp consultancy Fit for Purpose and B Leader, will be delivering our second workshop which will take a look at sustainable strategies for business growth.

Camilla Barnes

Assisting Sophie, in delivering the seminar will be her colleague, Camilla Barnes, founder of B Corp consultancy, Better Business, Better World, Camila is a communications and impact specialist with 12 years of expertise in international sustainable development and business innovation.

Both are passionate believers in the power of business to drive positive social and environmental change.

Sophie left corporate life in 2005 to set up as an independent environmental consultant. Having held the role of in-house sustainability strategist for Microsoft UK and achieved a distinction MSc in Climate Change and Development, in 2016 Sophie joined UK leading B Corp ClimateCare as client director, and in 2018 set up Fit for Purpose, an independent consultancy to help businesses lead through purpose - specifically to work with organisations to define, demonstrate and articulate their purpose beyond profit.

Camilla meanwhile, has been a B Leader (or B Corp consultant) since 2017. She supports businesses with all phases of the B Corp journey: from discovering their baseline, through the social and environmental improvements to prepare for certification and during the verification to post-certification support in embedding, impact reporting and continuous improvement.

At this year’s Conference, Sophie and Camilla's workshop will help dealers celebrate what they are doing well and look at how creating a successful, purposeful business can be instrumental in helping achieve a fitter, stronger, more profitable dealership.

Sophie and Camilla now join the previously announced branding expert, Daryl Fielding and customer experience specialist, Adrian Swinscoe, who will be sharing their knowledge with our dealer delegates.

Taking place on Thursday 30th November 2023 at the Crowne Plaza, Stratford upon Avon, the theme for this year's event is Taking Care of Business.

Adare Machinery, the Limerick-based authorised Bobcat dealer for Ireland, say they will have the company’s largest ever stand at this year’s National Ploughing Championships, being held at Ratheniska in County Laois in Ireland from 19-21 September 2023.

Now in its 92nd year, the National Ploughing Championships is the largest event of its type in the world. and Adare say they will have the biggest display of Bobcat equipment ever, with several products make their debut at the show.   

William Cuddy, sales manager at Adare Machinery, said: “We are very proud to be representatives for the Bobcat brand at this year’s Ploughing Show. We are hoping for a very strong turnout to see our biggest ever stand and the widest array of Bobcat products we have ever shown at the National Ploughing Championships, including their mini-excavators, compact loaders and telehandlers.” 

Among the new Bobcat products being shown for the first time at the show is the new Bobcat range of compact tractors. Also making its debut is the manufacturer's new Super Compact TL25.60 telehandler.

Adare's stand is also premiering the new T86, the most powerful compact track loader Bobcat has ever built. And completing the line-up of debutants at is the L28 small articulated loader.

Empowering Sustainable Agriculture is a summit organised by CEMA, the trade association representing the European agricultural machinery industry. The event will take place in Brussels, Belgium, at the Autoworld museum on 23rd and 24th October 2023.

CEMA say that agriculture is at the centre of the political debate. International developments have pushed to the forefront concerns about food security, and calls have been multiplying to ensure a smooth transition towards increasingly sustainable farming practices. At the same time, securing safe and nutritious food for a growing global population is needed.

The CEMA Summit will look at the ways in which the EU has been addressing the sustainable transition in the agricultural sector. It will review the innovations enabling the development and deployment of sustainable farming practices. It will also highlight what is already possible and what the future of farming will look like.

The debate will revolve around the contribution of the agricultural machinery industry to sustainability, presenting solutions and innovations developed by the sector. From robots to precision farming, from soil working machines to alternative fuels.

John Deere has announced that they are holding a careers event in September to help resettling military personnel take the next step in their careers. 

The virtual event on 20 September at 7pm is described as the first major event to be held by the company where details of their landmark John Deere Military Hiring Programme in the UK and Ireland will be set out. 

The initiative was launched in July and intends to help those leaving military service find jobs working with the manufacturer's agricultural and professional groundscare machinery.

Attendees of the free virtual event will find out how they can bring their unique skill sets and experience to technician roles in dealerships, and hear from individuals who have transitioned from military service into various roles connected to the John Deere brand.

“The armed forces produces people who are highly skilled, motivated, and extremely competent, and many already have the engineering skills needed to become qualified technicians,” says Allan Cochran, John Deere branch training manager.

“With many transferable skills, those with experience of military machines will be perfectly placed for a new career working with some of the world’s most advanced agricultural and turfcare equipment."

Registration is open now via this link.

It was announced that the Military Hiring Programme was being rolled out in the UK and Ireland following its success in the USA. 

Those signing up to the programme will be offered free technical training to help them apply their current skills to John Deere products and services. There are more than 70 courses on offer.

“Everyone who signs up will be assigned to an employee from the John Deere network who has served in the armed forces who will be there to support each individual during the resettlement process,” Allan says.

Interested service members and ex-service members can learn more and fill out a contact card by visiting here.

The Board of Directors of the Merlo Group have appointed Paolo Merlo as President, following the passing of company founder and President Mr Amilcare Merlo late last year.

Paolo Merlo said the company's goal for the next three years is to achieve 10,000 telehandlers annually, as well as about 25,000 attachments. To achieve this, he said, significant investments are planned with the opening of both new production lines and new infrastructure.

The new President confirmed, "Today, the solidity of the Merlo Group allows us to look far ahead and plan for the long term. There are still many applications and areas where we can grow, we aim to strengthen our historical markets, starting with Italy and the countries where we are present with subsidiaries and importers.

"At the same time, we also intend to expand into markets that are relatively new to us, where there is still plenty of room for growth."

'Responsible Gardens' has been announced by the organisers of spoga+gafa 2024 as the key theme of their next trade fair.

In Cologne from 16 to 18 June 2024, the show says that the industry will be reflecting upon the responsibility it bears regarding the current and future challenges and solutions relating to the role the garden plays in society. Together with the green industry, spoga+gafa says it will place the centre of attention on the different levels of responsible behaviour in and around private green spaces from the points of view of the manufacturers, suppliers and consumers. 

Stefan Lohrberg, Director of spoga+gafa explained, "The focus of the topic is the responsibility the green industry bears regarding the role the garden plays in society. Together with our exhibitors and visitors, spoga+gafa will find the answers to these questions."

Resource-saving gardening, fairly produced garden products, low-emission BBQ technologies, climate-friendly garden care and irrigation, but also a responsible rapport between garden owners are promised at the show.. Stefan Lohrberg continued, "The more responsibly we treat private green spaces, the more social and personally-relevant our gardens, balconies and terraces will become. That is our to-do list for the coming years."

The Kress KC500.9 Commercial backpack blower is one of the most powerful available on the market today, and can clearly demonstrate the advantages and control that is possible from battery powered technology.

This high performing machine can provide 306 km/h air speed and 1,529 m3/h which equates to 35N of air force to rival any high performing petrol-powered blowers. There is a 4-step speed control and a throttle controlled power level to enable accurate airspeed control during operation. Whilst the cruise control function allows the users finger to have a rest when cleaning up large areas. With revolutionary Kress CyberSystem batteries and Kress-built commercial-grade brushless motors, the blower provides superior power levels, longer runtime, and extended lifespan.

The machine has its own built in ergonomic and fully adjustable harness to suit all body types and sizes from small to large, which improves users’ comfort and lessens fatigue. Plus with an IPX4 waterproof rating, there are no concerns about finishing the job, even the wet conditions of the autumn season will not cause it any issues and you can continue to work.

The noise produced by the KC500.9 is perhaps the biggest difference between battery powered and petrol-powered blowers. Thanks to the Kress silent technology, there is no issue disturbing customers & bystanders, or even having a conversation with a coworker.

At a distance of 15m this machine produces only 62dB, which allows users to still be able to speak clearly whilst the blower is working. Popular petrol-powered blowers produce noise levels of 75dB and above at 15m, so in effect more than 3 times as loud. The Kress Commercial blower has been designed with a unique inner structure and surface to reduce noise levels. This is unique and a first with this type of machine. 

Welcome to the post-petrol era.

A game-changer in every way, Kress is leading the charge with a breakthrough innovation in battery-powered technology, built to deliver the performance and power of petrol.

Learn more: kress.com/en-gb/