You may have seen there is a request in today’s Weekly Update for your specialist input.

It’s not from us here at Service Dealer – the request has come in from David Kirshner, independent consultant to Land-based Engineering and T Level panel member.

David is asking for dealers to put forth their views on the proposed new training scheme – the Land-based Engineering Level 3 T level qualification which is due to be introduced in 2022 / 23.

David has told us that he believes this qualification will be a vital link for those leaving education and joining the industry.

It seems like something which many dealers could well hold strong views on, considering just how difficult many are finding it, recruiting new staff at the moment. The chance to have your thoughts on how to possibly shape a forthcoming qualification, seems like one which you may not want to pass up.

As David says, “This is the opportunity for those involved in all aspects of our industry and training provision to have an input to ensure that the Land-based Engineering T level qualification meets the needs of industry."

This view is backed up by Keith Christian, director of BAGMA who posted a comment on an edition of this Weekly Update a few weeks ago when we were discussing a possible recruitment crisis.

Keith said then, “The issue of recruitment and retention in the Landbased Industry sector is one that is getting a lot of attention from the various trade associations involved and from LE-TEC as well as related organisations throughout the rest of Europe.

“The bigger challenge has been to get the industry itself, dealers generally, to play their part in a recruitment strategy and step up to the plate and play an active role when asked to do so.

“We absolutely need the employers take an interest in a National strategy to help industry as a whole."

The view taken by these guys is that dealers need to be proactive in shaping future training provision and contributing all that they can into making the industry seem an attractive proposition to potential candidates. And to be fair I think most dealers would agree with this too.

Indeed in the most recent issue of Service Dealer magazine, where we published the results of our dealer recruitment survey, an overwhelming majority of respondents said that to tackle this difficulty in the recruitment market, it’s a responsibility which needs to be burdened by all sections of the industry. Dealers, manufacturers, trade associations, schools and colleges all need to somehow play their part.

Qualifications such as this and apprentice schemes, be they from dealerships or manufacturers, are all vital cogs in the system.

Last week I spoke about a dealer who had been telling me about the faith they place in their own apprenticeship scheme for finding their stars of the future. This week I've been hearing from a manufacturer about their latest training scheme, for a feature in an upcoming issue of the magazine.

Rob Edwards, business development manager, Agriculture, Kubota UK, has been telling Service Dealer about why they as a company have been placing such a high priority on delivering their apprenticeship scheme - "..so that the next generation of dealer technicians have a solid foundation upon which to start to their career," he says.

You can read more about their plans and beliefs when the next issue is published, but to sum it up Rob says, "We strongly believe that attracting new graduates to a career as a dealership technician is an issue worth championing."

Continuing the staffing theme next issue, our Business Monitor editor Adam Bernstein, has put together three superb essays, written by employment experts, which in turn consider issues surrounding recruiting staff, motivating them to perform better for you and vitally, retaining their loyalty.

It's clearly an ongoing and complex subject and one which no doubt will be picked up by both our speakers and delegates at November's Service Dealer Conference. Until then, please feel free to contribute to the dialogue by leaving comments on this Weekly Update or contacting Service Dealer via any of our channels.

East Anglia grounds care equipment retailer, Ben Burgess GroundsCare Equipment, have announced they have become the official distributor for stump grinder supplier Predator across England and Wales.

Ben Burgess say Predator manufacture narrow access tree stump grinders with a reputation of producing high quality, reliable machines to serve the arboricultural industry.

Ben Burgess first partnered with Predator in February 2018. Since then they say demonstrations and sales of the machines have been extremely successful and complement the other arboricultural brands Ben Burgess have within their range.

Ben B Turner, Ben Burgess’ Group GroundsCare Equipment manager, said, "We are very pleased to be making this announcement. We have had great success since becoming a dealer for Predator and hope to go from strength to strength in the coming years. We will continue to sell Predator equipment directly within East Anglia and the Midlands and we will be appointing a select number of other dealers to assist us further afield.”

In order to support the sales and aftercare of the product across England and Wales as well as assisting the new network of suppliers, Ben Burgess have appointed Neal Hussey as arboricultural specialist. Neal has been with the company for 18 years.

“Predator stump grinders are very popular with our customers as they are compact and suit varying terrain and areas often difficult to access with other larger machinery”, commented Neal. “There is fantastic potential for the Predator range in the UK and I look forward to providing arborists with the opportunity for demonstrations across the country.”

Simon Bradshaw from Predator said, “This exciting development builds on the team's incredible success over the last year, providing the highest level of service to Predator users. Their drive to appoint new dealers & service points across the region will be a huge asset to our existing customer base, providing a more local contact for sales and servicing.”

Dealers are being asked to spend a few moments, offering their input to an industry survey.

The proposed Land-based Engineering Level 3 T level qualification due to be introduced in 2022 / 23 is in the process of being formulated.

T level qualifications are new 2 year level 3 study programmes that will include the following mandatory elements;

• A core set of underpinning knowledge, concepts and skills tailored to the chosen industry and occupation:
• Specialist training covering occupational or industry-specific skills
• An industry placement with an employer which will last for a minimum of 45 working days

David Kirschner, independent consultant to Land-based Engineering and T Level Panel member, said, "The purpose of the T level is to ensure students have the knowledge and skills needed to progress into skilled employment or higher level training relevant to the T level qualification undertaken. This qualification will be a vital link for those leaving education and joining industry.

"This is the opportunity for those involved in all aspects of our industry and training provision to have an input to ensure that the Land-based Engineering T level qualification meets the needs of industry."

Take the survey here.

The AEA last week released figures for UK agricultural tractor registrations in June which we reported in the Service Dealer Weekly Update.

Since then, the Association say they have discovered an error in their database which mean that the published numbers were incorrect. The correct figures are as follows:

• Month: 1,034 units, -12.9% change (compared with June 2018).
• Year to Date: 6,198 units, -5.1% change (compared with January-June 2018).

Stephen Howarth, agricultural economist at the AEA says, "This means that the year-on-year drop in registrations in June was larger than we originally thought but not as sharp as the fall in May. Although the decline in the first half of the year was also larger than in the previously released figures, the total of 6,198 units was still higher than in the first half of any year since 2014, other than 2018."

This week the AEA has offered some analysis of how those machines registered during the first half of 2019 compare with those from a year earlier, in terms of power and location.

"In terms of power," says Stephen Howarth,  "the bulk of the decline in registrations came in the 121-160hp range, where numbers were down by over 200 machines (-11%), compared with January to June 2018. This accounted for around two-thirds of the total fall.

"The number of high-powered machines (over 240hp) also fell by 11%; tractors over 280hp fell by more than a quarter. Sales of the larger tractors bounced back in the second quarter, though, having been down by even more in the first three months of the year. In other power ranges, changes in the number of machines registered were relatively small."

At regional level, the drop in agricultural tractor registrations was apparent across most of England and Wales, apart from the Home Counties and East Anglia, but not in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where numbers were up year on year.

"The sharpest fall was in the East Midlands," said Stephen Howarth, "reversing a big increase in registrations in 2018, where registrations declined by a third. The South East, West Midlands, Yorkshire and North East all saw drops of between 10% and 20%. In contrast, registrations in Northern Ireland rose by 11%, compared with January to June 2018."

The UK manufacturer of professional wood chippers, Timberwolf, has been recognised as one of the ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain’ in the London Stock Exchange Group’s 2019 Report.

The annual report celebrates the UK’s fastest-growing and most dynamic small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) over the last three years, with companies representing over 40 sectors and spanning every region of the country included in the list.

Stowmarket based Timberwolf was selected among a group of five businesses nationwide to represent the engineering and manufacturing sector, while also being highlighted as a leader within the manufacturing sector.

Timberwolf produces Europe’s best-selling sub 750kg wood chipper series - the TW 230PAHB and TW 230DHB - from its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Suffolk. These two machines have contributed significantly to Timberwolf’s large growth in the UK and Europe, with sales increasing by 256% since 2013.

Chris Perry, managing director at Timberwolf, said, “Everyone at Timberwolf works incredibly hard to deliver unbeatable power and performance from every machine so it is a real boost for the whole team. We have grown considerably in both size and sales over the past few years, so are very proud to cement that growth with recognition on the national stage.”

David Schwimmer, CEO, London Stock Exchange Group, said “Congratulations to all the companies selected for inclusion in the sixth edition of London Stock Exchange Group’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain report, which identifies the UK’s most dynamic SMEs.

“SMEs drive growth, innovation and job creation and are the lifeblood of the British economy. We believe that supporting the growth of these businesses is critical to the UK economy and the creation of a society that works for everyone.”

LQG Agri has been appointed as a McCormick tractor dealer for Warwickshire and north Oxfordshire, in the latest appointment of key new dealerships in a recruitment drive that began at LAMMA 2019.

L-R: Simeone Morra, Argo Tractors commercial director; Ben Agar, McCormick sales director UK and Ireland; and LQG Agri managing director Malcolm Davies

Based in Upper Quinton near Stratford-upon-Avon, the dealership is jointly owned by the Lockwood family, co-founders of Lower Quinton Garages, and former JCB sales manager Malcolm Davies.

“We’ve been looking for a tractor range that would complement what we already sell and McCormick fits the bill perfectly,” says Mr Davies.

“Tractors of 100hp to 150hp will be the key market segment for us - we now have 130hp X6.440 and 140hp X7.440 demonstrators available to try out - but the McCormick range offers a broad choice of products up to 310hp to suit many different users, from dairy and other livestock farms, through mixed enterprise and arable units to smallholders, councils and amenity contractors.”

With seven service vans on the road plus good workshop facilities and a well-stocked parts store, LQG Agri puts a high priority on product support.

“We’re very much a service focused business,” confirms Malcolm Davies. “Our service and repair technicians will soon be getting up to speed on the McCormick products and our stores staff are now adding Argo Parts service consumables and parts to their stock to cater for existing and new McCormick users.”

As an added-value intiative, all new McCormick tractors will be fitted with telematics, a data gathering system to help schedule servicing while providing geo and curfew fencing as a security measure to complement the Datatag theft deterence owner identification and registration scheme already installed on all McCormick tractors.

“We’ll also put every McCormick tractor we service through a multi-point health check to identify any issues such as uneven tyre or brake wear, broken lights and the like so we can put right anything that may affect the safe and efficient operation - and ultimately the resale value - of the machine.”

Ben Agar, McCormick sales director for Argo Tractors in the UK and Ireland, says: “This sort of attention to detail is typical of LQG Agri’s approach to customer support; it gives customers every confidence that when they buy a McCormick tractor, it will be very well supported.

“So we’re delighted to welcome the team at LQG Agri to the McCormick sales, parts and service network and look forward to helping them increase the number of McCormick users in the area.”

Luke Mortimer, the owner of Ace Machines Limited in Milton Keynes, is the youngest member of the Cub Cadet dealer network in the UK.

Aged 21, Luke has bought the dealership, formerly known as RGC Engineers.

Luke Mortimer

He is no newcomer to the world of garden machinery and started his journey, aged 17, when he established his own business, ‘Mort’s Garden Machinery’. The company ran successfully for two years until Luke became aware of a long-established business owner looking to retire.

Luke approached the owner of RGC Engineers and agreed terms. The deal went through in December of last year and now Luke owns the company, with four members of staff by his side. The dealership, now renamed Ace Machines, is part of Cub Cadet’s 200-plus UK dealer network.

“When I became self-employed at 17, I could take the gamble and jump into the unknown as I still lived at home. An increasing number of young people are now starting their own businesses instead of heading towards standard employment - it’s more aspirational,” said Luke. “As I’m so young, people immediately judge me on my age and think my knowledge isn’t what it should be, yet once they get talking to me, they soon realise how wrong first impressions are. I don’t think of it as an insult, it’s just that the industry is dominated by older people, it's a barrier I’m having to break through.”

In the three months Luke has owned his dealership, he has hired two members of staff to run his office and a further two to assist him in the workshop.

“Having a major brand like Cub Cadet is a significant benefit to the business,” he said. “They have been really good to me in my short time here. They haven’t been fazed by my age and have taken me and my business at face value, which is so encouraging. A trusting brand like them is what dealerships need, especially if they are just getting into the industry. I would say they have really helped with the success of my firm.”

Speaking on where he sees the gardening machinery industry heading, Luke added: “Over the next few years, I see the industry shifting towards robotics as millennials take more of an interest in gardening, opening up a new market. Cub Cadet’s recent robotics training day has been invaluable. It was so in-depth and informative, and I now feel well equipped to sell this new technology to customers.”

Phil Noble, sales and technical manager for Cub Cadet, said: “It’s great to hear Luke’s story and to see how well he is getting on. It just goes to show that this industry has limitless opportunities available to all. Working with our dealers is one of the core principles for Cub Cadet, it’s a two-way partnership. If both parties work together effectively the benefits can be seen for each side. I look forward to continue working with Luke and his team.”

CLAAS is changing its management structure at the start of the new business year on 1 October 2019 and introducing the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

“This important change serves to achieve even better and faster decision-making processes at CLAAS and increase our flexibility in a time of rapid change”, explains Cathrina Claas-Mühlhäuser, chairwoman of the CLAAS Supervisory Board.

Thomas Böck

The new role of CEO will be taken on by Thomas Böck, responsible for the division of Technology and Systems within the Group Executive Board.

Hermann Lohbeck, who was previously speaker of the Group Executive Board and responsible for Forage Harvesting, Strategy and Corporate Communications, has chosen to leave the company at the start of the new business year to move onto new challenges.

“With his drive and passion for agricultural technology, Hermann Lohbeck has made a great contribution to the success of the company. We would like to thank him for the 20 years of service he has given us in a variety of different management positions, including five years on the Executive Board”, explains Cathrina Claas-Mühlhäuser. “With Thomas Böck as the future Chief Executive Officer, we have filled the new position internally with a dynamic personality, who brings a serious passion for technology and team spirit to this role.”

Thomas Böck is a qualified engineer specialised in electrical engineering. He began his professional career as a vehicle systems developer. From 1996 to 2006, he worked in leadership roles with well-known manufacturers of agricultural and commercial vehicles. At these companies, he was responsible for the development of electronic and hydraulic systems for utility and commercial vehicles.

Thomas Böck joined the CLAAS Group in 2006 and has proved himself in management positions, including as Technology Manager at CLAAS Saulgau GmbH. Thomas Böck has international connections within the industry and represents the company in various associations. Thomas Böck was appointed to the CLAAS Group Executive Board in 2014, which he will now chair from October 1st, simultaneously leading the Division of Technology and Systems.

Sales and service support for specialist slurry application systems for Claas Xerion tractors are now being handled by the Bauer team in the UK and Ireland.

Bauer Group acquired German manufacturer SGT in 2015 to expand its portfolio of waste handling and field application solutions.

SGT (Silage & Gulle-Technik) is best known for a slurry tanker loading system and large capacity mounted and semi-mounted tanks for the Claas Xerion, which converts this four-wheel drive tractor into a self-propelled slurry spreader.

“Bauer initially chose to leave sales and service support for the UK and Ireland in the hands of a Netherlands-based agent,” explains Adrian Tindall, Bauer sales manager. “But now my colleague Rob Jackson and I have responsibility for these products.

“They are complementary to the Bauer range of high-specification trailed slurry tankers, pumps, stirrers and separators, and both dealers and end users will benefit from our direct support.”

A 30,000-litre capacity semi-trailed slurry/digestate tanker on a Xerion 4000 S-Trac with front-mounted filling system

Soon after acquiring SGT, Bauer applied its expertise in poly-tank production - a hand-laid polyester laminate manufacturing process - to produce a new mounted tank for the forward control Xerion S-Trac.

Other Bauer products acquired with SGT include steel semi-tankers towed from a chassis-mounted coupling in a configuration that transfers more of the tanker’s weight to the tractor wheels for optimum traction and stability.

“These high-capacity solutions for slurry and digestate application are popular with large-scale contractors needing to handle very large volumes of material,” notes Adrian Tindall.

“They can now be sourced through UK and Ireland dealers with technical advice and after-sales support direct from Bauer to the same high standard as for the trailed tankers and other equipment.”

Manitou UK has announced the appointment of Tarek Husain as marketing manager for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

The company says continued business growth has meant an even greater emphasis on marketing and this new appointment highlights their commitment to promoting the brand and supporting their dealer network.

Mark Ormond, managing director at Manitou said, “I am very pleased to welcome Tarek to the Manitou family. His role will bring a new focus to Manitou UK’s marketing efforts. With 25 years marketing experience in both B2B and B2C marketing, excellent communication, branding and relationship building skills, his experience will help with our continued growth and raise the profile and awareness for the Manitou and Gehl brands in the UK and ROI”.

With a passion for excellent customer service, Tarek also has considerable experience in building strong relationships with distribution and fostering partnerships to grow the business, trade show management, social media marketing, video production, brand management and advertising.

Prior to joining Manitou, Tarek had worked for a large global engineering company that manufactures spray painting and fluid handling equipment to Tier One automotive manufacturers, high end boat building, Formula 1 and many more diverse industries.

This year Cobra have introduced an exciting selection of lawnmowers into their already comprehensive range. The lawnmower highlighted below is a feature rich petrol model and is expertly powered by a Cobra 98.5cc engine.

The Cobra M41C push-propelled lawnmower has a single speed gearbox, a cutting width of  41cm / 16” and a lightweight polymer cutting deck.

Powered by a Cobra 98.5cc DG350  4-stroke engine, for unprecedented reliability and performance, this lawnmower is perfect for small to medium domestic lawns and is able to collect grass clippings in its 50ltr grass bag. The stocking dealer price is just £86.70 ex VAT.

COBRA S-SERIES ENGINES WITH 1 YEAR COMMERCIAL WARRANTY

The range of high specification S-Series engines from Cobra are engineered for both the professional and domestic user.

They are environmentally friendly, high torque, low emission engines which are fitted to selected Cobra petrol Brushcutters and Multi-Tools.

These engines meet the latest EU directive EU-V for emissions, plus they have a high power to weight ratio, making the toughest gardening tasks easier and less tiring.

BCX230C 23cc Brushcutter - stocking dealer price just £109.90 ex VAT

BCX370CU 37cc Brushcutter – stocking dealer price just £132.89 ex VAT

MTX230C 4-in-1 Multi-Tool – stocking dealer price just £234.90 ex VAT

All S-Series engines have a 1 year commercial warranty.

For more information on Cobra products visit: www.cobragarden.co.uk or to become a Cobra dealer, please contact Andy Marvin on: 07771 581 296 or call our sales team: 0115 986 6646 today.

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