SKILLS GAP WIDENING Are apprenticeships the answer? by Service Dealer Editor, Steve Gibbs
Apprentices are vital to the on-going health of the dealer sector - but we are aware of the frustrations that businesses can face when trying to source and retain candidates.
It is National Apprenticeship Week currently, an annual event that aims to shine a light on the importance of apprenticeships across all sectors - with this year's theme being 'Skills For Life'.
The endeavour appears to have gained some decent traction across both the traditional media and social media channels. I know some dealers from our sector have taken the opportunity to promote to the wider public how apprentices are benefiting their companies.
This post below, from Anthony Deacon at MKM Agri on LinkedIn for instance, is a great example:
It doesn't feel like a controversial statement to assert that apprentices are vital to the on-going health of the dealer sector. They quite literally are the future of the industry.
But we are also well aware of the frustrations surrounding apprenticeships that dealers can experience. These can be both difficulties in the initial finding of candidates and, especially, in continuing to retain them within the business. We've heard disappointing accounts from various dealerships who invest so much quality time and effort - not to mention expense - in training up apprentices, only at the end of the process for them to have their heads turned and move on elsewhere.
However galling experiences like this are though, one hopes they do not discourage business owners from sticking with the principal of apprenticeships. So many dealers who have successfully brought someone on, tell us how much more productive it has been for their dealership to have created their own valuable, skilled team member - rather than have waited, with fingers crossed, that someone with a fully formed skill set, just walks in through their doors looking for a job.
This belief was confirmed to us again last week from a dealer who responded to our survey asking for your comments on how busy or otherwise your workshops have been this winter season. They told us:
"Staffing as ever remains a challenge with the industry needing to encourage more youngsters to enter the industry. My business employs 5 mechanics of whom 2 have come through the apprenticeship route in the last 6 years. If business holds up and we have a good year, another apprentice is planned for next autumn."
That certainly sounds like decent apprentice hit-rate for that business and a clear intention for them to do more in the future. We wish them well.
Skills gap increasing
In relation to the National Apprenticeship Week, I read an interesting press release from an engineering firm called the adi Group, who were promoting all that they do to encourage apprenticeships. Their CEO, a chap called Alan Lusty, was clearly a huge advocate for firms involved in any type of mechanics or engineering, to head down the apprenticeship route.
He said, "Not enough businesses have recognised the sheer potential of apprenticeships in today’s engineering world, and just how much these can benefit their company, as well as make a positive impact on the industry.
"We want to motivate other businesses within the industry to take proactive measures to change the engineering sector for the better, and a crucial aspect of this transformation is recognising and championing the indispensable role of apprenticeships."
The release went to present some starkly worrying statistics showing that apprenticeship starts in 2022/23 were down 3% compared to the previous year. It also stated that the predictions are that the labour demand gap in engineering will widen, with a quite shocking estimated shortfall of 40,000 workers by 2028.
Alan Lusty summed up his hopes for the future of apprenticeships in engineering by saying, "It’s about helping budding engineers gain the hands-on core skills and knowledge they need to progress and succeed in an engineering career, in the right ways. . . .We have a collective responsibility to protect the future of our industry."
Wise words that are indeed hard to argue with. But what have been your recent, practical experiences with finding people - both young and mature - to start an apprenticeship with your firm? And indeed once they are trained, have you been successful with retaining them within the dealership?
We'd be fascinated to hear any experiences our dealer readers would like to share. My colleague Keith Christian, who has years of experience working alongside the dealer network in this field, is preparing an article for Service Dealer magazine to cover this topic, which will be published later this year. So the more first-hand accounts from our dealer readers that we can hear, the better.
Please feel free to leave your take on the apprenticeship situation for our sector below this article or drop me a line. Thanks for your help.
In our WEB ONLY story, an effective succession plan that will safeguard the future of the dealership, will see the company continue under the guidance of a new management team.
UK developer of autonomous agricultural solutions said they "could not come through the valley of death".
The Small Robot Company, UK developer of autonomous agricultural solutions known as 'Tom', 'Dick' and 'Harry', has entered liquidation.
In a statement posted to LinkedIn, the company said, "Unfortunately, we could not come through the valley of death, even with our angels. Sadly, we fell foul through endemic perceived risk around agtech, particularly in the UK. We secured an international investor, but could not close the deal within our runway.
"A heartfelt thanks for all your support in getting this far. Looking back, it really is incredible what we achieved. We were so close to ‘escape velocity’.
"Ultimately, we hit our biggest technical goal, our farmers’ ‘Holy Grail’: grass weed detection at scale."
The statement continued, "It is with great sadness that our journey is ending before we could successfully deliver our mission, and our value to you, who have backed us every step of the way. In the end the perceived risk around agtech robotics for cereal crops was too great to close a VC deal.
"We hope that the liquidation process is able to find a future for the technology which continues to have a benefit to farmers, and the planet."
This week CEO Ben Scott-Robinson, spoke to the BBC's Farming Today about the liquidation and the difficulties in finding investment for agtech in the UK. You can listen to Ben here from 3m 45sec.
The dealer trade has been able to get a good handle on the desire among potential customers for investing in new and used agricultural and groundscare equipment over the coming months.
With prominent dealerships including Ripon Farm Services, Farmstar and Ernest Doe having all held open events and shows in recent weeks, the dealer trade has been able to get a good handle on the desire among potential customers for investing in new and used agricultural and groundscare equipment over the coming months. Based on the number of enquiries made, leads generated and machines sold, there appears to be come cautious optimism that anticipated downturn of 2024 may yet not be as severe as some anticipate.
Doe Show took place this week
Attendance on the first of the three days of the Doe Show in Essex appeared particularly strong, and both Ripon and Farmstar also reported strong numbers at their Yorkshire events. Sam Davies, Farmstar general manager, said the company’s open day had generated a number of good leads, while at Ernest Doe, used machinery manager Matt Hart was pleased to have ticked a number of significant farm equipment items off the firm’s secondhand stock list by the end of the first day when Service Dealer caught up with him. Managing director Angus Doe, meanwhile, said he was buoyed by the number of new machine enquiries reported to him and sales director Graham Parker.
With other dealer open days in the calendar, Service Dealer is keen to visit some new ones this year and highlight the way in which they stimulate sales activity. If you would be happy for us to visit your event and feature it in the magazine, please get in touch.
Watch STIHL's head of marketing, Simon Hewitt, tell us what he thinks will be an important product trend this year.
Service Dealer spoke to STIHL's head of marketing, Simon Hewitt, who told us what he thinks will be an important product trend this year.
He also talked about what he hoped 2024 will bring for their business, how they are addressing sustainability and what steps they are taking to help their colleagues with mental health needs.
Well-respected industry figure brings with him 27 years’ experience in the garden machinery industry.
It has been announced that Jef O'Riley has joined FGM Claymore as head of marketing.
Jef O'Riley (left) with Paul Butterly, md of FGM Claymore
Since acquiring distribution rights to the Echo brand two years ago, the company says they have seen significant growth in the U.K. market.
Paul Butterly, MD of FGM Claymore, said, "We’ve had a fantastic couple of years. But we have even bigger ambitions for the future. To get there, we know that we need to invest in building our marketing effort here in the U.K.
“Jef is a well-respected figure in the industry and has a proven track record for developing brands that can go toe-to-toe against the biggest names in the industry.”
As head of marketing for both the U.K. and Ireland, Jef brings with him 27 years’ experience in the garden machinery industry. Most of this time was spent marketing Echo, alongside other industry stalwarts including Ariens, Gravely, Countax, and Westwood.
This latest appointment follows a series of investments made by FGM Claymore. A new, state-of-the-art training facility at their Bidford-on-Avon office is set to open later this month. The new purpose-built space will serve as a sales and technical training centre for U.K. dealers.
Behind the scenes, the company also says it has invested in new IT infrastructure and systems - all necessary to process the increased levels of orders for wholegoods and spares
The dealership stands as one of the longest Yamaha ATV partners in the country and says they have seen recent growth in the leisure market.
Frank Gibson ATV located in Yetholm in the Scottish Borders is celebrating 25 years of selling Yamaha ATVs.
The business was first established in the early 1950s by Frank Gibson himself and began as an automobile agent holding the Austin Rover franchise, providing sales and service to the local area.
Still operating from the premises near Kelso, in 1989 they moved into ATV sales and service. Building on its already strong reputation, the company has enjoyed prosperous years of sales of ATVs and in 1998 decided to enter into a partnership with Yamaha UK, making this its sole ATV franchise.
Euan Gibson, partner at the dealership said, “After 18 years of selling a cross-section of brands, we decided to go for it and fully commit to Yamaha ATVs as our main franchise. In the last 25 years we have continued to build the business and our sales, focusing on ATVs and ATV equipment from our base in Yetholm."
25 years on from taking on the franchise, the company stands as one of the longest Yamaha ATV dealers in the country. Selling to mostly the farming and gamekeeping industry, the company has seen recent growth in the leisure market.
“We pride ourselves in offering a high standard of personal customer service," continued Euan, "we have spent a lot of time over the years building the brand in the area, converting competitor customers and maintaining a strong reputation for a good customer experience through our sales and service. We always make sure we assist customers in finding the right ATV for the job and budget.”
In 2023 the company revamped its showroom to better showcase their products.
Gareth Sloane, manager, Power Products, Yamaha UK, said, “Frank Gibson has been part of the Yamaha ATV UK family for a considerable time, and I know I speak for the whole Yamaha team when I say it has been a pleasure to work with them. Their commitment to the brand and their customers is admirable. Here’s to the next 25!”
The AEA has released figures that show that registrations of agricultural tractors have started the year slowly.
The AEA have announced, "as is usually the case", registrations of agricultural tractors started the year slowly, with just 475 machines logged in January.
That is 26% fewer than in the same month last year and is one of the lowest figures for the opening month seen in recent years.
Agricultural economist at the Association, Stephen Howarth, said, "Figures have fluctuated from month to month recently, so it is too early to say whether this is an indication of things to come in the year ahead."
Manufacturer says appointee's journey from field service engineer at dealership to his new role has uniquely positioned him for success.
McConnel has announced the promotion of Alex Fastnedge to the newly renamed role of sprayer sales specialist.
Alex Fastnedge
The manufacturer says with an extensive background in Agribuggy sprayers, Alex's journey from field service engineer at dealer Kellands Agricultural to his new role has uniquely positioned him for success.
This change comes as John Davis, the former sprayer sales manager (as the job was previously known), departs to pursue a new career. McConnel expresses gratitude to John for his dedication and wishes him success in his endeavours.
A spokesperson for McConnel said, “Alex Fastnedge has developed significant knowledge of Agribuggy’s during his two decades of working with the sprayers. Couple this with the relationships he has built within our customers base, will ensure a seamless transition.”
Now available to order from British garden equipment manufacturer Webb, is the Supreme Rear Roller range of electric corded lawnmowers, which come with a host of features and resilient design for ease of use at an excellent price point.
Now available to order from British garden equipment manufacturer Webb, is the Supreme Rear Roller range of electric corded lawnmowers, which come with a host of features and resilient design for ease of use at an excellent price point.
Available in three model types with a selection of cutting widths for precise and efficient mowing, the latest range of Webb Supreme lawnmowers with rear rollers are designed to achieve a professional stripe lawn finish, with extra cable length for convenience, at an affordable price.
For Small to Medium-Sized Lawns
The Webb WEER33RR harnesses 1200w of electric power with a 33cm cutting width and rear roller. Featuring a spacious 30-litre easy-fit collection bag, downtime is considerably reduced. A 12m cable also enables lawn tasks to be quickly and efficiently completed.
For Slightly Larger Gardens
The WEER37RR features a powerful 1600w motor and 37cm cutting width and rear roller. Designed to keep disruption to a minimum, this model includes a 40-litre easy-fit collection bag and 15m cable.
To Tackle More Challenging Grass or Larger Lawns
The robust WEER40RR features an 1800w electric motor with a generous 40cm cutting width and rear roller. For added efficiency, a spacious 45-litre collection box means fewer interruptions. This model is supplied with an extra-long 18m cable.
Flexible and easy to use, the latest range of Webb Supreme Electric Rotary Lawnmowers with rear rollers are designed to suit all garden types. Available with up to six cutting heights from 20-75mm (depending on the model), each lawnmower features a lightweight and ergonomic design for easy use and storage.
All Webb Supreme Electric Lawnmowers with rear rollers come with a three-year warranty and a full range of spares, including blades and collection bags, are held in stock.
The new Supreme range of electric lawnmowers with a rear roller is the latest addition to the Webb lawnmower range which includes the highly affordable yet feature-rich Gardeners’ World magazine Best Buy Classic 1300w electric rotary lawnmower through to the premium 21″ Alloy Deck Disc Bladed Self Propelled Petrol Rotary Lawnmower.
To discover more about the Webb Supreme Rear Rollers Lawnmowers and inquire about trade prices, please reach out to Handy at Sales@handys.co.uk or visit www.handys.co.uk.
About Webb
Webb - Empowering Gardeners
Webb products are intuitively designed, making them easy to use for beginners and seasoned gardeners alike. Say goodbye to complicated setups and frustrating maintenance - with Webb, you can focus on what you love most: creating and maintaining beautiful gardens.
When you choose Webb, you’re not just buying a product – you’re joining a community of passionate gardeners who share your dedication to excellence. Webb products are designed to make light work of the toughest gardening jobs, so you can spend less time worrying about maintenance and more time enjoying the fruits of your labour.
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