A programme of thought-provoking debates at the Service Dealer Conference on 19 November will be led by panels of dealers representing the grass machinery, farm machinery, forestry and ATV/Quad sectors.

Following the keynote address by Adam Henson presenter of BBC Countryfile, three business sessions will consider the Dealer of 2020, the Impact of Technological Change on service departments and new opportunities in Communicating with Customers.  The programme will conclude with our version of BBC TV’s Question Time with a panel considering pre-submitted questions from delegates.

The debates will be chaired by Roger Lane-Nott, former CEO of the Agricultural Engineers Association and Chris Biddle, Service Dealer Editor.

The dealer panellists confirmed to date include representatives of multi-branch companies as well as smaller specialist dealerships.

Representing the larger dealer groups are Ian Nutt, md of Lister Wilder and Alex Scott, newly appointed and third generation md of T H White Group. Both companies operate a network of branches in the agricultural, grass machinery, forestry and ATV markets.

David Sturges is well-known as a former manufacturer with lengthy spells at Hayter and Countax, but recently ‘crossed the floor’ to become general manager at garden machinery dealership, Godfreys who operate three branches in the south-east.

From Northern Ireland, and representing distribution and retailing, David Beck, recently joined Belfast-based Cyril Johnston Ltd after a career with Ulster Television and a leading telecommunications company.

The professional turfcare sector will be covered by Steve Halley, md of leading turf machinery supplier Cheshire Turf Machinery based in the North West of England, whilst Andrew Meek of Congleton Garden Machinery will provide the perspective of a dealer who specialises in ATV/Quads as well as in garden machinery.

Steve Bartle of The Mower Shop near Northampton runs a successful sales and repair dealership which has just celebrated 25 years in business, whilst Neale Hopley of Buxtons in Staffordshire, founded 45 years ago, specialises in forestry equipment as well as garden machinery.

Representing the younger generation of dealers are Lewis Anderson, who has recently been appointed New Business Development Manager at Rochfords, the family owned garden machinery distributor and retailer based in Wincanton and James Hayes of Hayes Garden Machinery. James was a landscape contractor before deciding to set up his own garden machinery dealership in South Molton, Devon in 2011, since when he has opened a second branch at Barnstaple.

Further panel member are due to be announced shortly, details in the Service Dealer Newsletters.