South-west England based agricultural and garden machinery dealer, CR Willcocks, say they have long been a champion of apprenticeships, currently employing five.

CR Willcocks' apprentices

On the eve of this year’s National Apprenticeship Week, the dealership is celebrating their success.

Andrew Joll, service director at CR Willcocks, said, “We have always employed apprentices. It’s an ongoing process with the intention of taking on more apprentices in the future.

"As a company we are very much focused on the future, as well as the present, and apprentices bring in energy and fresh ideas. It’s a great workforce motivator.”

Of the five apprentices currently working at CR Willcocks, three are on an agricultural engineering course that is backed by New Holland. The agricultural engineering course, part of which is spent at Reaseheath College in Cheshire, enables the apprentices to learn fundamental engineering skills as well as specialist training on modern New Holland machinery.

CR Willocks say when an apprenticeship ends, there are continued opportunities to enhance career progression within the industry, such as attending specialist manufacturer training courses to keep up to date with the latest technology. There is also the opportunity to study further apprenticeship courses. One of their apprentices who completed a three year Vehicle Parts & Maintenance course is now attending an Apprenticeship Level 3 Principles In Management and Leadership course at South Devon College.

Andrew Joll continued, “An apprenticeship is something positive. It allows us to grow our own team, making them more aware of what our company is all about and where we are going. It’s an excellent way of developing a dedicated and knowledgeable staff that our customers require and deserve.”

A fifth apprentice of theirs is attending Bicton College (East Devon) as part of his Horticultural Engineering course, and the dealership says they will be looking to employ another agriculture engineering apprentice this summer.