The recent purchase of a new MF 7616 tractor by Hadlow College, Tonbridge, Kent, has extended a close working relationship that has existed for almost 50 years between Massey Ferguson and the well-known land-based college, rated as "outstanding" in its most recent Ofsted inspection.


Engineering students at Kent's Hadlow College getting hands-on and close-up with the college's newly-acquired MF 7616 tractor

Supplied by local Massey Ferguson dealer, Agwood Ltd, the 160hp tractor with Dyna-6 transmission was specified by Scott Clark, Hadlow's team leader in agricultural and engineering studies, to assist with the training of students from across the United Kingdom and overseas. In the current year, the college has more than 1,800 full-time and 1,000 part-time students enrolled on an extensive range of land-based courses at four campuses in Kent and south-east London.

Scott Clark pointed out that the college has enjoyed a beneficial partnership with Massey Ferguson and its dealers since the 1960s, and still has three MF tractors of that vintage in its 10-strong teaching fleet.

Replacing an MF 6480 that had reached the end of its lease period, the new MF 7616 was selected primarily for its power output - being close to the UK national average - and for the wide range of advanced technologies incorporated within the tractor which, said Scott, allowed students to get "hands-on and close-up" with an invaluable and up-to-date mix of mechanical, hydraulic and electronic control systems.

Although being used primarily for practical training of students attending full-time Level 2 Diploma and Level 3 Extended Diploma courses in Land-Based Technology (Agricultural Engineering), the MF 7616 tractor is available to every department within the college for purposes ranging from tractor driving instruction to general farm work and the movement of tools and materials around the Hadlow site.

"From a standing start less than five years ago, Hadlow College is now recognised as one of the UK's leading providers of agricultural and horticultural engineering training," pointed out Scott. "Our aim is to help school leavers, and those looking for a career change, achieve sound engineering knowledge and recognised technical qualifications, enabling them to take up suitable positions within dealerships, manufacturers and distributors, farm workshops and training establishments throughout the UK and overseas.

"To achieve this, we work closely with many dealers and suppliers to ensure that a continuous flow of suitably-qualified engineers is available to the industry. I am happy to say that the support provided to the college by Massey Ferguson and its dealer, Agwood Ltd, has always been at the highest level and is second to none."