Firstly, let me thank Chris Biddle for holding the fort here last week when I was away.

I think everyone would agree it's always wonderful to hear from someone with such superb industry insight and knowledge. And it does genuinely appear that this industry is one which, once you've got a taste for it, your enthusiasm rarely wanes - it becomes a way of life.

Proving the point, it's great to see Ron Miller back this week. The industry stalwart and winner of Service Dealer's Lifetime Achievement award last year, is taking the concept of 'retirement' quite loosely with his new role at dealership Hayes Garden Machinery! Ron said, "As the dreaded day of hanging up the car keys became imminent I started to get cold feet!"

Which is why when you see what loyalty this industry can engender, that it's so frustrating to hear of dealers having very real succession problems. The tricky business very much seems to be getting young people hooked into the industry to begin with.

The battle is making the prospect of working with mowers and tractors appealing to those looking to start a career. It seems that once that initial connection is made, it gets into the blood. Convincing school-leavers that this is a high-tech, cutting edge, highly skilled industry, with a rewarding career path to follow, is the responsibility of trade associations, manufacturers, dealers and media alike.

Of course a decent level of remuneration is required to attract anyone into the sector, but job satisfaction, which on the whole appears to be high, shouldn't be underestimated when selling the industry as an attractive prospect.

I've worked on the media side-lines now for fifteen and a half years, and I remember one of the things which struck me very quickly was what a friendly and welcoming industry this is to work in.

It's coming up to show season now with GLEE and APF next month, and SALTEX shortly after that - occasions where the industry gathers together. Bear in mind at these events both rival manufacturers and competing dealers share floor space - but more than that, they share ideas, knowledge and years' earned experiences in very constructive ways. Of course you'll always get the show rumour doing the rounds, but no real snipping or backstabbing. There does feel to be very real sense of community.

Following on from this spate of trade shows, there's Service Dealer's Conference & Awards in November. Another superb opportunity for the industry to show how they can come together, to learn from each other and to assess what's working out there. With the dealer networks comprising a fairly disparate group of independent individuals, this interaction and sharing of ideas is a vital resource - and more evidence of what a great industry this is to work in.

Ron Miller says, "Remaining independent is important to most specialists - this can be preserved along with sticking together. There is room for all and profits to be made if everybody works in tandem. It can be done and everybody including the end user customers will be happy and satisfied that they are getting a fair crack of the whip."

Well said Ron.