Myself, along with other members of the specialist trade press, had the privilege last week of being invited along to Kubota UK's premises in Thame, Oxfordshire.
During our visit we were treated to several presentations by key team members, enjoyed a tour of the extensive premises and were able to view and try out some key, new pieces of groundcare equipment - the line-up excitingly including an early example of a new electric tractor called the Lxe-261. We were told only three or four of these models will be seen in the UK over the next 18months or so, before the company enters full production.
Kubota UK's product and key account manager, Phil Catley, introducing the new electric Lxe-261
It wasn't just the press that were able to hear from the manufacturer and try out these machines though, I believe many members of their dealer network had also attended similar events at the hq earlier in the week.
From my perspective, the whole trip was informative and well-organised and I thank the team at Thame for making us welcomed and opening up about the company's current and future plans.
I'll include more detail in a subsequent issue of Service Dealer magazine, but one element of a talk we listened to struck me as especially apposite in this current climate where across the industry - on both the manufacturer and dealer side of the fence - employers are struggling to attract new recruits.
Apprenticeship endeavours
In a presentation given by their field service manager, Tom Lockwood, we heard about how important the company's apprenticeship scheme is to their ongoing success. Tom acknowledged how there is an industry-wide problem of a shortage of people entering the sector, and how it's in everyone's interest for employers to find ways of drawing people in.
Tom described how Kubota offer dealer apprenticeship schemes across agriculture, groundcare and parts. "Intake is increasing nicely," he told us, with 13 students currently undertaking the programmes. As well as the core education provided, the company are doing all they can to encourage more young people to sign up, offering added incentives such as visits to key facilities, training in associated products and the gifting of merchandise. All sounded like clever moves designed to appeal to the next generation.
Alongside the formal apprentice schemes, the company also regularly attends events to raise awareness of what they can offer to people looking for a rewarding career. We were told they go into schools and colleges, attending careers fairs and the like to spread the word. Also we heard about a recent event targeting those who were leaving the armed forces and considering their future employment options. Kubota took at stand at this meeting along, with dealers George Browns and Lister Wilder, where apparently plenty of leads from interested, skilled individuals were taken - and subsequently shared with dealers around the country.
"We really need to conquer this staffing shortage in the industry," stressed Tom. "To do this we must grow our own talent, and also help dealers to grow theirs."
It was greatly encouraging to hear just how seriously Kubota are taking the employment situation, and the tangible efforts they are making to tackle and improve the reality that dealers around the country are having to contend with. And of course, by no means are Kubota the only manufacturer taking such steps - there are plenty of examples of others rolling out comparable schemes and endeavours.
Dealer frustrations
However, it is understandable that efforts by manufacturers or trade associations to aid recruitment, can get overlooked when a dealer is in the midst of a staffing crisis. It's easy to see how this good work taking place at colleges or in manufacturer's premises, might fail to be noticed, when machines are piling up in a workshop because of a lack of technicians.
It's in exasperating siltations such as these when dealers might be forgiven for throwing their hands up in the air and declaring 'why isn't anything being done about this?!' - when in fact, it is.
This scenario is discussed with great passion and knowledge by our anonymous industry commentator, The Sprocket, in the upcoming issue of Service Dealer magazine. They take umbrage at a dealer's comment that nothing is being done by manufacturers and the wider industry to pull together apprentice schemes to offer relevant training.
The Sprocket talks of how it is a great frustration that the message is not getting through that this is precisely what is being done by dedicated groups and companies to benefit dealers everywhere. They detail the recent history of the qualifications and courses available and offer advice for those wishing to find out more.
It's a great, thought-provoking piece and one that I'm sure will be of interest to all when the mag drops on your mat in a couple of weeks.
Whenever Service Dealer speaks to our dealer readers, the difficulties in attracting fresh blood to come and work in the industry, is one of the most frequently raised topics. Hopefully with the continuing efforts of companies like Kubota, Deere, Claas etc - as well as trade bodies such as LE-TEC - dealers will begin to see the result that all desire, of more young people taking an interest in our sector.
And clearly, the sooner dealerships feel the practical benefits of these schemes in their businesses, the better.
