The British agriculture and turf industry's first and only purpose-built apprentice training facility has been opened by John Deere and training provider ProVQ at St James Business Park, Radcliffe-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire.

Designed specifically and solely for John Deere dealer apprentices enrolled on the company's Ag Tech, Parts Tech and Turf Tech training programmes, the new centre is close to John Deere Limited's headquarters at Langar.

The company's three-year Ag and Turf Tech apprenticeships lead to the IMI Level 2 and 3 Diplomas in Landbased Engineering. Each year group trains at the centre for eight weeks a year in four blocks of two weeks, with some days spent at Langar when working with larger machines such as combines and self-propelled forage harvesters.

The two-year Parts Tech apprenticeship, leading to a Level 3 Diploma in Vehicle Parts Competence, is mostly work-based at the sponsoring dealer, with four weeks of training taking place at Radcliffe.

John Deere appointed ProVQ Limited in summer 2015 as its new business partner to deliver the apprentice training programmes on behalf of its dealers in England, Scotland and Wales (separate training programmes are provided in Northern Ireland and Eire). Full-time ProVQ staff based at the new centre include programme manager Ian Crowder, learner support manager Christine Coxon and group trainers Richard Jenkins, Sebastian Gillbard and Benjamin Hobster.

The new John Deere Apprentice Training Centre features a reception, air conditioned classrooms, workshop areas, changing and washing facilities plus a dining room. Provision has also been made for further expansion, with plans in place for two more classrooms and a small workshop/laboratory when required.


First year students at the new John Deere Apprentice Training Centre, with John Deere Limited training centre manager Richard Halsall and ProVQ programme manager Ian Crowder (centre left and right), and group trainers Sebastian Gillbard (left) and Benjamin Hobster (right)

"Our new business partnership with ProVQ is already going from strength to strength, and we are delighted to have established this new bespoke facility so close to our UK headquarters," says John Deere Limited training centre manager Richard Halsall. "The company's investment in the Apprentice Training Centre reinforces our continuing aim to provide industry leading training programmes for our agricultural and turf dealers."