The Midlands Machinery Show has announced the cancellation of its November event as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, but is continuing with its Agricultural Engineering Apprentice Awards.

The event was scheduled to take place on 18-19 November at Newark Showground.

“Since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak we have been monitoring Government guidance and were initially optimistic that we could safely deliver the event in November,” explains Bob Sheldon, chairman of the MMS advisory committee.

“However, there is still ongoing uncertainty, with changing guidance and restrictions affecting exhibitors and visitors alike. Given how long many of our exhibitors require to prepare for the show, we felt we needed to make a decision,” he adds. “Our prime concern is the wellbeing of all our supporters and rather than risk delivering a subdued and more limited experience than normal, we felt it was better to decide now and find a different way to support the industry.”

To this end, the show will be awarding its Agricultural Engineering Apprentice Awards in November. Launched in 2017, the awards celebrate the valuable contribution of apprentices and trainees in the agricultural industry and recognise their commitment and hard work in colleges and workplaces across the UK.

The awards form part of the Midlands Agricultural Engineering Traineeship and Apprenticeship Education Scheme, supported by Geoffrey Bond OBE DL. Each winner - chosen by a panel of Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society judges – receives £500 to help fund their career development.

“These awards provide valuable promotion of agricultural engineering as a career and help to bring fresh blood into this important and fast-moving sector,” says Mr Sheldon. “We are so pleased to be able to continue to run them this year, with the support of our local colleges and manufacturers.

“We would also like to thank our exhibitors and visitors for their ongoing support. Next year’s event has been booked for 9-10 November, and we are all looking forward to a more positive year in 2021.”