I wonder how many dealers reading this today start their day similar to me?

Obviously I'm just a journo who isn't doing a proper job like our readers are, but I suspect many might still start their working day by powering up a computer and checking emails. And when I say checking emails, the first task for me is to delete out all the absolute rubbish that's come in overnight. Clearly I've got anti-virals and filters everywhere, but still I'm inundated with heaps of emails that are at best nonsense, at worst malicious.

Amongst other things, I get told my password needs updating; that my inbox is full; my subscription is due for renewal; I've won something or I have an incredibly important parcel waiting for me. It's so boring every single day, wading though the lies!

All get binned obviously, but I'll admit on occasion one is written slightly more convincingly or looks a bit less amateurish - and it gives me pause for thought. Which is worrying.

I'm no expert, but I think phishing emails such as these are only just one of the many ways that cyber-criminals will attempt to target individuals and companies. It can feel pretty terrifying if one thinks about it too much (as I'm inclined to do obviously!). I get nervous when my steam-powered laptop gets glitchy and I have to restart the thing, scared that it may never come back to life again. But the thought of a genuine hack by a knowledgeable, cunning criminal - well, it makes my blood run cold. And I'm not a business with inventory, finance, staff and customer data on my system.

Everybody reading this today will know the importance of cyber security. It's a fact of modern personal and business life. However I'm sure with the risks and responsibilities inherent in being in charge of such valuable digital information, some help and advice from experts towards keeping that as safe as possible would not go amiss.

That is exactly what the organisers of November's Service Dealer Conference have announced today as the first of the popular breakout seminar sessions. Representatives of the Warwickshire Police Cyber Crime department, along with the Regional Cyber Crime Unit, will be leading a workshop that promises to give our dealer delegates some insight into how cyber criminals attempt to gain sensitive information from your business.

This feels like a session that everyone could benefit from. From what we hear on the news, it sounds like cyber crime is constantly evolving. So however much we feel we are protected and up-to-date, there will be more we can always learn from those at forefront of the fight against the bandits.

There may be a misconception that it's the Apples, Amazons and Microsofts of this world that are the cyber criminals' principal targets. But doing a bit of reading around the subject it sounds like smaller businesses are often seen as low-hanging fruit for the baddies, due to fewer resources allocated to security measures. From what I can gather, a successful attack could result in severe financial losses, operational disruption, and long-term reputational damage - all of which could make survival for an independent dealer much tougher than it already is.

With this session on cyber crime at the Conference being one of the smaller grouped, workshop sessions, it allows for plenty of interaction between dealer delegates and the guys running the breakout. If you have questions or concerns you'd like addressed it's easy to be heard and gain the insight you were looking for.

So do make sure not to miss this session in November - it could prove to be incredibly valuable.

The first subject for one of the popular breakout sessions at this November's Service Dealer Conference has been confirmed.

Warwickshire Police Cyber Crime, in company with the Regional Cyber Crime Unit, will be leading an important workshop on the subject of cyber crime, entitled How Criminals Are Hacking Your Business.

Organisers say the workshop promises to give delegates an insight into how cyber criminals use team members to gain sensitive information from your business. The session will explore techniques criminals might use, and will demonstrate with case studies how this could happen.

The team also promise to give practical advice on what to look for, how to recognise if you are being scammed, but also how to avoid it.  

The Service Dealer Conference takes place on Thursday 28th November 2024 at the Crowne Plaza, Stratford upon Avon. The theme for this year's event is Driving Success.

The entry process for 2024's Dealer Of The Year Awards is now open.

Below you will find all the links you'll need for dealerships to enter themselves and their staff for as many awards as they like. 

Also, dealerships and individuals can be nominated by any third party who feels they are deserving of recognition. These nominations can come from manufacturers, suppliers, customers, staff members etc.

Entries must be complete and include a 250-word supporting statement and at least one piece of supporting evidence. The awards will be judged taking into account the 12 months prior to the submission date.

Service Dealer owner Duncan Murray-Clarke said, "We want to hear from as many of our amazing dealer readers as possible this year. We especially want to hear the human stories behind the business - not just the facts and figures."

More detail on entries can be found by clicking the relevant category links below. Entries must be in by midnight on Friday 18th October 2024.

A judging panel will review all the nominations prior to the Awards Ceremony on the 28th November. All entries for the categories below will be considered by the judging panel for the prestigious Overall Dealer of the Year award (sponsored by Kress).

Below are the categories available for dealers to enter themselves, or be nominated by a third party.

Garden Machinery Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Husqvarna

Have you gone above and beyond this year to satisfy your domestic customers?

ENTER GARDEN MACHINERY DEALER OF THE YEAR

Farm Machinery Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Ibcos

Would your farming customers say you are outstanding in your field?

ENTER FARM MACHINERY DEALER OF THE YEAR

Forestry Equipment Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Societe Generale Equipment Finance

Is your dealership at the top of the tree when it comes to supplying forestry equipment?

ENTER FORESTRY EQUIPMENT DEALER OF THE YEAR

Professional Turfcare Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Toro UK

Is your team firing on all cylinders when it comes to your commercial turfcare customers?

ENTER PROFESSIONAL TURFCARE DEALER OF THE YEAR

ATV/Quad Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Yamaha

Are you the dealership customers turn to for tackling all terrain in the outdoor sector?

ENTER ATV/QUAD DEALER OF THE YEAR

New Technician of the Year - sponsored by Kubota

Technicians are the staff who keep the wheels turning - this is your chance to highlight someone in their first four years of the role.

ENTER NEW TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR

Star of the Dealership - sponsored by EGO

Do you have a staff member who’s made an exceptional contribution to the business?

ENTER STAR OF THE DEALERSHIP

Best New Initiative - sponsored by STIHL

Have you implemented something new - be it a fresh idea, some renovation, diversification, or branching out with new tech, let us know!

ENTER BEST NEW INITIATIVE

Leadership Award - Sponsored by AGCO

Does your dealership benefit from a great team leader who leads from the front and acts as a great example to all?

ENTER LEADERSHIP AWARD

The Awards will be presented at the Gala Dinner following the Service Dealer Conference that takes place on Thursday 28th November 2024 at the Crowne Plaza, Stratford upon Avon. The theme for this year's event is Driving Success.

GreenMech have announced the appointment of David Blackwood as their new sales director, following the retirement of Martin Lucas.

David Blackwood

The company says David joins with a wealth of business acumen gleaned from over 30 years of experience in the machinery industry, giving him the foundation to flourish in his new role - leading the sales operation across the UK and throughout GreenMech’s global network. 

David started his career as a design engineer in the Massey Ferguson tractor factory in Coventry. From here, he spent the next 15 years working for Massey Ferguson/AGCO in the Asia Pacific region - looking after all aspects of the business, including product support, sales and marketing. He then took up a position with Kubota UK, managing the sales and marketing for their tractor and groundcare business throughout the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia and the Baltics. David went on to return to AGCO, this time to manage sales of FELLA hay tools for western Europe and latterly all markets outside of Europe, for a further 10 years before, most recently, becoming UK and export sales manager at Stocks Ag.

With over three decades of knowledge and experience dealing with sales at home and overseas, GreenMech say David is well placed to spearhead the their sales team and dealer network around the UK, together with supporting distributors around the world in conjunction with colleagues from GreenMech France and GreenMech Germany. 

Commenting on his appointment David said, “Having started at the beginning of July, I feel I have already gained huge insight into the market, its challenges, but also importantly, its opportunities. I look forward to meeting GreenMech customers past and present, along with other friends and associates at APF 2024.” 

He added, “Together with everyone at GreenMech, we wish to extend a massive thank you to Martin for all he has done and achieved with the company and wish him the very best for a long and fulfilling retirement.” 

Organisers of SALTEX say the show set for its most internationally diverse exhibition to date.

This year’s event will welcome exhibitors and visitors from across the globe. Under the theme 'Uniting the Industry, Powering Progress,; SALTEX 2024 promises an unprecedented number of international exhibitors. The GMA says exhibitors from 14 countries including Canada, India, Japan, Pakistan, and the United States will showcase their latest advancements at the NEC on 30th and 31st October.

Companies such as EGO (Germany), Hilltip (Finland), SGL (Netherlands), EGHOLM (Denmark), and The Aquatrols Company (United States) will be among the 23 international exhibitors displaying their products.

With over 700 square meters of the exhibition space dedicated to international representation, SALTEX say they are a global stage for the latest developments in grounds care. Additionally, visitors from countries such as Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Nepal, and Iceland have already registered.

Sarah Hunter, head of events at the GMA said, "It’s fantastic to see such a vast range of international representation at this year’s exhibition. Every year, we see more and more professionals from around the world coming together to share ideas and learn from each other. This sense of unity is what makes SALTEX so special - it’s not just about showing the latest advancements, but also about growing meaningful connections within the industry."

Family-owned agricultural machinery manufacturer Claydon Yield-o-Meter Ltd in Suffolk have announced that they are shortlisted for a British Chamber of Commerce Global Britain Award.

L-R: Spencer Claydon, Jeff Claydon and Oliver Claydon

These prizes recognise the achievements of businesses which are trading with the world in a successful, innovative way and helping to create a Global Britain.

“Our significant investment in new production facilities is helping us to take a quantum leap forward to meet global demand for Claydon machinery,” said Spencer Claydon, the company's commercial director. “During the last year alone we have expanded production by 30% and expect similar growth during the next twelve months. Many markets are still at an embryonic stage and our distribution network is growing rapidly, so sales should continue to grow exponentially despite the undoubted challenges.”

Jeff Claydon, the company's founder, added, “The role of machine technology will grow significantly in the future and Claydon will continue to move forward. Our latest drills incorporating the ability to place crops, companion crops, fertilisers and crop protection products in one pass to help the farming industry meet the challenges which it will face in the future.”

The pinnacle of logger sports action, the STIHL Timbersports World Championship, takes place in Toulouse, France on 8th and 9th November this year, and the athletes who will represent Great Britain in the Team event have now been selected.

The British team

After going head-to-head against each other as rivals in the British Championship earlier this year, the top British athletes will now have to work together if they want to repeat their success on the world stage.  
 
In the Team World Championship, each team consists of four athletes who take on four disciplines in a relay; the Stock Saw, the Underhand Chop, the Single Buck and finally the Standing Block Chop. The teams compete in knock-out rounds against each other, with the fastest team proceeding to the next round, so the athletes with the quickest times in their national championships stand the best chance of being selected to represent their country. 
 
British Pro champion Glen Penlington from Knighton, Wales took his third British title in a row in June at the Royal Three Counties Show, but it was his impressive times in the Underhand Chop, Single Buck and Standing Block Chop that guaranteed him a place in the team. Penlington was faster than his fellow competitors in all three disciplines, even delivering a new Personal Best time in the Single Buck, on his way to the top of the podium. 
 
With four other places on the team to be filled, including a reserve, the decisions in the rest of the selection process needed more consideration. But through analysis of each of the discipline times from the British Championship, the rest of the team was selected. 
 
Along with Penlington, Rob Chatley from Hanley Broadheath in Worcestershire, Graham Turner from Penicuik, Scotland, Tom Redmond from Bere Regis, Dorset and George Spencer from Hereford all made the cut, meaning that the British team for the 2024 World Championship is the same as the team that travelled to Stuttgart for the 2023 World Championship. 
  
They will once again be joined by the British Rookie Champion, Jack Morris, also from Knighton, in Wales. Whilst Rookie athletes don’t normally compete as part of the team, Morris delivered some lightning-fast times at the Rookie Championship and will be nipping at the heels of the Pro athletes when he joins them for the three Team training camps that take place in the lead-up to Toulouse. 
 
These training camps are a great opportunity for the team to work out who will take which leg of the relay at the World Championship, as well as an opportunity to practice the changeovers between the disciplines. In a sport that can come down to the tiniest margins, the additional training is critical to the performance, and the team will be looking to build on their 14th place finish from 2023. 
 
The World Championship can be watch in full, live on the STIHL Timbersports YouTube channel on Friday 8th November. 

Henton & Chattell, the leading distributor of garden machinery, is excited to announce its upcoming Trade Demo Day, taking place on Wednesday, 9th October 2024, at the stunning Morley Hayes Golf Club in Derbyshire. 

The event will give dealers an exclusive opportunity to get hands-on experience with the latest innovations in garden machinery, featuring leading brands such as Cobra, EGO & Billy Goat, among others.

This exclusive event will showcase a wide range of garden machinery designed for both domestic and professional use. Dealers will have the chance to test the latest models, interact with product experts, and discover new features aimed at enhancing efficiency and performance in the garden care industry.

Event Highlights:

• Hands-on Demos: Test the latest equipment from Cobra, EGO, and other leading garden machinery brands.
• Expert Insights: Gain exclusive insights from industry experts and product specialists.
• Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers and industry leaders in the picturesque setting of Morley Hayes Golf Club.
• Breakfast & Lunch Provided

"We're thrilled to host this demo day, which offers a fantastic opportunity for dealers to experience the latest garden machinery technology firsthand," said Peter Chaloner, Managing Director at Henton & Chattell. "With the demand for innovative and eco-friendly garden solutions on the rise, we are proud to bring together industry-leading brands like Cobra and EGO to help dealers stay ahead of the game."

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, 9th October 2024
• Location: Morley Hayes Golf Club, Main Road, Morley, Derbyshire DE7 6DG
• Time: 10:00am Start

This exclusive event is free for dealers, but spaces are limited. Dealers are encouraged to register early to secure their spot.

To register or for more information, please click the following link: https://form.jotform.com/242135071477353, email: hc@hentonandchattell.co.uk or call: 0115 986 6646

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