A record total of 35 young service technicians have graduated from the latest John Deere Ag Tech, Parts Tech and Turf Tech advanced apprenticeship programmes, newly run by national training provider ProVQ.


John Deere's 2015 Ag Tech, Parts Tech and Turf Tech third year graduates at the John Deere Forum in Mannheim, Germany

Charlie Phipps from dealer Farol at Milton Common in Oxfordshire was named ag & turf apprentice of the year for 2015, while parts apprentice of the year is Grant Stearman of Ben Burgess Beeston in Norfolk. Charlie Phipps also won a Service Technician Apprentice of the Year Award earlier in the year from John Deere's previous training provider Babcock, in a national competition designed to identify the best and brightest apprentices across industry.

The group of third year students received their certificates at the John Deere Forum visitor centre in Mannheim, Germany during the annual graduation visit to the company's tractor and cab factories and European Parts Distribution Centre (EPDC) in December. The presentations were made by Deere & Company's Region 2 marketing director Helmut Korthoeber and John Deere Limited training centre manager Richard Halsall.


John Deere ag & turf apprentice of the year 2015 Charlie Phipps with John Deere training centre manager Richard Halsall

Charlie Phipps received a crystal plaque, a certificate and vouchers for workshop tools worth £250. His ProVQ regional assessor Roger Hawlor and technical trainer Richard Jenkins said: "Charlie has been a first class student since the beginning of his apprenticeship. His application, effort and motivation throughout have been outstanding, and he has been an excellent ambassador for both the apprenticeship programme and the Farol dealership."


John Deere parts apprentice of the year 2015 Grant Stearman with John Deere training centre manager Richard Halsall

Grant Stearman received a certificate and shopping vouchers worth £250. "Grant has worked very hard throughout his apprenticeship and thoroughly deserves this recognition for his efforts," said his ProVQ assessor/trainer Amanda White.

The John Deere three-year apprenticeships currently lead to the BAGMA/City & Guilds of London Institute 4025 agricultural/groundcare service engineers NVQ Level 2 & 3 certificates and Level 3 IMI Diploma in vehicle parts competence. All future Ag and Turf Tech apprentices will qualify with the IMI Level 2 & 3 Diploma in Landbased Engineering.

Apprentices can also choose to complete their education for a fourth year to gain the John Deere Diploma and register at LTA2 level in the industry's Landbased Technician Accreditation scheme, while starting their adult training within the John Deere University.