New Holland apprentices graduate and get out in the field
Thirty-one newly trained apprentices are about to return to their New Holland dealerships as qualified land based technicians after completing a bespoke technician training scheme at Reaseheath College in Cheshire.
The apprentices were presented with certificates at a ceremony at the college by New Holland’s After Sales Commercial Manager Rob Alker.
This specialist course is partly funded and run by New Holland and involves five courses specific to New Holland machines and equipment. At the end of the course, every graduate is sufficiently qualified to apply for LTA accreditation (Land based Technician Accreditation) at grade two. This is a professionally recognised Scheme run by the Institute of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) in conjunction with major Agricultural equipment manufacturers.
Chris Coppenhall, One of New Holland’s product technical trainer, is involved in the specialist training courses throughout the three year programme:
"During the course, each apprentice does three separate months a year at Reaseheath College. Within this time, in addition to the theory and practical training delivered by the college’s lecturers, they’ll receive five specialist training courses based on New Holland machines and technology. So they’ll go through electronics, hydraulics, transmission, engines and diagnostics. All this training is done on our latest machines using specialist test equipment and it is run by New Holland training specialists.
"James Fermor, New Holland’s Technical Training Manager, praised the apprentices, whose ages range from 17 to 21, and commented that they have been particularly committed. By completing the course, they are essentially building a foundation for the New Holland dealerships of the future. They have all left college with good skills and product knowledge so they can begin their careers with a running start. We are working very hard to ensure that all New Holland Technicians are highly skilled and effective in their job. This will raise customer satisfaction and ensure profitability for the dealership network."
Steve Ridley is the agriculture director for sales and after sales for the Russells group. One of his apprentices has just graduated:
"Since we’ve been involved in this apprenticeship training scheme, there’s been a significant improvement in the quality and standard of our trainees. It’s down to the resources they have access to – they’ll work on New Holland systems and get to work with the New Holland service trainers: So while they’re gaining very good technical skills, they’re also forging direct contacts with New Holland too.
"The diagnostic training they receive is particularly good. Nick has just graduated from the course and he’s a credit to our company. He’s a very conscientious young man and we’re very pleased to have him here. With training like this, apprentices like Nick are essentially the future of the company."
Gordon Reid is service manager at Ravenhill in Turriff and has supported the Reaseheath scheme for some years. This is their third apprentice to graduate:
"The course equips the apprentices so that they are able to leave college and get straight into the job: Shaun has just finished the course and because someone left, there was an opportunity for him to have his own service vehicle. He’s already set it up with his own tools and is out in the field unsupervised. As he gains confidence and starts looking for more challenges, we’ll give him more complex jobs."
Tim Ball, from Reaseheath College, has the job of liaising with New Holland, the dealerships and the college itself, where the course has been run since 2002:
"When this course started, it was one of the very first of its kind to involve a manufacturer. It has been key in effectively standardising and improving the level of training that dealership apprenticeships are getting. Before this course existed, training in this field was variable in quality and very localised. This year’s graduates, like their predecessors, will be leaving Reaseheath with a respected industry recognised qualification: the Extended National Diploma in Land Based Technology."
