The John Deere Apprentice Training Centre opened its doors recently to welcome young people considering a career with the global machinery brand and its UK dealership network.
Three unique apprenticeship programmes are on offer to individuals aged 16 and over, and with about 100 new recruits taken on each year, open day attendees were able to explore what it takes to become the next generation of technicians.
John Deere has a large number of dealerships operating around Scotland, all of which recruit apprentices annually.
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Netherton Tractors, J & S Montgomery, Thomas Sherriff & Co, Double A, Cornthwaite Agricultural, DKR Agricultural Services, MLM Engineering, and MacGregor Industrial Supplies, have depots across the country selling either farm machinery, professional groundscare equipment, or both.
The apprenticeship programme has been running for more than 30 years and has been hugely successful in helping more than 1,200 apprentices qualify through on-the-job practical learning at a dealership, alongside classroom studies and workshop exercises at the John Deere Apprentice Training Centre.
At the open day, John Deere – and the scheme’s training provider ProVQ – provided a tour of the training centre facilities, offering the chance to meet instructors and learn about the John Deere brand. Presentations were given on how their careers could grow with the world’s largest manufacturer of agricultural and groundscare equipment.
Three apprenticeships are on offer. Ag Tech focuses on maintaining agricultural machinery, Turf Tech covers equipment used in professional groundscare, sports turf and golf courses, and Parts Tech apprentices become responsible for sourcing and supplying components to John Deere customers.
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Technicians work within the company’s dealership network as paid employees while completing either a two-year course for Parts Tech or three-year course for Ag Tech and Turf Tech.
The John Deere Apprentice Training Centre at Upper Saxondale, near Nottingham, opened last year, providing state-of-the-art facilities.
Throughout the course apprentices will have many opportunities to work on the cutting-edge innovations in technology which will be key to the future of machinery development.
John Deere believe completing an apprenticeship opens the door to huge career opportunities, with a global dealership network within one of the largest machinery brands in the world.
Those choosing an Ag Tech course will have the opportunity to work on some of John Deere’s biggest and best machines which include the 9 Series tractors, the X Series combine harvesters, and the 9000 Series forage harvesters.
In joining the Parts Tech programme, apprentices will be the face of parts service, dealing with parts for all John Deere makes and models of any age.
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Turf Tech apprentices will work with Deere’s range of mowers, Gator ATVs and compact tractors.
“It’s a really exciting time to be part of the machinery industry,” said Allan Cochran, John Deere branch training manager.
“It’s a highly technical and innovative sector, which means our apprentices get to work with some of the most advanced pieces of kit in the world.
“It’s not just servicing and fixing tractors and mowers. If you want to earn while you learn and be part of a huge, global brand with a reputation for ground-breaking innovations, then a John Deere apprenticeship could be the perfect start to your career.
“With young people starting to plan their futures, we’re encouraging them to join our esteemed programme and utilise the many ways in which John Deere can ignite their careers and give them the best opportunities moving forward.
“It’s not just for people who love machinery – it’s for anyone with the ambition to drive their future.”
At the Fife Show on 20 May, dealers Netherton and Double A will be jointly hosting a recruitment event for would-be apprentices to learn more about the programmes. All open apprentice vacancies are advertised on the John Deere Apprenticeship Finder website:
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