SERVICE & PARTS - TRAINING UPDATE

P&B have always believed in the benefit of ongoing training for all their back up team. With the complexity of modern farming machinery and the demands from hard pressed farmers for the best possible service and support, it is even more crucial now.

Andrew Dixon, P&B Brigg Customer Support Manager, said "It is a constant job keeping technicians up to date with each new series of tractors and all the latest advances in technology and engineering. Recently we have had technicians on PDI, Installation and Operator courses for MF and Fendt tractors and on other courses run by JCB and Simba."

APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING

It is equally vital that all P&B’s apprentices receive the best possible training, so that they can become the fully qualified technicians of the future, to continue P&B’s renowned back up.

Andrew Dixon explains "We used to use a local Agricultural College for apprentice training, but we now go for the courses provided by the manufacturers so that they receive specialist training on the latest machines our customers are using."

AGCO Academy

Tony Linfield, Training Development Manager at Massey Ferguson, is responsible for running the AGCO apprenticeship scheme and liasing with the dealers. Tony said "AGCO have become heavily involved in the educational system over the last few years, to ensure that the apprentices are being taught exactly what the industry needs."

"In conjunction with Warwickshire College, we run an Apprenticeship Training Scheme that meets the requirements of City & Guilds and is approved by BAGMA and the Institute of Agricultural Engineers. We have developed the course to provide the highest quality training possible and most relevant to the agricultural machinery industry. It is tailored to match the advances in electronics and computerisation as well as the complexities of hydraulics and mechanical engineering that are all a part of modern farm machinery."

"Warwickshire College has experience of joint ventures with other companies such as Jaguar and Rolls Royce and have won several prestigious awards for their apprentice training schemes. The college is ideally located near our AGCO Academy training headquarters at Stoneleigh and structures and runs the course specifically for AGCO."

"The course is a 3 year rolling programme with 3 residential stays at the college each year and a programme of work set to follow while the apprentices are back at P&B. I visit the apprentices in between to review progress and assess their work. We have recently set up a screening test to assess the potential of new apprentices to ensure they will meet the high standards demanded," continued Tony.

Andrew Dixon added "We are very pleased with the AGCO scheme. The 3-5 week block release system concentrates the specialist training and then one of our technicians acts as a mentor to supervise their set work back at P&B. By the end of the course they have developed the knowledge and confidence to be able to do the job. Unlike the motor industry where most of the work is routine stuff in the workshop with supervision at hand, a lot of our technicians’ work is done out on a customers farm, relying on their own initiative and experience."

Tim Collinson, who has been an apprentice for 2 years at P&B Corringham said "I had been around tractors for ages and wanted to get into the farm machinery industry. The training is very good and will lead to an NVQ Level 3 qualification in a years time. After that I will be keen to go on other specialist courses to help me in the future."

"P&B’s apprentices are as good as any with the potential to make excellent technicians and P&B have experienced, mature technicians to set the right example and for them to learn from," concluded Tony Linfield.

PARTS TRAINING

P&B Parts staff are also trained to be able to continue the high level of customer support expected of P&B and to develop the knowledge of the complex nature of technologically advanced machinery.

JCB Parts Operations & Customer Service

Two members of P&B Parts teams, Jamie Drewery at Louth and Dan Fox at Corringham, are currently being trained by JCB to complete an 18 month suite of courses to achieve their Certificate in Parts Operations & Customer Service, which also includes the BAGMA Certificate in Dealer Parts Sales & Operations.

Jamie explains, "I started at P&B straight from school 3 years ago. The JCB course, held at their training centre at Uttoxeter, covers everything from handling stock and stock management, how to make a profit, displays and promotions, customer handling and complaints, as well as specialist training on JCB parts. The course is recognised by the industry and has really taught me a lot especially the dealing with customers part."

"I have been on MF and Kuhn parts training as well as the current ongoing JCB course. I am keen to keep learning and P&B encourage us to get as much training as possible. It all helps to give us the experience to be able to give the quality of service P&B’s customers demand," Jamie added.

  Mark North and Sabah Fikaj, 2 Brigg Apprentices on the  AGCO training course seen with Andrew Dixon, P&B Brigg Customer Support Manager.

Tim Collinson, apprentice, who is on the MF NVQ Level 3 course and Dan Fox, Parts Salesman, currently on the JCB course, both from P&B Corringham.

Jamie Drewery of P&B Louth Parts Department, is receiving parts training at JCB.