BAGMA Bulletin Magazine January - February 2024

THE MEMBERSHIP MAGAZINE OF THE BRITISH AGRICULTURAL AND GARDEN MACHINERY ASSOCIATION ISSUE 43 | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024

70 years and counting!

JU

ST

IN

BAGMA sat down with Tuckwells Managing Director James Tuckwell to discuss the challenges of the past and how apprentices are helping to shape their future.

:B wi AGM Dealer Satisfaction Index | Focus on Apprenticeships th TR A pa OY rtn ers

Thank you to our industry partners for their ongoing support and commitment to the good work BAGMA does. We will continue to provide the best support, services and information to our members to help develop their businesses.

Join today bagma.com/join

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024

Onwards and upwards!

F

irstly, I would like to wish everyone a Happy and Prosperous 2024.

Seven months into my Presidency feels like an appropriate time to congratulate the BAGMA team who are doing a fantastic job!

The team has grown to include a very keen administrator, Hannah, who is going to be a real asset – looking after our CRM system, booking meetings and generally checking in with the by BAGMA membership.

a new collaborative partnership with Troy. This is going to be a brilliant opportunity for members to benefit from the company’s buying power - offering 1000’s of different product lines, with the added bonus of everything being on one invoice.

During 2024 I will continue my efforts to encourage and promote more joined up thinking between education, employers and young people keen to join the industry. I see this as key for the future of our beloved industry. Nick and Peter Heming I visited Hartpury University With the start of a new and College in December which year comes a reminder BAGMA President was a very insightful trip. You to our members to can read more about this later spread the word about in the Bulletin. the benefits of joining BAGMA. This leads We are also looking forward to another me to mention Kari, our Training and packed year of shows and events across Administration Manager, who has been England, Wales and Scotland, where doing some stirling work, coordinating we’ll be proudly flying the BAGMA flag. our ongoing training offering. You can If you see us, be sure to say hello and find the details of this on our website, find out about the support and services where you can also book for courses we can provide to members - current, throughout 2024. Don’t wait too long, lapsed or prospective. Alternatively, feel as places fill up fast! free to arrange a date/time for a chat on 07831 585476.

In terms of services, we are proud to have onboarded a number of new I hope you meet as many of you as providers and are delighted to announce possible in 2024.

The membership magazine of the British Agricultural & Garden Machinery Association Peter Heming

BAGMA President

Nick Darking

BAGMA General Manager

07512 327109 Richard Jenkins

BAGMA Business Development Manager

07432 290605 Kari Hearn

BAGMA Training and Administration Manager

07874 876999 Hannah Desborough

BAGMA Administrator

07842 431468

For all advertising and media enquiries please email: Stephanie Young BAGMA Marketing Specialist

stephanie.young@bagma.com 07513 725906 BAGMA, Samuelson House, 62 Forder Way, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8JB 01295 713344 Editorial & Production Pan Publicity Ltd 01493 440047 www.panpublicity.co.uk

bagma.com

Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the material published in BAGMA Bulletin. BAGMA can accept no responsibility for claims made by manufacturers, advertisers or contributors. Views expressed by advertisers or contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher or of BAGMA. Advertisers in BAGMA Bulletin are not agents of BAGMA or any of their associated businesses. Also, BAGMA and its associated businesses never act as agents for any advertisers. Printed in the UK by Stephens & George.

BAGMA BULLETIN - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024

Inside issue 43

2

BAGMA News Euromec join as members and Price Turfcare as industry partners Six BAGMA members win Service Dealer Awards

7 8 10 12

Troy BAGMA launch partnership with Troy

National Dealer Survey Results Informative brand results from 2022 and 2023

16 18 19 20

Expert’s View The Power of Influencer Employment Law: Duties to Prevent Sexual Harassment

Member Profile James Tuckwell explains past challenges and future plans for the South East dealership

Focus on Apprenticeships Kubota Apprenticeship programme Young engineers celebrated at Midlands Machinery Show

Out & About Hartpury College visit BAGMA 2024 dates for your diary

Industry News BIGGA Phoenix Delegation NFU Westminster team launch NFU general election manifesto

Connecting With David Withers, a well known face in the groundcare community

1

BAGMA NEWS

BULLETIN BOARD SIX BAGMA MEM BERS RECEIVE SERVIC E DEALER AWAR DS

The Service Deale r Awards were he ld on Thursday 30th No vember at the Cro wne Plaza, Stratford up on Avon. Hosted by Charlie Baker, the awards celebrate and rec ognise outstanding deale rs and staff within the industry. We at BA GMA were proud to see six of our members receive awards; De von Garden Machinery, MKM Agriculture, Edwards and Farmers, Gamm ies Groundcare, B& B Group and Arwel’s Agri Services Ltd. Congratulations to all the winners ac ross all the categories an d to all the finalists .

ES DER RECEIV LISTER WIL S AWARD LE TRIMAX SA hted to be

lig er were de anding Lister Wild ler of “Outst ea D ax im e Th .

3 2 awarded Tr r 20 vement” fo d te Sales Achie ca di de gnises the award reco er sales e Lister Wild th of s effort ket-leading ar m ed by the d Vines, Hea team, assist rtment. Tim pa de e ar es al dc afters of Groun Sales was pictured e collecting th award from ers Trimax Mow el ha ic CEO M at Sievwright 23.

SALTEX 20

UK AGRICU LT REGISTRAT URAL TRACTOR IONS DECEM BER 2023 Month 69

3 Units -10.

4% change (compared w ith Decembe r 2022) Year to Date 11,816 Units +2.0% change (compared w ith JanuaryDecember 20 22) 2500 Agricultural tractors (ov er 50hp UK monthly registrations )

2000

1500

1000

500

0 Jan

2

Range 2017-2

Feb

Mar

Apr

1

May

Average 201

Jun

Jul

7-21

Aug

2022

Sept

Oct

2023

Nov

Dec

Two new members join the BAGMA mission BAGMA are delighted to kickstart the new year with the announcement of two new members, Euromec and Price Turfcare. The pair join a rapidlygrowing list, all helping BAGMA to build a stronger voice for the wider agricultural and groundcare industries.

Based in Leicestershire, Euromec are one of the UK’s leading suppliers of high-quality industrial cleaning and groundcare equipment solutions, working with customers across the commercial, municipal and professional amenity sectors. Their extensive groundcare portfolio spans compact tractors, mowers, utility vehicles and hand tools from leading brands including Iseki, Honda and STIGA. Company Director Nikki Heighton explains, “Joining BAGMA has been invaluable in helping us stay up to date with industry standards training, and to keep abreast of changing legislation

and health and safety policy within the groundcare industry. The support we receive in other aspects of the business, such as recruitment, insurance and many other areas has also proved to be beneficial to the company. It is reassuring to know that BAGMA are on hand to support us and other businesses in the industry.”

Also coming on board as an industry partner are Price Turfcare. With multiple decades of experience working in the turfcare sector, Rupert Price founded Price Turfcare in 2017 and since then, the company has gone from strength to strength – distributing the Ventrac range of all-wheel-drive, multi-terrain compact tractors and multiple accessories across the UK and Ireland.

“After an extraordinary few years since launching the business, we have seen excellent company growth and have been able to well establish our presence as Ventrac distributers” Rupert adds. “We are predicting even better years ahead, so it seemed a fitting time to join BAGMA and utilise their range of training and resources to better our business for the future.”

BAGMA Training for Business Programme 2024 Now into it’s second year, the BAGMA Training for Business Programme has been developed to cover key topics and address the issues you’ve highlighted as important to your business. Kicking off on 18th January with a course entitled ‘Profits from Shows & Demonstrations’, further in-person sessions follow on ‘Presentation Skills’, ‘Recruitment & Retention’ and ‘Managing Staff’ throughout January, February and March.

An online course on ‘Customer Service – Raising the Bar’ is also available, on 15th February 2024.

For more information or to book your place on any of the BAGMA Training for

Business courses, please contact Kari Hearn on info@bagma.com

BAGMA BULLETIN - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024

BAGMA NEWS

Be clear and compliant on regulations for Plant Protection Products

A

pplication equipment testing is required for all machines applying professional Plant Protection Products (PPP), and in all sectors.

Agriculture in the main is fortunate (or unfortunate some may say) that annual inspections through assurance schemes means that compliance is routinely checked, but this is not the case for everyone as Ian Forman, NSTS Manager, explains.

What are the consequences? All legal obligations are expected to be met by everyone for insurance purposes.

For PPP use this includes operator training, qualifications and equipment testing. It may also include adequate storage and handling facilities and the provision of correct advice before making applications.

More recently the requirement to

by Ian Forman

complete the Official Controls (PPP) Regulations (OCR) form has come into force, which is still available for completion on the gov.uk website.

Leading on from this is the inception of Pesticide Enforcement Officers (PEO).

This is a new role formed by the HSE and around 15 officers are now employed to check compliance of manufacturers, importers, sellers and users of pesticides. Included in the checks are areas such as storage, training for storage and application, spray records, sprayer maintenance and calibration and NSTS testing.

Initial compliance checks were carried out with manufacturers and suppliers, with the agriculture sector under scrutiny from November 2023. It is likely that anyone who has not completed the OCR will be targeted first!

National Sprayer Testing Scheme (NSTS)

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BAGMA BULLETIN - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024

3

BAGMA NEWS

Positive thinking for 2024 F

The broad offering from BAGMA and our associated training and service providers means we can lend a helping hand, whatever our members require.

Despite my short time at BAGMA, I am aware of the disappointment surrounding the loss of the buying group from days of old. It is therefore great to announce that as of January, BAGMA will commence a partnership with the Troy buying group – opening up opportunities across thousands of product lines, at discounted prices and with simplified invoicing. You can read more about this later in the Bulletin.

When it comes to events, it’s looking like another jam-packed year, providing plenty of opportunities for learning, networking and, importantly, conducting business.

BAGMA will be in attendance at events around the country, an outline of which is on page 18.

Enjoy your Bulletin, keep in touch and remember that together we are stronger.

irstly, a belated Happy New Year to you all! I hope you have all had a good break, although it feels like a long time ago now, with 2024 already in full swing.

by Nick Darking

According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2024 is the year of the Wood Dragon, symbolising a year destined for prosperity, power and energy. While I’m not necessarily a believer, I like the idea of something to cling onto, especially something which encourages a positive way of thinking. 2023 certainly required a bit of positive thinking at times and, while the economists are forecasting a tough start to this new year, there’s already talk that things will start to pick up… perhaps the Wood Dragon is onto something?!

BAGMA General Manager

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BAGMA BULLETIN - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024

BAGMA NEWS

Be Safe Be Seen

Amber Warning Beacons - Installation & Use on Agricultural Vehicles It is important that users of agricultural vehicles take steps to ensure their vehicles are visible and that they comply with road vehicle lighting regulations.

Amber warning beacons are a useful aid to warn other road users of approaching hazards, but agricultural vehicles are increasingly being fitted with inappropriate unidirectional, amber flashing lights which, as they only emit light in one direction, are not permitted under the vehicle lighting regulations. So what exactly are the requirements for the installation and use of amber warning beacons on agricultural vehicles?

How should they be installed and operated?

Amber warning beacons must: l Be mounted at least 1200mm above the ground l Be capable of emitting either a flashing or rotating beam of light throughout 360° in the horizontal plane. Unidirectional flashing amber warning lamps are NOT legal

When should they be used?

l Emit light between 60 & 240 times per minute. The duration of the flashes and the intervals between them must be constant

At least one warning beacon must be installed & used: l On any ‘slow’ motor vehicle (max speed ≤ 25mph) or trailer drawn by it, when used on an unrestricted dual-carriageway road.

Note: The ‘motor’ vehicle must have four or more wheels. Amber warning beacons may also be used in the following circumstances, which often apply to agricultural vehicles: l By any vehicle being used in connection with the escort of any vehicle, whilst travelling at a speed of ≤ 25mph l When it’s necessary or desirable to warn persons of the presence of the vehicle or a hazard on the road.

l Be located so the light from at least one beacon is visible from any point around the vehicle or the (tractor-trailer-trailed implement) combination from a ‘reasonable’ distance.

As well as not being legal, unidirectional flashing amber lights can be dangerous due to potential confusion with and/ or distraction from direction indicators.

They are often brighter than the direction indicators and are sometimes fitted at a similar level. This can make it difficult for a following vehicle’s driver to see the direction indicators. Confusion of that

BAGMA BULLETIN - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024

kind has been a contributing factor in at least one fatal accident involving an agricultural vehicle .

The AEA urges all manufacturers and dealers of agricultural vehicles to ensure that the lighting on the vehicles they manufacture, sell or service meets the requirements of the legislation. In particular, they should ensure that, where they are required, only amber warning beacons that comply with the legislation are fitted. We further urge all users of agricultural vehicles to ensure that they understand the rules around vehicle lighting and that their vehicles comply with them every time they take them on the road.

5

BAGMA 2023 SURVEY

BAGMA Survey: Business Information With the start of a new year, comes the opportunity to reflect on the previous one! In this, the next instalment of the results from the 2023 BAGMA Dealer Survey, we bring you the highlights on the topic of ‘Business Information’ – looking generally at company size, turnover and labour rates.

66.7% expected to

46% charge £60 - £79.99 for

see an increase in turnover in 2023

their charge out labour rate

6% 6%

10%

12%

Other

£100+

£50 £59.99

£90 £99.99 £80 £89.99

44%

said their hourly pay rate for a fully qualified technician is £16 - £19.99

31.91%

35.00% 30.00% 25.00% 20.00%

14.89%

5.00%

17.02%

12.77%

8.51%

8.51%

2.13%

M £1

10

th e or M

£5

0M

an

-£

-£ 0M

00

0M

M 50

M £1

£1

M

-£

10

1M K 00

£5

-£ £1

00

K

-£ K £1

-£

50

0K 10

£1 K to Up

0K

0.00%

6

24%

22%

What is your company’s overall turnover?

4.26%

8%

£60 £69.99

Nearly 32% have a company turnover of between

10.00%

£35 £49.99

£70 £79.99

£1 million & £10 million

15.00%

12%

Once again, BAGMA would like to extend a big thank you to everyone who took part. Your responses will help us better understand the problems you are facing, and we’ll use this to better serve you and represent your interests.

BAGMA BULLETIN - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024

TROY PARTNERSHIP LAUNCH

BAGMA launches new buying group in partnership with Troy

B

AGMA are excited to announce that Troy, the UK’s largest independent distribution network for tools, industrial tooling and maintenance supplies, will be available for its members at a lower cost.

Troy’s belief is that independent businesses are essential for thriving local economies and communities. That’s why they champion independent businesses, supporting them with the links to suppliers and services that will enable them to thrive. Troy has access to over 400 suppliers offering its members an extensive portfolio of over 2,000 marketleading brands.

At a significantly reduced annual price, BAGMA members can benefit from turnkey access to hand and power tools, fixings, PPE, janitorial supplies and more with competitive purchasing terms and just one consolidated statement to process at the end of the month.

Commenting on the announcement, BAGMA General Manager Nick Darking

BAGMA BULLETIN - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024

Benefits for Troy members

We ensure independents can compete on a global stage l Turnkey access to 400+ suppliers, offering over 2,000 market-leading brands l A digital platform with market intel: range, promo and rebate planning l Competitive purchasing terms and just one monthly invoice l Support for range planning and supply chain initiatives Market-leading tools and services for all areas of business l We give industry expert guidance with proven big business experience l A market-leading platform with enterprise level pricing for Ecommerce, Marketing, IT, Vending and more Access to the right people in the right area l Networking opportunities in the UK’s largest independent trade show l Access to a vast network of like-minded business owners and suppliers said, “Embarking in this partnership with Troy signals another major milestone in the development and expansion of the BAGMA offering. The ability for our members to benefit from discounts on thousands of products, all available

Contact Richard Jenkins for more information on 07432 290605 or richard.jenkins@bagma.com under one roof, with simplified purchasing and invoicing is a very exciting prospect. With Troy joining an already fantastic line-up of service providers, there really is no better time to become a BAGMA member.”

7

National Dealer Survey Results

Dealer Satisfaction Index The CLIMMAR National Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) is sent to around 400 tractor franchised dealers in the UK. The information provided anonymously by those dealers, about how they value their suppliers, enables BAGMA to encourage suppliers to improve their service to you the dealers. The survey covers areas such as: l Brand Image & Impact

l Administration and Terms of Payment

l Profitability Contribution

l Marketing of Tractors

l Training

l Improvements

l Marketing of Spare Parts

l The Management

l Financing Offers

l After-sales Service & Warranty

l Manufacturer - Dealer Relations

l Theft Protection

l Computer Services The graphs below represent a snap shot of the 2022 vs 2023 National Dealer Surveys. * 2023 data for these brands was not available.

Brand Image & Impact While the machines themselves are at the heart of the brand, the way it is projected and its impact all have implications for the success of the relationship. Even the best engineering can be let down here - or enhanced.

This year the spread from best to worst has widened. New Holland has raised its game, increasing its score from 15.7 to 16.8 and its position from twelfth to fifth. The lower end has fallen away, with Kubota’s 2022 score of 15.7 dropping to 12 resulting in a drop from eleventh to last place.

Brand Image & Impact 2022/2023 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0

2022

2023

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National Dealer Survey Results

20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0

After-Sales Service & Warranty

After-Sales Service & Warranty 2022/2023

Once machines are out in the field the long term relationship on the ground often depends on this vital measure.

Has the brand got the dealer’s back so the customer can have full confidence in the support for the equipment? While John Deere remain at the forefront here, JCB have increased their score from 12.8 in 2022 to 16.0 and have gone from fifteenth place to third in

2022

2023

Training In a highly technical industry, with developments occurring at breakneck speed, the issue of training in every aspect of the operation is a perennial challenge for both manufacturer and dealer.

The overall spread of figures has increased from last year and the positions of the individual brands have changed a lot. Whereas Deutz had a score of 16.1 in 2022, in 2023 the brand has dropped to the lower end of the table with 13.3. JCB, however, has moved up eleven places to first, jumping from 14.1 to 18.6. Kubota, unfortunately, dropped from first, on 16.8, to twelfth, with 13.8.

2023. Meanwhile CLAAS have moved from eight place to last with their score reducing from 15.3 to 12.8 in 2023.

Training 2022/2023 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0

2022

Profitability Contribution 2022/2023 25 20 15 10 5 0

2022

The wider picture The Dealer Satisfaction Index took place during April and May 2023, surveying dealers in 11 countries; Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, United Kingdom, and also Luxembourg and Sweden for the first time this year. A total of 3,761 surveys were addressed in 2023.

BAGMA BULLETIN - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024

2023

Profitability Contribution In the long run business depends on one essential measure - profitability. The contribution of the brands to the dealer’s life and health is a crucial concern. SAME moved from second position to first, with their score going from 18.0 to 20.0.

The range has narrowed between 2022 and 2023, with most brands in similar positions, however JCB has gone from nineth position to second and increased their score by 4.6. The range here is wider than elsewhere, with two brands coming in with figures below 10.

2023

The aim of the survey is not to compare one brand with another but to provide a basis for discussion to improve areas of dissatisfaction.

Over the last five years, the overall average across all brands tends to stabilise around 12.9, and the difference in points between the brand with the highest score and the one with the lowest score fell from 4 to 1.6.

An overwhelming number of European distributors who took part in the survey highlighted the difficulties in obtaining financing for equipment stock from manufacturers, and the interest rates being charged by captive banks.

The data on relations between manufacturers and distributors has deteriorated for 6 brands, while only 4 brands are improving.

9

EXPERT’S VIEW

The Power of Influencer I

nfluencers! A word that in today’s age is becoming more common. You may roll your eyes when it comes to this topic, or you may see great value in this type of marketing. The truth is, that influencer marketing has emerged as a powerful tool for businesses across various industries, including machinery, think of Kaleb Cooper, Kelvin Fletcher, The Sheep Game etc.

by Mary Perry ME Marketing and Events

By partnering with individuals who hold sway over their respective audiences, you can effectively reach your target markets, enhance brand awareness, and drive sales. Just make sure you are being careful, this type of partnership requires a strategic approach, plenty of research and a mutual understanding of what the specific goals and targets are.

The most important factor is identifying the right influencer for your business. In the instance of machinery dealers, we aren’t talking about celebrities who have hundreds of thousands of followers. It could simply be someone with a YouTube channel that has started to attract a couple of hundred subscribers. Remember that the top reason people choose to listen to an influencer is whether the

10

person seems genuine. Consider if they are promoting lots of products just to get a freebie or do they genuinely want to find the best of the best and tell everyone about it? This is why research is important!

Here are my top tips for starting your journey to working with an influencer; Ensure they have relevant expertise in the product and industry. Then make sure you choose someone whose audience aligns with your target market. Next, it’s time to assess their engagement rates and whether their interactions are genuine.

Once you have got some people in mind, ensure the content they are putting out there is of quality and what you would like to be associated with.

Remember that working with an influencer is not just about transactional benefits. The companies that get the most out of this type of marketing have worked hard to establish a good working relationship with these people. Get them involved in your events and don’t leave all the content up to them, get together and produce collaborative content, showcasing your expertise as well as theirs.

BAGMA BULLETIN - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024

EXPERT’S VIEW

Employment law:

New duty to prevent sexual harassment

by Gerard O’Hare WorkNest

2024 will be a very busy year for UK employers, with a raft of employment law changes coming into force. One of the biggest is the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023, which is aimed specifically at preventing sexual harassment in the workplace.

Although somewhat diluted from its original proposals, the new law places a crucial responsibility on employers to proactively address and prevent sexual harassment among their staff. While the Act primarily seeks to safeguard women, it is inclusive of all genders.

Reasonable steps The Act introduces a legal obligation for employers to take “reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment in the course of employment.

Despite no explicit guidance on what constitutes “reasonable steps”, it’s thought that this will be similar to the existing defence in the Equality Act 2010, which emphasises a proactive approach by employers.

This will likely include regular and effective training, robust policies, thoughtful event planning to mitigate risks, and consistent, thorough investigations of complaints.

Costlier consequences A claim for a breach of the new duty can be made through the Employment Tribunal but it must be attached to a sexual harassment claim as it is not a freestanding claim.

If the claim is successful, the Tribunal can uplift the compensation awarded by 25%, so neglecting these new obligations could prove expensive for employers.

Act now Although the new law is not set to take effect until October 2024, we advise proactively implementing measures now to demonstrate that you are taking reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in your workplace.

Steps include creating or updating reporting systems, revising anti-

harassment policies, conducting tailored training, and implementing risk assessments.

For professional advice on preparing for this new law, updating your policies, and protecting your business, contact the BAGMA Legal advice line on:

If this is something you need assistance with, get in touch with WorkNest

01244 667249 or via bagmahr@worknest.com

BAGMA BULLETIN - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024

11

MEMBER PROFILE

Striving for never ending improvement s James Tuckwell pictured with father Paul Tuckwell

Contract spraying to multi-depot business, family run Tuckwells celebrates 70 years in the Agricultural industry during 2024. The future looks bright for this leading southeast dealership!

Tell me about the history of the business and how you, personally, became involved.

We are proud to be celebrating our 70th anniversary this year. My grandfather, Len Tuckwell, established a contract spraying company called ‘Worlingworth Contracts’ in 1954 before branching into machinery sales – as a sub dealer for Ford and Ferguson Tractors. This combination of products and services saw my grandfather’s business go from strength to strength.

It was just over ten years later in 1965 that John Deere approached him to become one of their first UK dealers, covering East Suffolk. As a relatively ‘unknown’ brand at the time, it was a risky move to say ‘yes’ but one that has undoubtedly got us where we are today.

Father then came in, moved to Essex and set up the Ardleigh branch in 1975.

12

Agriculture was very much part of my upbringing – helping with the harvests on the family farm and driving combines long before I was driving cars! It wasn’t until I completed my Agri-Business Management degree in 2000 that I then became involved in the dealership, at the beginning of what ended up being a very big period of change for the business.

Within my first 18 months we had the opportunity to acquire half of Blyth and Pawsey, followed by the acquisition of JE Buckle Engineering in 2012 and Burden Bros Agri Ltd, more recently in 2021.

We’ve always been brave and bold enough to grab opportunities as they arise and if we hadn’t consolidated these decisions in the way that we have, we wouldn’t be in the position we are today.

Tuckwells has a strong foundation in agriculture, what changes has the company seen in this industry over the last 70 years?

There’s a magazine article my grandfather wrote, in which he discusses the ‘unprecedented change during his tenure, the likes of which would never be seen again’… However, I suspect my father, and myself too, could say that the change we have and continue to see is unprecedented! I think every generation in this industry can look back and say there has been change, things are always evolving. I’ve got three children, the youngest being just one, and when I think about what their first harvests will look like compared to mine, they’ll be hugely different - they will most likely be operating autonomous machines!

Average farm size, number of customers, tractor horsepower, size of machinery, the number of units and farming practices have all changed.

Weather windows in particular have changed drastically, now considerably shorter which makes it more challenging

BAGMA BULLETIN - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024

MEMBER PROFILE

to get work done. There is also a lot more pressure on finances – margins are being squeezed – which impacts on the whole industry supply chain.

How, in your view, is technology changing the needs and requirements of the agricultural market and how do you/the manufacturers ensure to satisfy that?

We’re lucky that we’re in partnership with one of the leading manufacturers in the technology space. We get a lot of insight fed through and there’s a lot of collaboration between us and the manufacturers around what they bring to the market and how it’s going to benefit customers. John Deere themselves have focus groups in place for dealers and customers which provides a great opportunity for feedback, what is working and what is not.

But, you can’t go from no technology to autonomy in one leap. People need to be in the system and already using the software, which is where we come in! As a business, we focus on really understanding our customers and seeing how technology can benefit them. Farmers need to understand how and why they should use it, and how it will add value to them as people and their businesses. We are in a transition with some of our customers, but there are many who are fully embracing this technology and the benefits that it brings.

Technology is moving down the autonomy route, something we’re likely to see really develop within the next five years. I don’t think it’ll necessarily be robots everywhere, but more likely

autonomous tractors with GPS and updated technology.

We are using technology in so many ways, machine performance monitoring, agronomic analysis, service and repair alerts and targeted crop spraying to name but a few. It’s a super exciting time, not just in Ag but in turf too!

What is the current company split between different divisions?

At the moment, 75% of our business remains in agriculture and roughly 25% is in turf and construction. While it’s only a quarter, it remains a very significant quarter and one that I’m hugely passionate about – with my first 10-15 years focussed on the professional turf sector.

We recently took on the Yanmar construction franchise which has already proven to be a great addition to our portfolio and we very much look forward to the doors this will open for us on the construction side of things.

Growth appears to have been a consistent goal, with expansions and acquisitions contributing to the Tuckwells model we see today. How many depots and staff do you have?

Our growth has been gradual, which is nice. We’ve been fortunate to have always had the opportunity to acquire which has helped with our consolidation.

The growth of the business has been exciting for many reasons. We’ve now got a really diverse customer base including customers in the fruit and vineyard sectors in Kent and Sussex, which is something I’ve enjoyed getting involved

BAGMA BULLETIN - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024

with. The diversity of these sectors, golf courses, local authorities etc. helps us through the peaks and troughs that naturally arise in different industries.

In terms of staff, we are currently at 300 employees across 10 depots spread across the southeast.

With such a high staff count, how do you instil a positive working environment and what do you do to encourage retention?

It’s a constant journey for us, we work hard to maintain an open communication channel and put a lot of energy into creating a positive environment across our sites. We have a clear vision for the company, and this is based around three core pillars, being a great place to work, delivering exceptional customer experience and growing together. It’s not just about growth as a business but the growth of our people, as a team and as individuals. We strive to try and support everyone, our team, our customers and their businesses to maximise their potential.

World class training is vital to this, and we are developing an in-house training programme that will support our people on their career paths.

We are still very much a family and team-focused company where strong

“If we can find young people who are passionate about their work, we’re halfway there. If we can then nurture them and find a career path that keeps them excited and motivated, then we’re on the road to greater things.”

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MEMBER PROFILE

relationships are critical, although obviously much larger than we were 70 years ago. The challenge now is to marry up the family ethos with the commercial needs of a modern business.

Tuckwells are also big supporters of apprentices. How many do you have currently and how important is this to the future of your operation and the industry more broadly?

We’ve currently got 35 apprentices, a couple of whom are based in the parts department and the rest are training to become service engineers. We are looking for another 10 for the 2024 intake

the Year’ award has been presented to a Tuckwells apprentice for the last two successive years.

The apprentices finish as fully trained engineers and we then work hard to nurture and aid them through the next stages of their career - whether that’s remaining as an engineer or progressing through other avenues such as management, technology, demonstrating or sales, all of which we can support here at Tuckwells.

I am a great believer that you must be passionate about what you do. Life can be hard, and you spend a large percentage of it working. Our customers live and breathe their work, at all times and in all weathers, and it is vital that we have the same passion. This passion gives us the ability to have empathy and understanding that in turn enables us to fully support them at all times.

If we can find young people who are passionate about their work, we’re halfway there. If we can then nurture them and find a career path that keeps them excited and motivated, then we’re on the road to greater things.

which we hope to find as we often have plenty of enquiries from students and parents for both our internal Tuckwells apprenticeship, and that offered by John Deere.

The John Deere apprenticeship has been significant for us, and we’re extremely proud that the John Deere ‘Apprentice of

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Besides recruitment, what do you consider the be the company’s biggest challenges?

It’s a challenging time at the moment, a perfect storm of factors which I think we all knew was coming. When the pandemic kicked in, supply was short and demand was high. As a business we had to pre-plan because lead times were long.

However, we knew there would become a time where supply chains would improve and demand would slow a little and that seems to be where we now find ourselves.

Add to that the war in Ukraine, higher interest rates and general cost of living concerns… oh and the wettest autumn in close to a century… and together it presents a pretty challenging set of market conditions. We know we’re going to have to work hard for the next 18 months to ride that out.

In my eyes, these periods present opportunity, to analyse our business and work out where we are inefficient and how we can be better. When it’s all glorious and going well you naturally become less efficient. In trickier times you have to dig a bit deeper and, if we can do that, learn and adjust some of our processes then as a business we can come out far stronger.

What do you think Tuckwells has become synonymous for? What is valued most by your customers?

As a third-generation custodian, I hope we’re synonymous for making decisions that are for the long term, not the short term. I see a lot of businesses that want to make decisions that are best for the immediate bottom line. However, I believe our business is built around relationships and making decisions that help those relationships to flourish for generations, not just for days and weeks.

We also pride ourselves on not

BAGMA BULLETIN - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024

MEMBER PROFILE

collecting too many franchises. We opt for market leading franchises that we can be confident will deliver good value and help people to run profitable businesses. With John Deere, Vaderstad, Grimme and now Kramer to name but a few, we’ve always had what we consider to be top quality products.

Things aren’t always perfect, so I think something a lot of our customers value is our swift willingness to act when things go wrong. With short weather windows and many other pressures, customers want to know that help is available when it’s needed – this is how strong relationships are built. When jobs need to get done, we are always willing to go the extra mile to make sure this happens.

What opportunities do you see moving forwards? What does the future look like?

The future looks bright but only if we continue to improve. Our opportunity is keep getting better, both as an employer and when delivering the services we provide to our customers. You can have all the best ideas in the world but if you are not focused on execution, consistent delivery and never-ending improvement these are ideas are pretty worthless.

Technology is a huge opportunity, one that will bring new life and possibilities into our industries. Our opportunity is to be at the forefront of this digital space.

We also have this huge opportunity to support our team, continuing our in-house training programmes which our HR team are currently facilitating. Again, encouraging the younger generation into our industry and providing them with the

support they need to have a successful future in our industry.

our team dedicated to demonstrations, installations and optimisations.

We’ve heard about a new charity called The Nest Farms that you might be involved with?

It is always great to be associated with a trade association, even more so when the associations are collaborating with each other like BAGMA and the AEA are, to help us push forward as a united front and add even more value to our businesses.

Yes, my wife, Hannah has founded a charity called The Nest Farm, which focusses on helping young people overcome mental heath challenges. The young people are involved in all aspects of running the farm; gaining new skills, increasing in confidence, and learning how to manage their anxiety and mental health struggles. They learn about animal care, carpentry, horticulture, and a variety of land-based skills with the support of an amazing team, led by Hannah. They also complete The Nest’s bespoke 12 week psycho-educational programme. The Nest is passionate about giving young people the tools to understand and manage their mental health independently and equip them for life beyond the nurturing environment of The Nest. This is something Tuckwells are proud to support and we look forward to continuing this through 2024 and beyond.

As dealerships across the country we are all competing, but our common goal is to help our customers thrive and our industries remain sustainable. Together with organisations such as BAGMA we should look to support each other to help this happen.

It’s great to have Tuckwells as BAGMA members! What are the benefits of this for you?

We re-joined BAGMA last year because we were very keen on the training they offer. Having access to this in addition to our own in-house training has enabled us to equip our staff with a broader bank of skills and knowledge. Over the last 12 months we’ve had quite a few employees undertake the handover and installation course via BAGMA, which has been hugely beneficial for the business and was really well received by those within

BAGMA BULLETIN - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024

“The future looks bright but only if we continue to improve.”

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FOCUS ON APPRENTICESHIPS

by Martin Tyler Kubota (U.K)

It’s no secret that one of the biggest and most-pressing challenges currently facing the agricultural industry is recruitment, in particular engaging with and encouraging the next generation of workforce who will be critical to supporting the sector in years to come.

One person who knows better than most the importance of available, relevant apprenticeship programmes is Kubota (U.K) Service Manager – TBU Martin Tyler, who himself progressed through an apprenticeship programme at agricultural college and has been instrumental in the development of

Kubota Apprenticeship Programme the Kubota Apprenticeship Scheme, in conjunction with Coleg Cambria Llysfasi.

“Kubota, like most manufacturers recognise the current and impending shortage of people in both the manufacturer and dealer side of the industry” explains Martin. “It is almost becoming our responsibility to do what we can to get children and teenagers to consider the industry as an option.

This means increasing awareness and ensuring that focussed channels through education and apprenticeships are in place, that can feed quality candidates through sector-specific training and into positions within organisations such as Kubota, and our dealerships.”

The Kubota Apprenticeship Scheme was re-launched in 2021. The Level 3 Technical Advanced Extended Diploma in Agricultural Engineering is equivalent to 3 A levels and features varied modules designed to give students a thorough and practical understanding of topics including workshop practices, engines, transmission systems, machinery repairs and health & safety. The total apprenticeship is 36 months, with the block release training delivered at Coleg Cambria Llysfasi, before continual technical training is delivered at Kubota’s training centre. The final award will lead to the full City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Agricultural Engineering.

“A lot of work went into getting the foundations of the course right. Using the City & Guilds criteria, Kubota selected 20 topics which were the best fit for the overall course objectives and would give participants the necessary skillset for a successful future.” Martin continues, “Together with determining the module content, Kubota, and associated partners such as Kverneland also provided basic tools, training aids and apparel. Kubota also provides additional practical trainers from its UK Training Centre and, for areas out of our internal expertise, will source and fund the appropriate trainer from the industry.”

“In year one, we had five students enrolled. This increased to eight students in 2022, up to 13 in 2023 and we’ve just welcome 20 enrolments for the start

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of the 2024 programme.” All of those currently progressing through the Kubota Apprenticeship Scheme are employed by dealers in the Kubota UK network.

“Apprentices are a crucial component to the current and future success of many in our dealer network. While dealers have the ability to choose which college their apprentices attend, those that opt for Coleg Cambria Llysfasi tend to find the class are really engaged with Kubota – with students benefitting from additional Kubota technical and product training, and use of Kubota training rigs and diagnostic equipment while at college. For Kubota, this brings benefit across all elements of our business and distribution network.”

“What we’ve also noticed is an uptake in engagement with dealers nationwide, with enrolments from as far and wide as Scotland, Norfolk and Cornwall. This is testament to the value that dealers are recognising.”

So, what’s next for the programme?

“Now is when it gets really exciting!

We’re about to witness the completion of the course for the first cohort of apprentices, receiving their Level 3 diplomas. This foundation will equip students with the qualifications and technical skills to progress into positions within our dealerships. With additional technical training at Kubota UK’s Technical Training Centre, we expect to see students’ progress through workshops into senior technician positions.”

“We have also launched an equivalent Groundcare Apprenticeship, with five enrolments at present, and are currently hoping to launch a dedicated Parts Apprenticeship in 2024. We have also begun working with United Learning to get access into schools, the fruits of which we have already seen. Following an introduction to engineering class delivered at a school in Banbury, a student later went on to apply for an apprentice position at a local Kubota dealer.” Martin concludes, “We are incredibly proud to be playing our part in inspiring and encouraging the next generation.”

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FOCUS ON APPRENTICESHIPS

E

leven young agricultural engineers were recognised at the annual Apprenticeship Awards at the Midlands Machinery Show on Thursday 9 November. Each received £500 over two years to help in their future careers, with most choosing to invest in their own specialist toolkit.

“Supporting the best of the next generation of agricultural engineers is key for promoting careers within the industry,” said Roger Jackson, Chairman of the Newark and Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society (NNAS), which sponsors the awards. “Through handson learning and experience, apprentices help cultivate a thriving and sustainable future for our farming communities.

Providing a platform to help fund these young apprentices is crucial now, more than ever, as they deserve new and exciting opportunities to inspire them as they head into their future careers.”

Celebrating young engineers at the Midlands Machinery Show

Farol and Craig Redfern from Sharman’s Agricultural. “Since last year, Craig has Claiming their first year awards were: now completed his apprenticeship Joshua Whotton and Nathan Walls, and is fully qualified,” said Roger. “He who are working at Chandlers; Max recommends this award as something Lumsden at Russells; Joe Slater and to be proud of. He believes it shows, not Joe Sweetmore from B&B Tractors; only to himself and his family, but also and Lewis Collins from Sharman’s his employer, that he has what it takes to Agricultural. always better himself. He recommends other apprentices to apply, as it is Stepping up to receive the second beneficial at whatever stage you’re at stage awards were: Aaron Barlow and within your apprenticeship.”

Arun Slanley at B&B Tractors; Ryan ai170499072417_bagma-bulletin-A5.pdf 1 11/01/2024 16:32:04 Lomas at Chandlers; Robert Ward at Winners also received a Hydrokit

Multimeter, and Pat White, President of the NNAS, commended the apprentices for their role in the farming sector. “You are the doctors of the agricultural industry; without you a lot of our equipment would fail,” he said.

“Agricultural mechanics and technicians have been an integral part of our farm, and I hope you are incentivised and want to remain part of the agricultural family.

What you do for farmers is very much appreciated and I wish you all the best for the future.”

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OUT & ABOUT

BAGMA Visit Hartpury College agricultural education centre with only 50 students, today the impressive site boasts over 4,500 students across the college and university. We were greeted by Claire Whitworth, Deputy Principal and Matt Bell, Professor and Director of Agriculture who, from the outset, oozed enthusiasm for continually enhancing their offering and building strong partnerships to develop the very highest of academic standards to support maintaining their Ofsted Outstanding rating and TEF Gold.

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s part of our BAGMA mission, both Peter Heming and I are very keen to build better links with landbased colleges up and down the country.

These colleges remain vitally important in feeding our dealerships and industries more generally with young blood, but we all-too-frequently hear of the challenges facing the education sector, and the well documented difficulties in attracting both students and lecturers.

Peter and I recently had the opportunity to visit Hartpury University and Hartpury College in Gloucestershire.

Established after World War II as an

better! Three multi-screen simulators adorn the studio which provides individuals with an opportunity to virtually operate a tractor or telehandler in any situation; on the road, in the field, loading and unloading bales… the list goes on. The students we spoke with who were operating the simulators emphasised the real benefits, with it enabling them to log hours and hone their skills for real life scenarios.

We also spent some time in both the workshop and new Agri-tech centre, allowing students to make the very Hartpury not only most of their time at the caters for full-time College and giving them the Agricultural Programmes tools and skills they need for at level 2 and 3 through entering the workplace. to University programmes but also offers Agricultural But it doesn’t stop there for by Apprenticeships and will Hartpury. In the next couple Nick Darking move into T-Level’s in of years, Claire and Matt Land based Engineering explained the college are BAGMA General and Agriculture from investing £2.49 million into Manager September 2024. They new buildings and tools for also offer a tractor driving students, which will go a long course for those students way in creating greater appeal that have never sat behind the wheel. to Engineers of the future.

During our tour of the site, Peter and I I take my hat off to those in the were shown around Hartpury’s Digital education sector and for the vision that Studio, which was an eye-opener for me individuals like Claire and Matt have for as to how education has changed for the the future of Land Based Engineering!

BAGMA Events Scan the QR code to secure your place BAGMA Connect 7th March 2024

Hamilton Park Racecourse, Bothwell Road, Hamilton, ML3 0DW Admission Free

BAGMA Connect 11th April 2024

Reaseheath College & University Centre, Reaseheath, Rease Heath, Nantwich CW5 6DF Admission Free

BAGMA Golf Day

25th September 2024 Nailcote Hall, Nailcote Lane, Berkswell, Coventry CV7 7DE Tickets will be available to book via the BAGMA website soon.

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2024 Diary Dates The 64th Annual Doe Show 6th-8th Feb, Maldon, Essex

The West Country Farming & Machinery Show 21st Feb, Westpoint, Exeter

Scots Turf Show

6th March, Hamilton Park

AEA Conference

9th April, One Great George Street, London

Devon Country Show

16th-18th May, Westpoint, Exeter

Staffordshire County Show

29th-30th May, Stafford Showground

Cereals 2024

11th-12th June, Bygrave Wood at Newnham Farm North Hertfordshire

Royal Three Counties Show

14th-16th June, Three Counties Showground Malvern, Worcestershire

Royal Highland Show

20th- 23rd June, Royal Highland Centre, Newbridge

Royal Norfolk Show

26th-27th June, Norfolk Showground

BAGMA BULLETIN - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024

INDUSTRY NEWS

BIGGA Delegation Phoenix 2024

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he British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and Premium Partner Bernhard and Company have selected 10 association members to engage in one of the sports turf industry’s most prestigious learning opportunities.

A BIGGA Premium Partner, each year Bernhard and Company invites 10 BIGGA members to attend the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America’s (GCSAA) Conference and Trade Show, this year taking place in Phoenix, Arizona.

A spot on the delegation marks out a candidate as among the most dedicated and talented ambassadors for the golf greenkeeping sector.

With experiences designed to elevate

the careers of those in attendance, the delegation is a week-long educational trip that features site visits as well as seminars, networking events and educational demonstrations. The successful delegates will also be invited to convene at the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition in January, where they will meet former participants in the programme, many of whom have gone on to great success in their careers.

The GCSAA Conference and Trade Show runs from 29 January to 1 February 2024. As part of their duties, the delegates will attend the BIGGA stand during the conference, speaking to visitors about the association and UK greenkeeping.

NFU Manifesto launched in Parliament

Continuing efforts to ensure that agri-politics remains at the forefront of politicians’ minds, the NFU Westminster team hosted the winter reception and launched the NFU’s general election manifesto – Farming for Britain’s Future.

The manifesto outlines the key asks of the next government to ensure farmers and growers can continue to deliver for the environment, economy and local communities while producing more of the great British food we all enjoy.

Britain’s farmers and growers produce high quality, climate-friendly food, fuel,

fibre and flowers while maintaining and enhancing our beautiful countryside, protecting some of our most valuable natural assets and providing the foundation for the country’s largest manufacturing sector, food and drink.

Politicians need to work with the NFU so they can fulfil their potential and continue to farm for Britain’s future.

The manifesto leads with new research which demonstrates how much food and farming matters to voters in the run-up to the general election, with a strong appetite for greater government support to boost home-grown food production.

Visit the BAGMA website to read more

BAGMA BULLETIN - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024

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CONNECTING WITH

David Withers, Managing Director of ISEKI UK and Ireland takes five minutes with BAGMA to discuss more than three decades in the industry Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule, please introduce yourself.

I’m David Withers, Managing Director of ISEKI UK & Ireland - a role I’ve held since 2018. Prior to that I worked with Textron (Ransomes Jacobsen) for 24 years in a variety of positions starting as a Regional Sales Manager in 1992, before serving as President from 2011 until 2017.

You’re a familiar face to many in the industry, where did it all start for you?

What are the major changes you have seen in the industry over that time?

My early career was with Charterhouse Turf Machinery (now Redexim) where I started as a demonstrator in the late 80’s before moving into sales. Here I worked alongside David Watson who many of you may know, and a young enthusiastic chap who is now the General Manager of BAGMA, Nick Darking! Back in those days we did a mixture of building machines, demonstrating and selling. Everyone would muck in to get the work done which was a great learning experience for me. It taught me what customers valued, much of which is still relevant today:

“Not many kids go to school saying, I want to be a lawnmower salesman when I grow up! But they should because it is a fabulous industry”

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l Customers value a relationship with the manufacturer and/or dealer and will buy from people they know and trust. An interesting comment I’ve heard is “a good dealer can sell a bad product, but a bad dealer can’t even sell a good product!” l The machine has to do what they need it to do. It must make their lives easier and solve a problem, reliably and consistently. l When the machine needs servicing and repairing, customers value a company that does this quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively.

Whilst these imperatives have not changed, much has in the industry as a whole. The consolidation of manufacturers and dealers has been significant and has driven a lot of change in personnel and reducing choice to a degree. Machinery has vastly improved, to the point there are very few ‘bad’ machines available from the reputable manufacturers which has made pricing even more important. Over the last 30 odd years there has historically been more supply than demand. This reversed during COVID and for a couple of years we saw odd instances of demand

outstripping supply. People who have joined the industry in the last few years are in for an eye-opening experience when the industry reverts back to normal!

What do you think are the biggest challenges and opportunities within the industry currently?

Our industry is all about people and our biggest strength continues to be the quality and commitment of the people working in it. However, as we move forwards this is also our biggest challenge as a large cohort of experienced staff will be retiring in the next few years and bringing in new people is a challenge!

Not many kids go to school saying, “I want to be a lawnmower salesman when I grow up!” But they should because it is a fabulous industry and once people do (accidentally) arrive in the industry they tend to stay. This has been a real mission for the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) of which I’m a board member. In an attempt to combat the issue, the AEA launched the ‘We Are Land-Based’ scheme, focussed on highlighting the opportunities available for young people in the industry, particularly as we move towards an era where autonomy and electrification will be at the heart of the machinery we make.

The Agricultural Engineers Association has been a big part of your career to date, how does your industry experience help to shape your position on the AEA board?

I had the privilege of being President of the AEA in 2022 and remain on the Board. During that time I also had the opportunity to help BAGMA transition into AEA ownership. This was a great step forwards to help the AEA truly speak to Government and other stakeholders with one voice - a combined voice of dealers and manufacturers to influence policy.

Lastly, what is the importance of BAGMA and other associations in supporting you and the wider industry?

Essentially the AEA and BAGMA are there to help us run better businesses!

If we understand what is coming legislatively, alongside current trends and influences, we can be prepared for them and make sure our businesses are resilient and can continue to thrive in whatever market conditions we face.

BAGMA BULLETIN - JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2024

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he t r o f g n i k o o l e We’r ng i r e e n i g n e d e s a landb 4 2 0 2 f o s n o i p m cha Could you or someone you know, be the NEXT Technician of the year?

For your chance to win, film a short video about: • Who you are and what you do • How you got into this industry • What makes your job so rewarding

Prizes from:

More prizes to be announced soon

Alternatively, head online and nominate a colleague!

Enter now for your chance to win some incredible prizes and help to showcase our industry to the next generation!

Find out how to enter by scanning the QR Code or head over to www.wearelandbased.engineering/ competition ENTRIES Close 30th April 2024