John Deere opens new apprentice training centre

The British agriculture and turf industry’s first and only purpose-built apprentice training facility has been opened by John Deere and training provider ProVQ at St James Business Park, Radcliffe-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire.

Designed specifically and solely for John Deere dealer apprentices enrolled on the company’s award winning Ag Tech, Parts Tech and Turf Tech training programmes, the new centre is close to John Deere Limited’s headquarters at Langar.

The new John Deere Apprentice Training Centre features a reception, air conditioned classrooms, workshop areas, changing and washing facilities plus a dining room. Provision has also been made for further expansion, with plans in place for two more classrooms and a small workshop/laboratory when required.

The company’s three-year Ag and Turf Tech apprenticeships lead to the IMI Level 2 and 3 Diplomas in Landbased Engineering. Each year group trains at the centre for eight weeks a year in four blocks of two weeks, with some days spent at Langar when working with larger machines such as combines and self-propelled forage harvesters.

Doubleday Group employees Rocky Murley and Josh Green are currently on the John Deere apprentice program and both were very impressed with the new building and the enhance facilities availble to them during thier learning blocks.