BAGMA Bulletin September/October 2017

THE MEMBERSHIP MAGAZINE OF THE BRITISH AGRICULTURAL AND GARDEN MACHINERY ASSOCIATION ISSUE 06 | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

Ian’s Wilder days Ian Nutt, BAGMA council member and Lister Wilder managing director, always wanted to work in this sector

APPRENTICESHIPS OUTRAGE | EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS | SHOW NEWS

IN THIS ISSUE

From one battle to the next

ISSUE 06 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

In its 100th year, BAGMA has a new fight on its hands...

COMMENT

BRIAN SANGSTER PRESIDENT BAGMA

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NEWS Analysis of the apprenticeships ‘mess’; Tractor sales are up again; Kubota’s growth plans

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DEALER PROFILE Lister Wilder’s new depot in Kent makes it a flagbearer for Kubota UK

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BAGMA CENTENARY We continue our look into the archives and discover how BAGMA benefitted from entry into the EEC

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Part two of our look at the humble beginnings of some key members

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Cover Photo: Ben Roberts

SHOWS NEWS The latest on Agritechnica, SALTEX and BAGMA’s Mini Conference

The membership magazine of the British Agricultural & Garden Machinery Association Published 6 times a year by bira publishing Editor Chris Boiling 07713 192344 chris.boiling@bira.co.uk Design Alan Bingle 07949 024737 alan@forty6design.com Multimedia sales Executive Simone Adams 0121 446 6688 simone.adams@bira.co.uk All advertising and media enquiries please email: editorial@bagma.com

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I’M SITTING HERE getting my thoughts together for this month’s column and at the same time considering what BAGMA is doing to celebrate 100 years as our industry’s only dealer association. Coincidentally, the news on the TV in the background turns to how the country is remembering the Battle of Passchendaele in Belgium with a very moving ceremony in memory of the 325,000 dead and wounded from that battle. The battle started 100 years ago today – July 31, 1917 – and it went on for just over 100 days. How grateful are we to these extremely brave men who must have suspected they were never going to return home, but still went on to fight the good fight.

In some respects it puts our centenary celebrations into a very different perspective.

However, we are proud to celebrate the 100 years since our foundation on August 16, 1917 – three weeks after the start of the Battle of Passchendaele.

By the time you read this article, BAGMA’s actual birthday will have passed without a big party (we were all too busy at harvest), but we will continue to recognise the milestone throughout the rest of the year. On October 24 we’re holding a Mini Conference in Yorkshire and in December we’ll finish our year with a Mini Conference in the 4 Counties

Region near Ledbury. In between those events we have been invited by our German colleagues to use their facilities at the Agritechnica show in Hanover on November 13 for a reception to celebrate with CLIMMAR and any of our members who are also attending the event.

Lately, I have been hearing the frustrations and serious concerns that David Kirschner, our training advisor and consultant, has been having with the proposed Trailblazer Apprenticeship scheme for landbased engineering. A couple of years ago he had the scheme completely written, documented and all approved!

Today, he’s back rewriting the scheme, yet again, having battled the system and the people who supposedly have responsibility for implementing the Trailblazers Apprenticeships. The proposed scheme is now just under three years old but responsibility has already been transferred between four different government departments and five different government ministers – all of whom want to put their own stamp on the scheme. How can this possibly work to our advantage?

The concerning part is that all the changes and costs are at the expense of the employers through their respective trade associations or employer groups.

To compound the ‘mess’, Trailblazers will only apply to England where the funding will need to be claimed by the employer. Do they need this additional responsibility and paperwork?

What was so wrong with the apprenticeship scheme as we knew it? It worked for us.

BAGMA, 225 Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B5 7UB Tel 0121 446 6688 Fax 0121 446 5215 www.bagma.com

bira, 225 Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B5 7UB Tel 0121 446 6688 Fax 0121 446 5215 www.bira.co.uk

BAGMA president Brian Sangster

bira president 2016-17 Vin Vara

BAGMA director Keith Christian

CEO Alan Hawkins Finance director John Collins Commercial director Jeff Moody

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BAGMA BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

BAGMA NEWS

BAGMA asks government to change its mind over apprenticeships ‘mess’ ANGERED BY THE situation developing around apprenticeships and the changes in policy being applied by the government, BAGMA has voiced its concerns, through LETEC (Landbased Engineering Training and Education Committee), to the Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA) and is asking it to look again at the decision to withdraw the level 2 apprenticeship.

Backed by the results of a recent online survey, the association is teaming up with its training advisor and LE-TEC advisor, David Kirschner (right), to state the need for a level 2 apprenticeship in agricultural engineering.

It now looks as if the IfA approvals and funding committee will meet on September 4 to discuss the matter and may decide to keep level 2 as long as it is about testing and not diagnosing.

David Kirschner wrote the documents for the proposed Trailblazer Apprenticeship scheme for land-based engineering, which were approved by the government in 2014 and again in 2016 when amended to include construction plant.

Since writing the documents, the responsibility for apprenticeships has shifted between four different government departments and five different government ministers – all of whom

want to put their own stamp on the scheme. The consequences of this have been ever-changing releases of guidance notes necessitating rewrites to future-proof apprenticeship standards. On submission of one of these rewrites the newly-formed IfA announced that it plans to delete the land-based engineering level 2 apprenticeship.

“How can this possibly work to our advantage?” asks BAGMA president Brian Sangster (see page 1). The level 2 apprenticeship suits those who operate their own service workshops.

It is also the ideal stepping stone to advancement for those wishing to progress to the higher level 3 technician apprenticeship.

David Kirschner says: “My personal perception of what will happen now unless common sense prevails is: a percentage of employers who previously supported the level 2 apprenticeship will not employ apprentices. Why spend valuable resource to over-skill your workforce with advanced knowledge, skills and behaviours that they will never use? The level 2 apprenticeship, which accounts for in excess of 60% of the apprenticeship uptake in our industry, will be decimated.

“The knock-on effect will be that volumes will drop for training providers who will further consider the viability of continuing to stay in the training arena for our sector.”

Brian Sangster adds: “To compound the ‘mess’, Trailblazers will only apply to England where the funding will need to be claimed by the employer. Do they need this additional responsibility and paperwork?”

FIND OUT MORE

For further details turn to David Kirschner’s column on page 6

Tractors sales up again TRACTOR SALES WERE up again in July. The AEA says UK registrations of agricultural tractors (over 50hp) were ahead of 2016 levels once more, with 1,091 units logged during the month – a 15.8% increase compared with July 2016.

Year-to-date sales equate to 7,233 units which is an increase of 14.4% (900 units) over the same period in 2016.

Stephen Howarth, agricultural economist at the AEA, said: “Registrations have now been up on the year in 10 of the last 12 months.”

The area experiencing the biggest growth in sales was eastern England, with 920 new units registered in the first half of the year. This is up 31.8% on the same period in the year before.

Sales in Scotland increased by 11.1% to 732 tractors, from 659 previously.

The AEA said: “Most regions of the UK recorded increased registrations of agricultural tractors, with the exception of north-east England, where there was a decrease, and the southeast, Home Counties and East Midlands, where there was little change.”

The association also revealed that the total combined power of all the tractors sold in the first half of the year was 1.002million hp – up 17% on the same period in 2016.

“The average horsepower (163.1hp) represented a further rise of 2.9% in the year,” said the association.

“Most horsepower bands saw increases in the number of units registered during the period, with the exception of those between 100 and 120hp. The fastest growth was in the middle of the power range, between 140 and 200 hp.”

BAGMA BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

Having a Field day New BAGMA member Field and Forest Machinery has been exhibiting at the Scottish Game Fair in Perthshire.

Based in Broxurn, West Lothian, the two-year-old company provides specialist equipment to clients in various sectors including wood-fuel, forestry, recycling, utilities, local

authorities, construction, agriculture and groundcare.

Agencies held include Bandit Chippers, Jo Beau wood chippers, Regon firewood processors, SaMasz snow clearing equipment and TMK tree shears.

Pictured at the show are Neil Harrison (administrator) and Tom Brown (director).

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BAGMA NEWS

BULLETIN BOARD

KELLANDS’ RICKERBY DEAL

Kellands has teamed up with Rickerby to make its Agribuggy low-ground pressure sprayer and Multidrive all-terrain multi-purpose load carriers more visible in the North of England and Scotland. Rickerby has branches in Carlisle, Alnwick, Bowburn, Carnforth, Cornhill, Dunbar, Hexham and Penrith.

BOMFORD TURNS TO TNS

Bomford Turner has appointed Thurlow Nunn Standen (TNS) as its exclusive East Anglia distributor, terminating a 35-year relationship with Ernest Doe. The agreement sees BAGMA member TNS assume the Bomford Turner franchise for sales, parts and service across its six depots in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. TNS has resigned directly competitive lines to market Bomford Turner machines. James Cuthbertson, director of sales and marketing at Bomford Turner, explained that the decision to leave Ernest Doe “was due to its interests with directly competitive franchises”.

RVT JOINS KUHN NETWORK

Rea Valley Tractors, which has depots in Shropshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Mid Wales, has become a main dealer for Kuhn machinery.

NEW POLARIS DEALER

Kubota growth plan KUBOTA IS SHIFTING its European business management from a country approach to a pan-European basis to boost growth.

The company has established its European regional headquarters in Nieuw-Vennep, the Netherlands, and set up a holding company there – Kubota Holdings Europe BV. Plans for next year include selling driverless tractors, which have been available on a trial basis since June.

Kubota is working with fellow Japanese machinery companies Yanmar and Iseki on the range.

Meanwhile, Kubota UK’s social media competition #MyKubota is back for a third year and is offering fans the opportunity to win a Virgin Experience Day worth £500.

Marketing manager at Kubota UK,

THIS COMPETITION IS A GREAT WAY FOR US TO STRENGTHEN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR CUSTOMERS Karen Tipping, marketing manager, Kubota UK

Karen Tipping, said: “This competition is a great way for us to strengthen our relationship with our customers and gives them the opportunity to share their experiences, which are spread over such a variety of applications.”

Polaris has appointed DJ Agri Kent as its dealer for Kent and East Sussex. The Faversham-based dealership, which moved to new premises in 2016, was formed by business partners Damian Arthur and Suzie Boyd and grew out of Damian’s experience as an agricultural engineer. He also owned and ran his own Polaris Ranger which prompted the initial contact and that coincided with Polaris looking for a new dealer to cover the county and East Sussex.

DATA PROTECTION CHANGES

The way in which personal data is used and protected is set to change in May 2018 when the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force. As the UK will still be part of the EU then, UK businesses will have to comply with its provisions from May 25, 2018. Detailed guidance on the new rules is available on the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) website. One of the key changes concerns consent. Under the new rules it has to be freely given. Silence, pre-ticked boxes and inactivity will not be enough.

ROBO-TRACTOR RACE

The shortage of young tractor drivers in Japan is fuelling a national race to build driverless tractors. Yanmar, Kubota and Iseki are involved in robot-tractor projects, which are being encouraged by the cabinet office which views it as a way to stem the demise of Japanese agriculture. The first generation of machines is likely to go on sale next year.

AND FINALLY…

74-year-old Gary R Marvel, who lives in his vehicle, has been accused of setting fire to a house in Almond, USA, after the homeowner refused to refund money he paid for a used tractor.

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JD factory celebrates 20 years John Deere celebrates the 20th anniversary of its 335,000sq ft Turf Care factory at Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, USA. Nineteen employees have worked there since the doors opened in 1997.

Barrus buys Town & Country EP BARRUS, WHICH supplies brands such as Cub Cadet, Lawnflite, Agri-Fab, WOLF-Garten, Wilkinson Sword and Energizer, has bought the gardening gloves and footwear company, Town & Country.

“The acquisition of Town & Country

reinforces our commitment to the garden sector,” said Robert Muir, managing director. “This well-established household name has great synergy with our current line-up of premium gardening brands and provides the potential for future growth.”

BAGMA BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

BAGMA NEWS

Greenlay gives course new lease of life CRAMLINGTON-BASED JOHN DEERE dealer Greenlay has supplied a variety of new golf course maintenance equipment to Middlesbrough Golf Centre.

The John Deere Financial contract lease deal included a John Deere 2500E hybrid electric greens mower, 2653B tees and surrounds mower, HPX Gator utility vehicle and 220SL walk-behind greens mower, plus a Wiedenmann Super 500 multi-purpose sweeper/verticutter/flail mower and a Team Club tractor-mounted sprayer.

“We needed to focus on the finishing touches around the course, and the new machinery will go a long way to helping us achieve this,” course manager John Grey said. “A major factor for me in choosing John Deere equipment is the level of service and aftercare from the dealership team at Greenlay, as well as the company’s reputation and product range.”

Middlesbrough Golf Centre course manager John Grey (left) with Greenlay’s managing director Geoff Lowes and the centre’s general manager Andy Hill

CHALLENGER BECOMES FENDT AGCO PLANS TO integrate the Challenger Team, Challenger track tractors and sprayers into the Fendt AGCO brand in Europe and the Middle East.

At the same time, production of Challenger products will move from Grubbenvorst, Netherlands, to the Hohenmölsen AGCO production site, where trailed sprayers and various Fendt Katana forage harvester models are produced. Research and development and other key functions will remain in

Grubbenvorst. Fendt dealers in Western and Central Europe will be able to sell the Fendt track tractors and sprayers after Agritechnica 2017, with delivery to end customers from Q1 2018.

Peter-Josef Paffen, AGCO/ Fendt CEO, commented: “Integration of the Challenger products into the Fendt product programme in Europe is another important step forward, and is in keeping with the Fendt full line strategy.”

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Vintage tractors as an investment A farmer, who has started his own tractor restoration business, says people are purchasing vintage tractors as an investment. Wilf Robinson, who runs The Vintage Garden Tractor Company, based near Maldon, Essex, said: “With interest

rates so low, people want to put their money into things and we are finding that vintage tractors are appreciating in value.”

Wilf started the business in May after spending the last couple of years tinkering with the machines in his spare time.

BAGMA BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

Want to know more?

Call your dedicated bank exec Dave Baker on 0121 227 6656 or visit www.bagmabank.com

BAGMA bank is a trading style of bira bank limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services register No. 204478) Registered office: 225 Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B5 7UB. Registered in England. Company No. 0555071

Bagma Bulletin - September 2017.indd 1

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14/08/2017 15:03:19

COMMENT

Land-based engineering apprenticeships are at risk I AM ABSOLUTELY incensed based engineering both accepted by the situation developing around and published in 2014, with assessapprenticeships and the changes in ment plans accepted and published policy being applied by the governin 2015, and subsequently submitment. ting amended standards to accomThe long overdue reform of modate the construction plant apprenticeships based on the 2012 industry in 2016, which again were Richard Report was a breath of accepted and published. fresh air. At the centre of this reform The land-based engineering was the uplifting of quality and the industry and its colleagues in conperception of apprenticeships drivstruction plant now find themselves en by employers. At the time it was at the eleventh hour completely rightly considered that employers compromised by the rulings of were best qualified to know exactly the Institute for Apprenticeships. what is required by both their own Enrolments on the level 2 apprenbusinesses and their industry when ticeship standards have had to be it comes to apprenticeships. This cancelled, credibility is damaged, basic principle was a young people are disapTRAINING nugget of logic which pointed and industry is now appears to have DAVID rightly outraged having KIRSCHNER been eroded. spent valuable resources Independent In the short time (5 consultant and LTA on promoting apprenscheme co-ordinator years) since the publiticeships to bolster much cation of the Richard needed recruitment.

Report the responsibilHow can this hapity for apprenticeships pen, you may ask? The has been passed around answer lies with the IfA different government and defies all logic. To departments, BIS/SFA, futureproof the apprenDept for Education and now rests ticeships, land-based engineering with the newly formed Institute for updated the assessment plans.

Apprenticeships (IfA). In the same These were submitted and rejected period the minister responsible for because the IfA guidance notes had apprenticeships has changed five changed. In consultation with the times!

IfA relationship manager it was During this period employers decided the best course of action and their representative working was to update the standards and groups across all industries have the assessment plans – four new incurred costs amounting to many documents requiring huge input. hundreds of thousands of pounds These were subsequently produced to achieve the aims of the Richard submitted and rejected. Again, in Report, working to conform to the conjunction with the IfA relationever changing direction and guidship manager these four documents ance notes at the expense of their were rewritten and submitted to own industry bodies or working meet the June submission deadline. groups.

On July 20, the land-based I have personally been involved engineering working group chairwith this revolution in apprenticeman and I were invited to take ships since 2014 and writing two part in a telephone conference apprenticeship standards for landwith the IfA relationship manager

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who proceeded to inform us that both assessment plans had passed the triage stage and that the two apprenticeship standards were fit for purpose but basically they could only sanction one or other to go forward to the industry panel for sign off.

In the IfA’s wisdom it was decreed that the two apprenticeships are for the same industry role because there are generic crossovers in the skills, knowledge and behaviours. This is absolute lunacy, a decision made by faceless civil servants with absolutely no perception of the employer’s needs and against the industry’s wishes and interest. Of course there are crossovers but the delivery is at different levels.

The diktat from the IfA is that the industry only adopts the level 3 apprenticeship and that they will delete the level 2 apprenticeship.

The level 2 apprenticeship absolutely suits those working to provide the service requirements of the garden machinery/outdoor power equipment, hire and secondhand machinery sectors of land-based engineering and construction plant and similarly meets the needs of farms, plant operators, contractors and golf courses and a

plethora of niche sectors who operate their own service workshops. It is also the ideal stepping stone to advancement for those wishing to progress to the higher level 3 technician apprenticeship.

Let me offer the following analogy: nurses and doctors share some generic knowledge, skills and behaviours, using the IfA logic the nurses’ apprenticeship should be scrapped and everybody trained as a doctor.

My personal perception of what will happen now unless common sense prevails is: a percentage of employers who previously supported the level 2 apprenticeship will not employ apprentices. Why spend valuable resource to overskill your workforce with advanced knowledge, skills and behaviours that they will never use? The level 2 apprenticeship which accounts for in excess of 60% of the apprenticeship uptake in our industry will be decimated.

The knock-on effect will be that volumes will drop for training providers who will further consider the viability of continuing to stay in the training arena for our sector.

The possibility of a recruitment pool of level 2 apprentices to advance through the level 3

BAGMA BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

COMMENT

IAgrE membership for technicians

Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) has introduced a new technician membership grade.

“Technicians are the unsung heroes of the industry, they keep the landbased sector going under tough circumstances,” says Alastair Taylor, CEO of IAgrE (right).

The new ‘technician grade’ membership is for people who are qualified at a vocational or technical level and have completed an apprenticeship or extended diploma.

“When a technician asks why should I join IAgrE my response is why shouldn’t you, there’s nothing to lose and everything to gain,” said Alastair.

apprenticeship will disappear and the land-based engineering and construction plant industries which play a pivotal role in feeding the nation and building its infrastructure will be left with a critical recruitment problem. The recruitment situation is already dire and exerting huge pressures on employers and to add insult to injury some of the major players in our joint industries are having to pay the Employers Training Levy from which they can only draw down some of their contributions toward the cost of training apprentices.

If ever there was a time to stand up and voice the land-based engineering and construction plant industries’ plight it is now.

How can it possibly be conceived that the decisions being forced upon all industries by the IfA in anyway fits in with recruiting 3 million

apprentices targeted by government between now and 2020 and upskilling the nation’s workforce to make it more competitive. Land-based engineering is not an isolated case and if this is to be resolved it needs serious discussion with those who can influence policy.

If the intention is to enforce the guidance notes as they are, why did employers not have an opportunity to influence the guidance? These appear to have been written by government for government and completely ignore the brilliant observations of the Richard Report and ultimate wishes of the employers that drive this country’s economy.

Industry knows exactly what is required from apprenticeships and given the funding and opportunity will strive to turn out fit for purpose skilled individuals. We need government and the IfA to listen to us now.

Stop press

Since writing this article, it’s been agreed that the IfA approvals and funding committee will review our industry’s level 2 standard with some amendments. The changes will need to make clear that the level 2 is about testing not diagnosing and it will need to reflect this in the occupational profile and the knowledge, skills and behaviours. The committee will meet on September 4.

BAGMA BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

Dealing with chaos and mess in the workplace SCENARIO: YOU HAVE several members of staff each with a similar amount of space. While most seem to manage, one is in constant chaos, blaming it all on their workload and environment. Where should you start?

get the level of tidiness which each individual thinks is OK.

Set out your stall Where your requirements are already clear, e.g. within your health and safety policy, you can take measures to enforce your standards The risks with the staff concerned. If not, you A recent safety inspection has iden- will need to go back to basics as foltified that housekeeping standards lows: in the workplace are Tip 1: Write to all staff well below par. This is SAFETY with responsibility for causing several specific PAUL MARSH premises pointing out hazards including: 1, Office manager the legal requirements, SafetyAide tripping; 2, ergonomic e.g. “to comply with the problems around and Workplace (Health, beneath desks or around Safety and Welfare) workshops/stores; 3, Regulations 1992, Regmanual handling risks ulatory Reform (Fire arising from difficulty Safety) Order 2005 and to stored items; 4, fire other applicable reguhazard from the comlations, all workplaces bustible storage and the risk of must be kept in a safe condition”. damage to electrical equipment; 5, Explain that it is their responsibility inappropriate access to hazardous to ensure compliance within their substances which should be locked area and that a breach in standards away; and 6, stress for employees exposes the company to a risk of working there. legal action.

Tip 2: Describe the standard you Problem expect in detail, for example, all Doing nothing isn’t an option as floors to be kept free of stored items, you realise that you will be liable all storage to be on shelving or in if there’s an accident. But getting cupboards, confidential records anything done about it seems to filed, all corridors and fire exits to meet with a brick wall. When the be unobstructed, fire extinguishers points were raised with staff, they to be accessible, no combustibles blame it all on a lack of space, the stored in plant rooms, cleaning wrong storage, too much work, etc. materials to be safely stored, etc.

But spending lots of money isn’t Tip 3: Ask the managers to come really an option and, in any case, back to you by a set date with any you doubt that it will get to the root requested resources they need. Also of the problem. ask them if there are any obstructions to achieving the goal.

It’s you, not me Tip 4: Implement a routine inspecThe majority of poor housekeeping tion programme, including selfis the result of mindset rather than monitoring checks on, e.g. a weekly the physical environment. basis, and independent checks periThe main factors involved are: odically. lT he standards which the indiUnless you take charge and set vidual finds acceptable; the example, you will get the standlT he standards imposed (and ard of tidiness which individumeasured); als think is OK. Outline the legal lT he level of empowerment given responsibilities and your expectato the employee to resolve the tions in detail. A clean workplace problems. can be achieved without spending In other words, if you don’t set a fortune and it contributes to a safe the standards you expect, you will workplace for all!

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COMMENT

Are Contracts of Employment worth the paper they are written on?

INSURANCE

LAURA CHALKLEY Law adviser, Ellis Whittam

IS A CONTRACT of Employment a worthless piece of paper or a great tool for employers? Here, we take a look at the main points you need to consider when drafting and varying contracts.

Do I need to provide my employees with a written Contract of Employment?

Contrary to popular belief, a Contract of Employment does not have to be in written form to be legally valid. However, if you entered into a Contract of Employment verbally, you are legally required to provide each employee whose employment is to continue for more than one month with a ‘statement of written particulars of employment’ within two months of the employee’s start of employment.

The statement should include, amongst other elements, the following: lT he employer’s name and address;

lE mployee’s details – name, job title, job description, start date; lS alary, including payment intervals (eg weekly, monthly); lW orking time and holiday entitlements; lN otice periods; lP ension schemes; lA ny applicable collective agreements.

It is strongly advised to have a written Contract of Employment for all employees, laying down the rights and obligations of both the employer and the employee.

Do I need to consult the employee before implementing any changes to the contract?

In most cases employers will need to consult before making a change to a Contract of Employment. Making changes without the agreement of the employee may be considered a breach of contract and may give rise to a claim.

An employer who wishes to make changes should consult with the employee or, if applicable, their trade union or other employee representatives.

COMMENT

KEITH CHRISTIAN DIRECTOR BAGMA IT NEVER CEASES to amaze me that the county shows and the bigger regional shows like the Royal Welsh, Royal Highland, Royal Cornwall, Royal Yorkshire plus others are so incredibly well attended year after year. It is a credit to their organisers, exhibitors and the public that these shows can exist through all sorts of weather and economic ups and downs.

We at BAGMA try to visit as many of these shows as we can in order to see our members and supporters of the industry.

Hospitality is very warm and welcoming and the chance just to have a chat with our members outside of a normal working environment is really useful. We have been very lucky this year and were able to park the umbrellas and exchange them for some

buying benefits.

On average members save £1,518 per year* Want to know more about your BAGMA buying group? Call Steve Akers on 0121 446 6688

Our suppliers include:

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What happens if an employee does not want to accept the change?

If after lengthy consultation you cannot reach agreement, you can serve the individual employee notice that you will terminate the existing contract and offer a new contract with the new employment terms and conditions. If you wish to do this with 20 or more employees, you have an obligation to consult collectively with employee representatives or, if applicable, trade union representatives.

Laura Chalkley is the senior employment law adviser and partnerships team leader at BAGMA’s legal partner, Ellis Whittam. To obtain advice on this topic, members should contact bira legal on 0345 4500937 or email bira@ elliswhittam.com.

We parked the umbrellas and put on sunblock

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There are instances where contractual terms will change from time to time without needing formal consent from the employee. A good example of this is pay rises, where you can send the employee a brief note about their pay change and keep a copy for their staff file.

31/03/2017 10:36:36

personal protective equipment by way of sunhats and sunblock.

The Cornwall show proved to be a bit wet and heavy underfoot but with over 40 machinery exhibitors and half of them members, the rain and wind was not an issue and we hear the show was very successful despite the weather.

As we come into the later part of the summer we will start to look at the autumn and winter trade shows and the big event this year, Agritechnica in Hanover in November, as well as the SALTEX show in November at the NEC. We will also be running our own BAGMA Mini Conferences to celebrate our 100th anniversary and look forward to seeing many of our members and their guests at these events in October and December as well as at Agritechnica.

FIND OUT MORE

Further details of these events on page 17

BAGMA BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

MEMBER PROFILE

Lister Wilder’s new flagship depot

BAGMA Bulletin visits Lister Wilder’s new Ashford branch, the first dealership in the UK to feature Kubota’s new concept in dealer branding

Commercial director Charlie King

BAGMA BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

LISTER MACHINERY, PART of the Lister Wilder Group, has invested more than £2.2m in its new depot in Ashford, Kent. A former art college has been turned into a state-of-the-art dealership for Kubota UK’s complete range of machinery.

At the opening, Lister Wilder’s managing director Ian Nutt told BAGMA Bulletin: “We’ve converted a property that we think will see us through for many years, and it’s got room for expansion.”

Standing in the large forecourt, surrounded by an impressive array of Kubota machinery, he added: “It’s gone beyond our expectations.”

There’s no mistaking the marque traded here. The dealership is the first in the UK to feature Kubota’s new concept in dealer branding. Launched by Kubota’s European Agricultural Business Unit, the branding programme is designed to raise the bar in the machinery sector, creating a visual appearance of a dealership that pushes the boundaries and increases the end-user’s experience of the Kubota brand.

The partnership, between Lister Machinery and Kubota UK, means that Kubota’s agricultural range of products will be available to the professional farming industry in Kent for the first time. The depot, opened in July, will also showcase Kubota’s high-performance range of groundcare and construction equipment, making it one of several dealers in the UK to offer Kubota’s full line-up of machines.

Rob Edwards, Kubota Agriculture’s business development manager, commented: “As a business, Kubota has made a massive com-

mitment and long-term investment to become a global brand in the agricultural sector. By joining forces with Lister Machinery, it allows us to expand our agricultural offering into Kent and target this market on a local level, working alongside an extremely established partner.

“Kent is a really important county for the UK’s farming industry. It’s a diverse and productive mixed farming area which, with the addition of the specialist fruit, vineyard and forestry growers, makes it ideally suited to the Kubota agriculture range. Being able to target this area with Lister Machinery is therefore an exciting opportunity to develop and grow our presence in the region.”

The depot was originally due to open in the spring, but Ian explained: “The project turned out to be more complex than originally thought and the building work took longer due to these complexities. We delayed the opening to ensure the finished build met all our expectations and we are thrilled with the resulting space.”

The new 20,000sq ft Ashford depot is only 150 metres from the old depot, which Lister Wilder moved into in 2009 and is keeping as an additional workshop. This supplied Kubota’s groundcare and construction equipment but, according to Ian, was “bursting at the seams” and had no free space for Kubota’s new line of agricultural machinery.

The new depot offers all the latest machines from Kubota’s agricultural range, including the company’s new range of implements, such as disc mowers, rakes, tedders, flail choppers, fertiliser spreaders, round balers and wrappers, as well 

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MEMBER PROFILE

Ian’s Wilder as Kubota’s recently launched M5001 and MGX-III tractors, and its flagship M7001 Series.

In addition, the orange liveried manufacturer’s groundcare and construction equipment is given more breathing space. The products on display range from walk-behind, ride-on, out-front and zero-turn mowers, compact and mid-range tractors, through to RTV utility vehicles, mini-excavators, wheeled loaders and tracked carriers.

Charlie King, commercial director at Lister Machinery, said: “There is a massive opportunity to expand our offering in Kent. We have a 21-year heritage with Kubota’s groundcare and construction equipment machinery in this area and have developed an excellent reputation for providing a first-class service and aftersales support to these sectors.

“Our aim now is to replicate what we have done in the groundcare and construction markets and target the farming industry with our new agricultural products. Joining forces with Kubota Agriculture allows us to do this and we are excited to be going on this journey with them and being able to offer the complete Kubota product line-up at our Ashford branch.”

Ian added: “Kubota sales have increased dramatically. Construction has gone beyond all expectations – another record year – and groundcare remains consistently strong.”

Lister Wilder, which has been trading for 70 years, has an extremely experienced sales team at the Ashford depot: Phil Turner and Greg Chapman head up the groundcare sales; Paul Mahoney deals with all construction sales; and recent appointment Carl Cripps is the sales manager for agricultural machinery.

Current and potential customers were invited to the launch party, where complementary food and drink were served throughout the day. It gave customers and contractors the chance to look behind the scenes, meet the Lister Machinery team, chat directly to various suppliers, and take advantage of special promotions.



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Ian Nutt, BAGMA council member and Lister Wilder managing director, always wanted to work in this sector

BAGMA BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

MEMBER PROFILE

days

How did you come to be at Lister Wilder?

I was given the opportunity to join what was then Walter Wilder Agricultural, based in Wallingford, Oxfordshire in 1982. The family-owned business had the opportunity to expand out of their Reading operation and I was asked to join as branch manager at their new depot in Wallingford. Again a familyowned business, Walter Wilder & Sons, had had a long association with Massey Ferguson. My key responsibilities were the management of the depot and heading up sales. Since then the company has expanded tremendously and now operates out of 10 locations across the Midlands and south of England.

Our agricultural business will always remain a significant part of our strategy and we have an excellent working relationship with Agco which has allowed us to position ourselves as a key supplier of farm equipment. We operate out of Wallingford, Cirencester, Devizes, Southam, Thornbury and a parts centre at Reading and supply Massey Ferguson, Fendt, Valtra and Challenger products with many other key franchises associated to the industry. Running a business in the south of England has its challenges however the location can also bring benefits.

The decision to venture into groundcare many years ago was to take advantage of our location. This has proven to be the correct business decision and provided the company with the excellent opportunity of growth. One key facet to all of this is that it has provided a healthy diversification within any market sector that may be under pressure at any time.

Our association with Kubota for many years in the supply of their groundcare products has done just that and now with five operations across the south of England we hope that the company is well positioned to have a long and successful business in the future. Our most recent investment in July this year has been in our new premises in Ashford, Kent, offering a full line of Kubota products.

What can you see from your office window?

Our excellent new facilities in Wallingford provide the great opportunity to display a great range of tractors and machines which I am able to see from my desk!

I’VE ALWAYS FOUND COMBINES TO BE FASCINATING PIECES OF EQUIPMENT

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I’ve always had farming connections and an interest in machinery and with a grandfather receiving the OBE for services in agriculture I spent many happy hours on the farm. Machinery has always been of great interest to me and prior to joining the company in 1982, and after college having completed an apprenticeship within agricultural engineering, I thought it was important to understand all areas of the business within an agricultural dealership. To that point I spent a period of time in the parts department, shortly following this I achieved my ambition of getting into agricultural sales. Having worked in retail sales again to broaden my experience I was offered a further opportunity to work within the agricultural finance business.

BAGMA BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

What’s your favourite piece of machinery and why?

Large machinery, particularly combines, because I’ve always found them to be fascinating pieces of equipment. My attraction also to the industry is the many characters that one meets throughout the day – many of them become personal friends which I still believe is very unique to the industry that we all work in.

How did you first become involved in BAGMA? I was asked to attend the local regional meetings, the chairman of our group was Mark Weatherhead and he proposed me to join the council.

What do you do as a BAGMA council member?

Having been a member for many years I was asked to chair the machinery committee which I thoroughly enjoyed. I did this for a number of years, I’ve recently stood down to make way for new members.

Being a council member gives me an opportunity to discuss and make decisions which affect our day-today running of a business.

What’s the best thing about BAGMA? BAGMA has provided for me personally the opportunity to meet many other people in the industry.

All of which have similar problems facing their business irrespective of whatever franchise they may be positioned with. It has rewarded me with ideas, talking to other committee members and it is a great association to be part of as it can provide so many services to our industry. So often I hear that a particular dealer may have a certain issue to solve and have asked them if they have consulted BAGMA. BAGMA can offer a huge range of support and facilities to our industry.

What’s the biggest challenge facing you at work today?​ One of the biggest challenges we currently face is the uncertainty of Brexit, not only in agriculture but also in construction and our groundcare sector. The costs of machinery being imported into the country has increased dramatically in the last six months, due to the euro, but on the flipside this has assisted us in the sales of secondhand machinery. I am sure I wouldn’t be alone in saying one of the biggest challenges our industry faces is getting potentially skilled technicians to work in this line of business. Without question with technology moving at such a fast pace the skillset required is of the highest degree but sadly not seen as a fashionable industry to become involved with.

What are your main goals for the rest of the year?

Keeping a close eye on stock levels, managing cashflow particularly in the farming sector and hopefully meeting sales expectations set by our suppliers and continually working with my colleagues to ensure that we continue to offer the high level of service demands our customers now require.

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BAGMA CENTENARY

The ‘remaking’ of Our series looking back at the history of the dealers’ association has reached the 1970s – a period of great changes. The records show how BAGMA benefitted from the UK joining the EEC

IN 1972, THE association for agricultural and garden machinery dealers started its 56th year as BAGMA. As well as a new name, the association had a new secretary, Jeffrey Pearson, who was introduced in the association’s newly-named magazine, the AGM Service. From an insurance claims and accountancy background, Jeffrey had been acting secretary for the past year.

Jeffrey, however, left at the end of July 1973 to take up the role of general manager at a garden machinery dealer’s business, paving the way for Jonathan Swift to join as secretary on August 1, 1973.

The son of FD Swift, Jonathan had worked in an agricultural engineering business and was the Midlands manager of the International Publishing Corporation’s newspaper division prior to joining BAGMA. The AGM Service welcomed him with these words: “This issue of AGM Service marks the end of an era. On 1st August a new secretary joined the association. The cutting of old links could be the remaking of the association as a body to be highly considered both in government and trade circles, for the new secretary knowing no traditions and having youth to his advantage

will be able to institute new ideas ‘watchdog’ function, making the and ‘blow a breath of fresh air’ strongest possible representations through dusty chambers. Whilst on members’ behalf to appropriyouthfulness and enthusiasm can ate official bodies, which includes provide considerable impetus to any the Government. The association’s necessary changes, it requires the strength is derived from its memgoodwill, interest and enthusiasm bership, and it is essential that this of old and new members to enable is strengthened with all possible these changes to take place. speed. Every member should look “Over the past 50 years the upon as a duty to introduce at least whole role of trade associations has one new member, conforming of changed. BAGMA, course, to the rules of then under another THE NEW membership which na me , for med i n SECRETARY have ‘service’ to cus1917 as a ‘protection WILL BE ABLE TO tomers built into society’ for dealers in BLOW A BREATH them. agricultural machin- OF FRESH AIR “A strengthened ery, who, then, were THROUGH DUSTY BAGMA in close liaihaving difficulties in CHAMBERS son with the National obtaining machinery Farmers’ Union and to sell. Having formed themselves the Agricultural Engineers’ Assointo such a body made it possible ciation could provide a formidafor members to appoint a commit- ble lobby for the industry. This is tee whose job it was to devise ways what the new secretary can mean and means of protecting by all legal to BAGMA and its members who means a member’s right to trade. might ‘think on this’.”

In those days the whole business The accounts for the year ended amounted almost to that of a ‘secret August 31, 1973, show the new society’. name and set-up were working, as “Changes in legislation in more there was an excess of income over recent years, and particularly the expenditure of £3,582 with a net passing of the Restrictive Trade excess of £2,107 resulting from “a Practices Act, has changed the role satisfactory increase in subscripof a trade association from that of tions” and also from an increase in a ‘protection society’ to one with a sales of publications. These publica-

MILESTONES IN BAGMA’S HISTORY 1973: BAGMA appoints its first CLIMMAR representative, George Hamilton.

1975: MPs Margaret Thatcher and Michael Jopling visit the BAGMA stand at the Smithfield Show and speak with president George Hamilton and vicepresident Ken Axford. Mrs Thatcher compliments members of staff who were wearing uniforms specially designed for the occasion. They received 30 enquiries for membership and there was “considerable interest”

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in the association’s proposals for microfilm parts information.

1976: The association moves to new offices in Rickmansworth, bought outright with members’ contributions to a property fund.

1976: BAGMA exhibits at The Royal Show for the first and last time, taking membership enquiries from 14 visitors. The secretary said: “The money that we spent could have been better directed towards a membership campaign.”

1977: Jonathan Swift is promoted from secretary to director general of the association.

1978: Longstanding member John Fearn presents ‘a badge of office for all future presidents’ to incoming chair Ken Axford.

1978: There is a ‘continual stream’ of visitors to the BAGMA stand at the Smithfield Show, where a new mini-computer package developed for dealers is on show. Among the visitors is the Duchess of Kent.

1979: BAGMA launches the Garden Machinery Annual Awards Scheme, presenting the trophies at the Café Royal, London. The winners include Hayters for the Hayterette 18, Wolseley Webb for the Merry Tiller Super Major, and GD Mountfield for its reliability and loyalty.

1981: Raymond Bushell, the 87-year-old chairman of Henry Bushell, celebrates his 55th appearance at the Great Yorkshire show.

BAGMA BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

BAGMA CENTENARY

BAGMA tions included guides to metrication and VAT, which replaced Purchase Tax when the UK joined the European Economic Community that year.

The other big issue vexing members that year was poor grain harvests, which led to world grain shortages and price increases of around 50%. Fortunately, world harvests soon improved and surpluses of grain and other products soon developed. But the price farmers received for these products continued to improve, as did yields.

In 1974 the association appointed a press and publicity firm, Agripress Publicity, to raise the profile of the association among the agricultural industry and at Westminster, and at the 1975 annual meeting, in Eastbourne, retiring president Michael Hogg said: “Undoubtedly the reasons for our success in so many areas of contact with other bodies has been our decision to engage Agripress Publicity as our public relations consultants.”

In 1976 the Parliamentary Committee chairman Chris Biddle is also praised for helping the association’s voice to be heard “in the right place”, as VAT on horticultural equipment was reduced from 25% to 12.5%.

Sixty years after its formation, BAGMA had become an organisation with Articles of Association and Byelaws, various grades of membership, divided into regions and committees covering garden machinery, education, agriculture, dairy, parliamentary, and wages.

One of the main problems mentioned in April 1979 was used tractors. Swift estimated there were 15,000 in dealers’ yards awaiting buyers. Among the possible solutions were a ‘scrapping fund’ and further export promotion, with a BAGMA mission going out to the Far East to promote sales. Other hot topics of conversation included obtaining operators’ handbooks for used machines – for health and

safety reasons – and the availability of parts for obsolete machines, and parallel imports of farm machinery.

The offices in those days were described by a former Fleet Street journalist, Derek Watson, as a powerhouse of typewriters, office equipment and a multitude of activities – which was hardly surprising as the BAGMA HQ dealt with about 10,000 letters and telephone calls a year. The new ‘toy’ in the office was telex, which enabled BAGMA to be in immediate written contact with suppliers of baler twine (by now a £1m a year business operated by the association’s trading arm, AMCO).

The problem of parallel imports – or ‘grey imports’ as they were becoming known – grew in the early 1980s, when it was possible to purchase a combine harvester abroad for £11,000 less than the corresponding UK price and a John Deere tractor for £5,000 less. Apart from lost business, the problem for the official importer or agent was that if anything went wrong, the problem tended to land at the feet of the official importer or agent. One manufacturer’s response was to cut out the middleman and deal directly with farmers, leading the AGM Service editor to write: “As the bridges burn a few questions now appear through the smoke. How do you feel about the situation? What can you do with your Colman stock if you have any? Will they take it back? Is it possible that Colman’s can provide the service that customers want?”

The editor added: “The saddest man caught up in this decision is former AEA president John Colman.”

Deeply hurt by the new policy of his old company, he resigned as a non-executive director and severed all connections with Colman & Co. He viewed dealers as friends, not middlemen.

BAGMA BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

Where are they now?

Part 2 of our look at the the association’s original members who are still members 100 years later!

AT OLIVER & SONS THIS COMPANY’S HISTORY starts around 1820 with Thomas Oliver, a farmer with a contracting business in Houghton Regis, just outside Luton. The business subsequently worked out of Park Street in the middle of Luton. In 1888, Thomas’ son James carried on the contracting work and expanded the business with steam ploughing, harvesting and threshing machinery, and he patented the invention of his Power Chaff Cutter.

Around 1875 the Wandon End site was found and the company still operates from there today.

Archibald Thomas Oliver further expanded the business through the steam engine age when contracting work was still the principal activity – threshing machines, ploughing sets and roller engines

earned the money. At this stage Olivers was acknowledged to be one of the largest agricultural contractors in the country with 32 threshing sets, eight ploughing sets and 18 rollers.

AT Oliver had two sons, Percy (Antony Oliver’s grandfather) and Archibald Ralph (John Humphreys’ grandfather) who worked in partnership with their father.

Percy’s son, Fred Ralph (Antony Oliver’s father), joined the business in 1933 and Archibald Ralph’s son John Oliver (John Humphreys’ uncle) started in 1936. AT Oliver died in 1940.

In 1947 the Oliver partnership started selling Claas products.

In 1951 the partnership was incorporated and became AT Oliver & Sons with Archibald Ralph, John Oliver and Fred Oliver as directors.

The 60s saw a branch opening at Kings Langley (1966), Antony Oliver joining the company in 1961 to assist with the expanding grain drying and storage business, and John Humphreys starting in 1969 to assist with machinery

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BAGMA CENTENARY

AT OLIVER & SONS (cont.) sales. They eventually became joint managing directors.

In the 1980s the Kings Langley branch began the business of selling Toro grasscutting equipment to golf clubs, which were springing up in the area and replacing small dairy farms whose owners had given up the unequal fight. Kings Langley subsequently added a rapidly expanding Club Car sale and hire business and the distribution of the Isuzu range of trucks.

The Bicester branch was opened in 2001, subsequently moving to a state-of-the-art dealership premises at Tingewick in 2015.

A new company was formed in 2005 to bring in three investor employees, David Jarman, Charlie Glenister and Ian Morton as directors and shareholders. This was further developed in 2008 with two more companies: Oliver Agriculture to sell Claas products and Oliver Landpower to sell JCB and groundcare equipment.

In 2011 Anna Barnes (John Humphreys’ daughter) joined the company and became the seventh generation. And in 2015 Oliver Agriculture acquired the Claas Southern Harvester’s business at Cane End, Reading.

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F&H RANDELL

THE ORIGINS OF Randells agricultural engineers stretch back to John Randell, a carpenter and ironmonger who was born in 1777. His son James established the business proper in the 1820s and on his demise, the company was taken over by his wife Mary and the name changed to M Randell and Sons.

The enterprise at this time had three branches in Norfolk (North Walsham, Northrepps and Cromer) and made sugar beet hoes, water carts and other horse-drawn equipment.

A foundry was built in North Walsham between 1865 and 1870, and James’ two sons, Fredrick and Horace, continued the business under the name F&H Randell, which is listed in the 1883 Kellys directory as ‘Fredrick & Horace Randell, wholesale, retail furnishing and general ironmongers. Bar, brass founders and agricultural implement makers.’

Fredrick became the dominant partner and the company became F Randell & Co in 1897. Randells later took on the agency for the Canadian firm Massey-Harris and sold and serviced various binders, mowers and reapers.

In 1918 Fredrick passed away and the business was taken on by his son Frank.

Frank had four sons and they each specialised in different aspects of the business. Frank Victor Randell ran the ironmongery side in North Walsham and Cromer and, on his death in 1954, was succeeded by his son Michael.

John Randell took care of the agricultural side and greatly expanded the tractor and combine harvester part of the business (in the 1950s they were selling 100 combines a year), which necessitated the phasing out of the manufacturing activity. Fred Randell managed the electrical engineering business and converted numerous country houses and public halls to electricity. This

department was later run by Frank Dixon and Tony Randell, second son of Frank Victor.

In 1931 the company acquired a similar agricultural engineering and ironmonger business in Reepham and William Randell, the fourth son, took over the management.

He was succeeded by his son Reginald, an agricultural engineer who became an expert in blue-printing racing engines for speedway and grasstrack.

In 1963 the original Randell family business was sold to the Australian firm Dalgety Engineers who retained the use of the original family name until it closed and, in 1990, the foundry was knocked down to make way for a supermarket.

Meanwhile, in 1978 an opportunity had arisen for AJ Randell to re-establish the business at Horstead near Norwich, basically in competition with the ‘old’ company.

From 1978 until 1981/2 Randells was predominantly involved with crop storage and grain handling equipment but a change in legislation which affected grant aid payments had a detrimental effect on this type of equipment so dealerships for other types of machinery were sought. The first of these was Kverneland, at the time a little known Norwegian ploughmaker. The second notable franchise which Randells secured was Vaderstad – once again, at that time, a relatively unknown cultivator and seed drill maker from Sweden.

Randells then expanded into garden machinery and took on dealerships for Countax, Mountfield, Etesia, Kioti, Shibaura, Echo, Bear Cat and many others. The garden machinery business operates from three outlets in Norfolk.

More recently it has expanded into trampolines, go-karts, quad bikes and other outdoor equipment.

Reg Randell has kept up the connection with BAGMA and has attended the BAGMA Norwich Dinner on 57 consecutive occasions!

BAGMA BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

BAGMA CENTENARY

PEACOCK & BINNINGTON

HENRY EARL CARTWRIGHT Peacock, born in 1866, was working for the Cart and Wagon Co in Hull, when he met John Binnington, a local businessman.

The two men had similar attitudes to work and decided that the future lay in working for themselves. In 1894 they started their own business as agricultural engineers and implement agents in Hull. With Henry Peacock’s engineering experience and foresight, and John Binnington’s financial backing, the fledgling firm established itself and was soon looking to expand.

Two years later, Henry Peacock visited Brigg market and realised the even greater potential in Lincolnshire and opened up a new depot at the Old Foundry, from where the company still operates today. Henry believed that it paid to advertise so he made himself more conspicuous as “the man in the half-crown hat”, which he wore to markets and shows to stand out in the crowd. The firm first appeared at the Lincolnshire Show in 1898, and by 1900 they were exhibiting at Smithfield and the Royal Show.

Henry covered thousands of miles by bicycle, pony and trap or railway, and proudly claimed to have visited practically every farm in Lincolnshire.

He particularly concentrated on the large farms in the south of the county which resulted in him importing light railways from Germany to get potatoes moved in the wet winter months; his name is mentioned on page 13 of the Lincolnshire Potato Railways.

One of the first agencies Henry managed to secure for the new business was that of Ransomes, Sims and Jeffries Ltd. Henry persuaded them to make special modifications to their ploughs to meet the different requirements of his customers.

On New Year’s Eve 1921, John Binnington

G THURLOW & SONS

George Thurlow set up in business in Stowmarket in 1875 as an oil merchant and engineer.

From these humble beginnings the company moved into the supply of steam engines and threshing tackle. From steam the company moved into agricultural machinery and, as Thurlow Nunn Standen (TNS), is now one of the leading MasseyFerguson distributors in Europe.

The company has paperwork for every sale going as far back as 1890. “The sales ledgers are handwritten and we still receive letters from steam engine enthusiasts requesting sight of the reference made to their engine in these ledgers,” says the company.

In 1968 the current chairman, John

BAGMA BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

retired and the next day, Henry’s eldest son, Allen Peacock, joined the firm.

In 1923, Henry decided he had seen enough of the Humber Ferry and sold his interest in the Hull business and expansion in Lincolnshire soon followed with a flourishing branch established at Laceby in 1929.

Peacock & Binnington became a limited company in 1937, but Henry, the first managing director, died before its first AGM. He was replaced by Allen, who remained at the company until his death in 1985.

In 1952 P&B opened a third branch in Market Rasen (which it redeveloped in 1975). Brigg was also expanding at this time with a combine repair shop added in 1958, and in 1968 there was more major rebuilding, with a new parts store, repair and assembly shop and general offices.

This expansion could be largely attributed to Michael Peacock, Allen’s son, who joined the company in 1957. He started in the stores followed by spells in the workshop and offices. He was then put in charge of the Laceby depot, where business increased quickly and new premises had to be built. In the late 60s Michael took charge at Market Rasen and oversaw the developments there. Then in 1970 they took over the Louth firm of Greenacres and built up the business until it too needed new buildings in 1980.

Peacock & Binnington had a long-term relationship with Massey-Harris from 1903 and in 1958 were appointed as North Lincolnshire distributors for the newly-formed Massey Ferguson Company, a relationship which continues today.

Allen Peacock retired from active participation in the business in 1968, though he remained a director and Michael took over as MD. The move to larger farms meant larger machines and it was necessary to cover a bigger

Thurlow, took over the running of the business when his father died and shortly after that, in 1970, George Thurlow & Sons merged with their neighbouring MasseyFerguson dealer to create Thurlow Nunn Ltd. In 1982, Thurlow Nunn purchased a small interest in a Vauxhall garage in Stowmarket which became the starting point for Thurlow Nunn car dealerships. It now has 13 Vauxhall dealerships, in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire, making it one of the largest Vauxhall retailers in the UK. 1985 saw the merger with FA Standen and the company became known as Thurlow Nunn Standen Ltd. 2012 was another year of expansion, with the successful merger of the Norfolk franchises of Randell Norfolk Farm Machinery.

area to sell the number of machines necessary for the concentration on service and parts that has always been the backbone of the company.

Derek Blow, a lifelong employee at Peacock & Binnington who started as an apprentice at Laceby, became branch manager at Louth and ultimately managing director, before retiring in 2011. He was followed by the current MD, Graham Main, who took over in 2010, and is determined to maintain P&B’s sound engineering values and customer support to meet the demands of modern, large-scale farming. Graham is now a part owner of the business and Michael’s son Nicholas, a barrister, is vice-chairman.

Michael Peacock continues as chairman and is still actively involved in the company created by his grandfather over a century ago. Today, the company is one of the main dealers for AGCO products – Massey Ferguson, Fendt, Challenger & Valtra. It also has franchises for JCB, Kuhn, Lely, Chafer, Bateman and Pichon.

The historical ties to the Thurlow and Nunn families remain with both James Thurlow and Sally Tew continuing the Thurlow connection and Jeremy Nunn representing the Nunn family. More than 700 people are employed at the group’s 22 sites.

The agricultural division operates from six branches in East Anglia. Recently it took over as East Anglian distributor for Bomford Turner from Ernest Doe.

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SHOW NEWS

Agritechnica takes shape

TV presenter reveals garden trends GARDENING JOURNALIST AND TV presenter Nick Bailey (pictured) will be the keynote speaker at Glee on Monday, September 11. Booked for three sessions, the author of ‘Chelsea Physic Garden’ and ‘365 Days of Colour in Your Garden’ will talk about the latest trends in gardens, how garden centres can utilise GLEE garden shows as a way NEC, Birmingham of promotion, and the September 11-13 diverse ways that the gleebirmingham. younger generations com can engage with horticulture.

Another speaker at Glee is naturalist, filmmaker, author and co-designer of several garden wildlife products, Simon King OBE. Simon will be presenting a session entitled ‘The Secrets to a Successful Wildlife Garden’ on Tuesday, September 12 (2:10-2:30pm).

EXPERT ADVICE bira (British Independent Retailers Association) is organising a series of halfday events covering four fast-changing areas of business: cybercrime, marketing, retail technology and employment law.

The speakers at these regional Retail Knowledge Seekers’ events come from cybercrime experts RICU (Research, Information and Communications Unit), mobile marketing experts Text Local, retail management experts Vend, and employment law advisers Ellis Whittam.

The dates are: Wednesday, September 13 – London; Tuesday, September 19 – Birmingham; Tuesday, September 26 – Glasgow. bira.co.uk/events

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MORE THAN 2,400 exhibitors from 53 vide a new and positive impetus for the intercountries have already registered for the international agricultural market in the mediumnational agricultural exhibition Agritechnica, to and long-term,” Marie explained. be held in Hanover, Germany, from Under the ‘Green Future – Smart November 12 to 18.

Technology’ theme, Agritechnica AGRITECHNICA Agritechnica’s project manager, November 12-18 will present the latest technologies Marie Servais, says all the world’s Hanover, Germany and trends around sustainable agrileading agri-tech companies will be agritechnica.com culture, including developments in represented at the show, and many plant protection, predictive models, will be there with exciting new products. nozzle technology and GPS section control, as “A number of innovations for the professional well as drone and robot technology. crop industry are expected again this autumn Daily themed talks will take place, for to tie in with our theme of ‘Green Future – example on questions of machine insurance Smart Technology’. As a crucial platform for or customs formalities when exporting used new technology, Agritechnica 2017 will protechnology.

DAIRY DAY IN DIARY KUHN Farm Machinery will be displaying a wide range of grassland and livestock equipment at this year’s UK Dairy Day in Telford on September 13, with everything from fertiliser spreaders, mower conditioners, rakes and balers to mixer wagons and sprayers on show.

Cereals shake-up More than tools The new owner CEREALS 2018 of Cereals 2018 June 13-14, 2018 promises a Duxford, major shake-up Cambridgeshire and has set up cerealsevent. a new advisory co.uk board to make the event more relevant and technically focussed. The board will comprise exhibitors, sponsors and farmers, and its first meeting is scheduled for September.

“Comexposium, the new owner of the Cereals Event, is determined to respond to the constructive feedback we received this year and make substantial changes for next year,” said event director Jon Day. “One part of that is to work closely with exhibitors and farmers, ensuring that they too are on the journey with us.

We are now part of a portfolio of world leading shows and Comexposium is well positioned to push the show to the next level.”

TOOLBANK HAS REVEALED its forthcoming autumn trade show dates. The four September shows will feature deals, promotions and new products from global brands such as Bahco, DeWalt, Everbuild, Irwin, Milwaukee, Ronseal and Stanley.

There will also be other exhibitors helping dealers with subjects such as marketing and economies of scale.

The dates and locations are: September 5 – Kent Event Centre, Detling, Maidstone; September 12 – Hertfordshire Sports Village, DeHavilland Campus, Hatfield; September 14 – Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire; and September 21 – Leeds United Centenary Pavilion, Elland Road, Leeds.

FIND OUT MORE

For more information, email: b2binfo@toolbank.com or call 01322 321460.

BAGMA BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

SHOW NEWS

The show for arable innovation

The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) will have its own area at this year’s SALTEX. The BALI Zone will feature a diverse range of affiliate members, including Green-tech, M&M Timber and Boningale Nurseries.

Left: The BALI Zone comes to SALTEX 2017

SALTEX visitor registration now open THE COUNTDOWN TO Europe’s largest annual turf management event has officially begun, marked by the opening of online visitor registrations.

SALTEX 2017 will be held at the NEC, Birmingham, from November 1-2, and has

already attracted more than 250 exhibitors.

Features will include: Learning LIVE – a freeto-attend education programme; outdoor demonstrations; The Young Groundsmen’s Conference; and the IOG Industry Awards at the

National Motorcycle Museum.

Visitors can register to attend SALTEX via the website (www.iogsaltex.com).

SALTEX 2017 November 1-2 NEC, Birmingham iogsaltex.com

A WIDE R A NGE CROPTEC of novel science and November 29-30 innovative technol- East of England ogy will be on show Showground, at CropTec, which is Peterborough being touted as “the croptecshow.

UK’s leading knowl- com edge exchange event in the sector”.

“Content and knowledge exchange will remain the focus of CropTec,” confirmed Elisabeth Mork-Eidem, of organiser Briefing Media.

“We want to build on being the show where visitors come armed with questions and leave with useful, practical advice on how to become better at what they do.

“They can get that advice from networking with like-minded industry peers, from the wellresearched, topical seminars and from visiting the exhibition hall and having the right conversations with relevant companies who have brought their best technical staff.”

BAGMA CENTENARY CONFERENCES AS PART OF its 100th anniversary celebrations, BAGMA will be holding two ‘mini conferences’ in October and December, as well as a reception at the Agritechnica Show in Hanover in November.

The mini conferences will be one-day events. The mornings will feature presentations from BAGMA and its service providers on matters affecting members’ businesses. The afternoons will focus on dealer issues such as road traffic law and Brexit and its effect on the agricultural market.

The first mini conference will be held at Askham Bryan College, near York, on October 24. The second will be held in the BAGMA Four Counties Region at Ledbury Rugby Club on December 13.

The BAGMA Centenary reception at Agritechnica will be held on the CLIMMAR/Landbautechnik stand (E38 in Hall 2) at 4pm on Monday, November 13.

FIND OUT MORE

For further information contact info@bagma.com.

LAMMA aims to improve farm safety LAMMA ’18 IS introducing a Farm Safety Zone when it returns in January to help reduce the number of deaths and injuries on UK farms.

The aim is to help promote the issue of farm safety throughout the year and highlight the fact that most of the 30 fatalities and thousands of injuries that occurred on farms in the past 12 months are avoidable.

The Farm Safety Zone is sponsored by health and safety consul-

tancy Safety Revolution. Its managing director, Oliver Dale, said: “Agriculture has one of the highest fatality rates of any industry in the UK and there is clearly more that can be done.”

LAMMA ’18 January 17-18 East of England Showground, Peterborough lammashow.com

BAGMA BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

JOIN US AT THE WORLD’S LARGEST AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY TRADE FAIR! OUR TRAVEL PARTNER: Field Farm Tours Ltd. Nichola Gray | Tel.: 01636 616060 | E-Mail: info@fieldfarmtours.co.uk

2017

WHERE INNOVATION MATTERS.

12–18 NOVEMBER HANOVER, GERMANY I PREVIEW DAYS 12/13 NOVEMBER www.agritechnica.com

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PRODUCT NEWS

PRODUCT NEWS

10% OFF TORO CYLINDERS

REESINK TURFCARE IS offering 10% off all Toro cylinders this September while also stressing the importance of buying genuine parts. The company says: “With the workings of a cylinder mower so intricate, it would be unwise to upset the equilibrium by putting anything other than genuine parts in your Toro. Fitting an inferior ‘will-fit’ part against a genuine Toro cylinder removes the guarantee of a consistently accurate cut right down to 2.5mm with no risk of turf damage.” Pictured is the 8-blade cylinder.

01480 226800 / reesinkturfcare.co.uk

NEW BATTERY-POWERED HEDGE TRIMMER

ECHO has introduced a new hedge trimmer, the DHC-200, to its 50V lithium-ion battery series which also includes trimmers and power blowers.

It’s built to the same professional standard as ECHO’s petrol hedge trimmers and offers a similar performance. But it’s a lot quieter, making it more suitable for use in noise-sensitive areas such as schools

and nursing homes. Low emissions are beneficial in their use in parks, nature reserves and organic gardens.

Other considerations include reduced maintenance costs due to fewer moving parts, easy-to-use controls with no recoil start, no more fuel filling or cold starting. The DHC200 just needs charging up and it’s ready to go. 0800 5977777

BAGMA visits the Royal Welsh Show ONCE AGAIN THE Royal Welsh Show has seen crowds of happy show-goers converge in their thousands on the showground in Llanelwedd to celebrate the very best of Welsh and British agriculture.

This show saw a mixture of beautiful summer sunshine and showers, creating a perfect mix of show weather. The competitions, as always, saw a very high standard of entries across the board. Honorary show director Harry Fetherstonhaugh commented: “We remain forever in awe at the quality of exhibits shown here. This year, once again, we are honoured to have a selection of some of the most beautiful and impressive livestock seen anywhere in Europe.”

As always, agricultural, horticultural and garden machinery were also prominent at the show with a number of BAGMA members exhibiting alongside manufacturers and suppliers of a huge variety of machinery. Very much a family show, the hospitality on the stands is outstanding.

Thirteen counties in Wales take it in turn to be the feature county. In their allotted year the feature county appoints the president and lady ambassador for the show. This year’s lady ambassador is Georgina Cornock-Evans from Arwels’ Agri Services, a BAGMA member.

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NEW RANGE FOR FRUIT FARMERS NEW HOLLAND’S NEW T4 FNV tractors are designed for fruit farmers but the company says the four models in the range are “more than capable of taking on tasks in other sectors”.

The models have varying engine sizes (75hp to 107hp) and three different widths – 1.06m, 1.23m and 1.47m – as well as a new cab.

The Blue Cab 4 option is said to give the operator “best-in-class” protection against dust, aerosols and vapours during spraying.

OUT AND ABOUT WITH BAGMA

Georgina Cornock-Evans with friend Cathrin Roberts, the deputy lady ambassador (above), and children Trystan Bryn and Lynwen Delun Mair (right) and husband Arwel

BAGMA BULLETIN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017

Europe’s largest annual event Discover the latest product innovations Connect with industry suppliers and partners Network with national and international peers Get expert advice on your specific turf challenges Stay up to date with the latest groundscare trends

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Listen and learn from industry thought leaders Further your career with free advice and guidance Celebrate achievements at the IOG Industry Awards FREE admission. To register visit www.iogsaltex.com

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