The gold standard for training

The Government says face-to-face training can restart where it is safe to do so. With this in mind, we'd like to introduce our trainers

BAGMA TRAINING IS back! As of January 2021, BAGMA has reintroduced face-toface training where both the employer and the BAGMA-appointed trainer are happy this can be done in a Covid-safe environment. This means correct social distancing and the wearing of masks and use of sanitiser gels as appropriate. Due to the practical nature of our BAGMA training courses it is not possible for us to offer online training at the moment.

BAGMA has been involved in providing one and two-day training courses to the land-based industry sector for many years. These have been provided in the past by BAGMA’s own training manager and by manufacturers trainers working with BAGMA courses. The organisation, administration and course materials are all provided by BAGMA through the BAGMA Training and Administration Manager, Kari Hearn.

Courses are based on the need to meet current legislation, health and safety requirements and to support the requirements of businesses and consumer and employee protection.

They provide training on certain aspects of the implementation of legislation and the legal requirements surrounding Installation and Handover, Brake Performance Testing, Thorough Examination and F-Gas certification.

Working with a team of independent training providers who have backgrounds in the land-based industry and with manufacturers trainers, BAGMA can deliver this very specific training at dealers and manufacturers premises without the need for dealer staff to travel away from their businesses.

The following article provides some background on some of the trainers that are delivering BAGMA Training currently. All BAGMA trainers have to prove that they have a history of training, relevant experience in the industry and sign up to BAGMA’s code of practice and standards.

Contact info@bagma.com for further information on training courses and delivery of training, alternatively call BAGMA HQ on 01295 713344.

Becoming a freelance trainer is the best thing I ever did

Name: David Henshaw of D. Henshaw Training Services

Born in Manchester in the swinging 60s, I entered the motor trade as an apprentice in 1982 at a local Toyota main dealer. In 1990 I moved to a larger Toyota main dealer in the northwest (RRG group) just as Lexus was launched in the UK; I was in the first group of technicians to be trained on Lexus vehicles.I was a Lexus technician for 18 years, twice winning national Lexus skills awards which culminated in visits to the factories in Japan and being inducted into the Toyota Technical Hall of Champions in Nagoya.

I’ve always hada passion for training courses and in 2008 I made the jump into training at Delphi in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. After three years I got the chance to join JCB as a technical trainer – a fantastic decade followed, making lots of very good friendships, travelling the world and being very proud to be training on a great British product. I worked mainly on engines, construction machines and high voltage systems towards the end but also being introduced to ag dealers via BAGMA training, delivering Installation, AC and Thorough Examination training to the JCB network. In late 2019 I started to think about my future

The gold standard for training

and in 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic I made the decision to go for it and become selfemployed as an independent training provider.

Being a Manc, my two passions are sport and music. Most people know which side of the Manc football world I am from (Blue) after being a season ticket holder since 1981 and traveling the country watching them through thick and thin. Music-wise I enjoy everything from early 50s rock n roll through to 60s, glam and the Manchester music scene, my main genre is heavy rock. I am old enough to have seen most of the biggest bands live when they started out in small arenas back at the Manchester Apollo so now go watch tribute pub bands, mainly The Rooters, DirtyjackDC and Motorpace, but I also can’t get enough of Northern Soul and Warwickshire has some great live bands and Northern Soul nights. Live music is probably the greatest thing I have missed this past last year.

I am now truly living the dream. I am my own boss, time to enjoy life and the great Warwickshire surroundings.

I have always loved training since my first course I attended, I enjoy travelling to all the dealers and meeting all the staff and I try to enjoy every course I deliver. Training should be enjoyable, if you enjoy something you get more out of it. I learn something on every course I deliver and try to do my little bit to help engineers.

My targets for 2021 include getting really fit again so I can continue to fly around the world delivering training. I also would like to visit as many of the BAGMA dealer network as I can.

I am just as enthusiastic teaching BAGMA courses as I was a decade ago

Name: Ian Mitchell, managing director High Five Training

I have always enjoyed showing customers how machines work, and how to get the best performance from them. I realised that this would be ‘my future’, when I joined the Ransomes demonstration team, way back in 1984.

Now, some 37 years later I am still at my happiest when delivering training courses on turf machinery. I left Ransomes Jacobsen in May 2005, I now run my own training business called High Five Training.

It’s the people I work with and the places this industry gets me into that make it all so interesting, and of course, the machinery I work with.

The BAGMA Installation course brings those elements together, so I’m still as enthusiastic about it now, as I was when I first started.

Face-to-face training, where it’s practical to do so

An update of the Government guidance has opened the possibility for face-toface training again. The guidance explains that: ‘Following the Prime Minister’s announcement confirming a new national lockdown, training providers, employers and EPAOs must ensure that training and assessment takes place remotely wherever possible’.

However, it also states that: ‘Faceto-face training and assessment can continue in colleges and training providers’ premises for vulnerable young apprentices and the children of key workers who need it. Face-toface training and assessment can also continue in employers’ Covid-secure settings where it is essential for workers to attend their workplace, and where it is safe and practical to do so.’

On the subject of assessment, the guidance says: ‘End-point assessment (EPA) and Functional Skills (FSQ) assessments can continue in colleges, training providers’ premises, assessment venues and workplaces where it cannot be conducted remotely and where providers and end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) judge it right to do so.

‘We recognise that for some apprenticeship programmes which normally involve substantial use of practical equipment and demonstration of applied knowledge this new guidance will be particularly challenging. We have seen strong examples of how providers have adapted training and assessment using virtual scenarios, and live lessons.

‘We have also seen providers adjust the sequencing of apprenticeships to concentrate practical learning when onsite training is possible. This approach should be taken as far as possible to ensure that training can continue. We know that receiving face-to-face training is best for apprentices’ mental health and for their educational achievement’.

Of course, for any BAGMA training courses to go ahead, all employers must adhere to the Health and Safety at Work Act, which includes making the workplace Covid secure. You can find further guidance on that at www.hse.gov.uk

Name: Nigel Perrin, Product Development and Training Manager Merlo UK I’ve been working with the Merlo product since 1994, initially working with a dealer as an agricultural engineer, servicing and repairing Merlo machines.

In 1997, I joined the small team at Merlo UK working in the service and spare parts department, eventually becoming a service manager. After many years, a company reorganisation took place when Merlo SPA gained complete ownership of the company. I stepped aside from service manager to concentrate on what I enjoyed the most – training. I was also tasked to represent the company at industry-focused meetings such as BITA, and the AEA.

I started training from 1999 when I was asked to cover (due to ill health) the person whose job it was at the time. Unfortunately he didn’t return so it was left to me to carry on with the training that we had already been booked. Being thrown in at the deep end was probably a good thing, as it was not something I’d considered that I could do. I had no teaching experience however I did understand the product and I’d done the job of the technicians I was training. It was not long before I realised I’d found something that gave me great satisfaction and the more I did, the more confident I became.

The job though very enjoyable, is not an easy one; you are always expected to know everything about the product. Merlo is a highly innovative and fast-changing company so keeping up with the ever-changing products is not easy. Trying to create training courses the dealer technicians can engage with is also a challenge as we have to consider the age range of the technicians which can be anywhere between 18 and 70 along with different abilities and backgrounds.

Training has become more important as the years have gone by as, unfortunately, the general level of technicians coming in to the industry seems to have dropped. We have had to now turn to teaching even more of the basics to bring them up to a good standard. Due to more technology being added to machines to meet the ever-changing safety regulations and engine emission standards, technicians now require a larger skills set which is also a challenge. They all need to be able to work with computers as well as being able to repair a gear box etc. Quite often technicians can be good at computers but not rebuilding a gear box or the other way around.

We start by offering a foundation level training course which gives the technician a basic

understanding of the product and the ability to p.d.i and service the machines, followed by drive train and basic electrics and hydraulics moving on to the more advanced hydrostatics and hydraulic systems, electronics and diagnostics.

The range of courses are designed to help the technicians at the more basic level as well as helping the technicians at the higher level.

We use the BAGMA courses as they are considered the industry-standard and are accredited by the Landbased Training Accreditation scheme. It is important to have the accreditation and up- to-date course material and legislation for this training which BAGMA provide.

We also carry out the BAGMA Thorough Examination and Installation training courses.

Installing machines with the customer is so important to get right; by using the BAGMA system it ensures the process is carried out in the correct way cementing a good relationship with the dealer and customer as well as meeting their legal requirements.

Good servicing is also essential and separately checking the machine at least every 12 months with a thorough examination completes what is necessary for safe continued operation and meets the requirements of the PUWER legislation, Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations.

Due to Covid restrictions, training has been a challenge. We have managed to keep going with the introduction of instructor-led training over Zoom. We intend to continue with some aspects of online training which has added value even once we get back to face-to-face training hopefully later in the year.

A new training centre is being built for Merlo in the UK which will also allow us to expand the training courses we can offer for the future.

Helping businesses and staff develop is one of my great achievements

Name : Tony Jackson H&S Manager for Lister Wilder Ltd. In March 2019 I joined Lister Wilder as the health and safety manager, supporting the group activities and business outputs. Having inherited many elements of good practice I have since enabled the team to continue that drive for the betterment and safe systems of work throughout the business. Lister Wilder’s dedication to H&S and the wellbeing of its staff and customers, has led to achieving Achilles B2 accreditation and ISO45001 (May 2020). A true record of a People Matter organisation.

Having joined Lister Wilder after serving more than 25 years within the military and civil service, I have been very fortunate to undertake many learning and development opportunities. I’ve also been lucky to qualify in training delivery, training management, and training the trainer capabilities. This is where I found I could add the most value, developing others or training others whilst on a journey through an organisation, when volunteering at a local club or leaning in to help in times of need is where my strength resonates.

I’ve built capacity and opportunity for the following courses in-house and external should there be a need. First aid training, IOSH H&S training, abrasive wheel training, dignity at work and BAGMA installation training – all of which are great to deliver and great to support our staff with. I find no greater achievement in helping others met and or exceed developmental expectations, regardless of capability.