AGCO has launched a new initiative, AGCO Retrain – a partnership between AGCO and Forces Farming which will focus on the retraining of ex-military, reservists and non-agricultural engineers into the retail dealer network.
The new process for non-agricultural engineers will help anyone who doesn’t have farming experience to move into a new area of business and career opportunities, says AGCO.
By evaluating and certifying other industry experience or qualifications these skills can transfer to agricultural engineering.
“There are a lot of very skilled engineers out there who currently don’t consider agricultural engineering as a career path. We’ve partnered with Forces Farming so we can promote the industry, retrain men and women from the Armed Forces and bring new talent into the industry,” says Richard Charles, manager, aftersales training, dealer readiness and business development.
Forces Farming
Forces Farming was started in 2019 by Jeremy Gibbs who spent his career working for a global manufacturer and now runs his own business while actively farming beef and sheep at home. “The link between the Armed Forces and Agriculture goes back a long way but it isn’t promoted to serving personnel as a career choice when they think about resettlement,” explains Jeremy.
Forces Farming starts the retraining process with insight days and experience events for anyone looking at agriculture as a new career.
“Starting by visiting a farm provides a foundation of knowledge that supports you in the years to come,” notes Jeremy. “By interacting and engaging with farmers and the wider supply chain the candidates get an insight of how vast the industry is and how many opportunities are out there.
Huge potential
“Agricultural engineering is one area of huge potential we’re focusing on and its extremely positive AGCO are supporting Forces Farming and ex-military personnel. For anyone who wants to work outside, have a satisfying job with a great career path they should get in touch.
“Following insight days Forces Farming help co-ordinate experience placements or shadowing opportunities across the country at AGCO dealerships. This gives the retraining engineer the opportunity to be sure this is the right career choice for them and their family.”
Assessment and training
To ensure previous qualifications and engineering experience is credited AGCO will offer assessments and specific training plans that help identify the knowledge level and areas of training that need focus.
Richard adds: “Our target with this new approach is to make sure that if someone has experience in engineering and wants to move into agriculture we recognise the prior knowledge and train them accordingly which in turn provides skilled engineers for our dealers and future talent for AGCO.”
Forces Farming will deliver the foundation agricultural knowledge and AGCO are providing the career opportunities with their dealer network. A great opportunity for non-agricultural engineers either from the Armed Forces or other industries further afield.
