More than fifty apprentices have graduated from John Deere’s renowned Ag Tech, Turf Tech, and Parts Tech programmes, joining dealerships across the UK and Ireland as qualified technicians and parts specialists.
The graduates, trained in partnership with ProVQ at the John Deere Apprentice Training Centre in Upper Saxondale, Nottinghamshire, were recognised at a special ceremony celebrating their achievement and the ongoing success of one of the longest-running manufacturer apprenticeship schemes in the industry.
Jacob Ellwood from the Thomas Sherriff dealership was named Technician Apprentice of the Year for 2025, while Alex Hind from Farol won the Parts Apprentice of the Year award. Both received trophies and iPads to mark their success.
Now in its fourth decade, John Deere’s apprenticeship scheme continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of modern machinery dealerships. The programme equips students with a mix of technical, diagnostic, and digital skills, alongside customer service and communication training.
“Our apprenticeships continue to play a vital role in developing the next generation of talent for our dealer network,” said John Deere Training Centre Manager Allan Cochran. “The industry is moving fast, with connected machines, advanced diagnostics, and precision technology becoming standard, so it’s essential that our apprentices leave fully prepared for those challenges. Seeing them graduate and take their next steps with our dealers is hugely rewarding.”
Apprentices on the Ag Tech and Turf Tech courses work towards the Land-Based Service Engineering Technician Level 3 qualification, while those on the Parts Tech route complete a Level 3 parts diploma.
The expanded Parts Tech programme, introduced last year, now includes greater emphasis on technical knowledge and customer interaction in response to the growing importance of John Deere’s aftermarket and service support.
An apprenticeship programme is also available to those working in the construction industry with the John Deere-owned Wirtgen Group.
Since its inception in 1992, the John Deere apprenticeship programme has supported well in excess of 1,200 young people to find skilled roles across the company’s worldwide dealership network. Recruitment for the next intake is now underway, offering school and college leavers the opportunity to build long-term careers in the agricultural and turf machinery industries.
