New parts training programme from John Deere

John Deere and Brooksby Melton College have launched the industry's first specialist training programme for aspiring parts apprentices.

The new Parts Tech programme will be run on similar lines to the award winning John Deere Ag Tech and Turf Tech apprentice engineering technician programmes, delivered in partnership with Brooksby Melton College of Brooksby, near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, which have been running since 1992.

"Parts Tech is an all-round programme, designed to raise the professionalism of parts operations to a new level," says Peter Leech, John Deere's manager, customer support. "Until now, there has never been a formal method of training for this specialist area of the agricultural and groundscare industries. Parts Tech will provide our dealers with the opportunity to train their parts support staff to the same high standards as their service technicians."

The 18-month training programme for John Deere dealer personnel is based on the existing City & Guilds NVQ course in Vehicle Parts Operations, Levels 2 & 3. It has been tailored to include specific parts training on John Deere business systems, as well as industry training requirements such as forklift truck operation and more generic skills such as merchandising and desktop publishing. Completion of the course will lead to the award of the John Deere Parts Tech certificate and City & Guilds NVQ Level 2.

To minimise time spent away from the sponsoring dealership, the programme will combine distance learning, work-based assessments and four one-week training blocks at Brooksby Melton College and John Deere's Training Centre at Langar.

The new John Deere Parts Tech programme is available for enrolment now, with the first group intake planned for September 2007. Further details are available from local John Deere dealers or from Brooksby Melton College, tel: 01664 850850 or 855444.