Service technicians recognised in national awards

Steve Mitchellin Industry News

John Deere dealer technician awardsThe strength and success of John Deere's dealer service technician training programmes were recognised at this year's 2011 Industry Awards, organised by the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) and trade magazine Service Dealer.

Christopher Mason of The Double A Trading Company, Cupar, Fife, won Apprentice of the Year for the progress he has made since joining the company from school in 2007, winning two college best student of the year awards in the process.

In addition, Daniel Massey of J E Buckle Ltd, Stevenage, Herts, was voted Technician of the Year. He is the first land-based technician to have qualified at the highest level of the Landbased Technician Accreditation scheme (LTA4 Master Technician) to be invited to join the Council of the industry's professional body, the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE). He is also a past winner of the National City & Guilds Medal for Excellence Award.

Christopher and Daniel were winners in a new category for 2011, the Stars of the Dealership Awards, which was introduced specifically to recognise dealership staff. "This is the first year of these individual star awards, which makes these achievements especially significant and important," says IAgrE president Peter Leech, John Deere's European regional training manager.

"It is an accolade not just to the technicians and their dealerships, but to the John Deere Ag Tech and Turf Tech apprentice training programmes that they, and over 400 like them, have been part of since Ag Tech first started in 1992. Both Christopher and Daniel will serve as shining examples for current apprentice technicians and those considering joining our industry through an apprenticeship."

Picture (Left to right): AEA president and managing director of John Deere Limited Richard Johnson, Technician of the Year Daniel Massey of J E Buckle Ltd, Apprentice of the Year Christopher Mason of The Double A Trading Company, and IAgrE president Peter Leech, John Deere's European regional training manager.

For further details and/or photographs, please contact:

Peter Leech
John Deere Limited
Tel: +44 (0)1949 860491
Website: JohnDeere.com

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