LEARNERS ploughed ahead in completing an innovative agriculture training scheme despite the challenges of Covid-19.

The first ever cohort of AGCO apprentices at Coleg Cambria Llysfasi have completed the three-year Technical Advanced Extended Diploma in Agricultural Engineering.

The north east Wales college teamed up with the worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment to train the next generation of machinery technicians.

Richard Charles, AGCO Manager for Aftersales Customer Care and Training, praised the group – who work for dealerships which sell the Massey Ferguson, Fendt and Valtra brands – for their focus and dedication.

“We are delighted to congratulate the first cohort of students to have graduated from Coleg Cambria Llysfasi,” he said.

“Our partnership offers a dedicated training programme giving candidates an underpinning knowledge of agricultural engineering principles and techniques leading up to dedicated manufacturer training on the cutting-edge technology AGCO products offer to the industry.

“This gives the successful candidates a lead into a truly exciting job with their respective dealers, earning while they are learning and offering the potential for a lifelong career.

“Together with Llysfasi we are striving to give our students and dealers the best possible apprenticeships in our industry – this result is testament to the quality of the training given.”

Elin Roberts. Assistant Principal and Site Lead at Llysfasi echoed those words and said: “The AGCO apprentices brought a real vibrancy to the college and it was fantastic to have them with us.

“We look forward to the positive results from their final exams and wish them all the best in their future careers.”

Gareth Williams, Lead lecturer for the AGCO Apprenticeship Programme and Agricultural Engineering at Llysfasi, added: “I am delighted that AGCO’s dealer apprentices have become the first-ever cohort to complete the scheme with us.

“They achieved fantastic results across all elements of the programme and are a credit to their employers. I wish them a successful career working within the agricultural engineering sector.”

For more information, email agco.training@cambria.ac.uk or call 01978 267912. Alternatively, visit www.cambria.ac.uk/agco or email UKEIRE.Training@agcocorp.com.