Working for John Deere dealer Hunt Forest Group in Chilbolton, Hampshire, Merlin Mulberry is in the third and final year of his Ag-Tech apprenticeship and is just months away from becoming a fully qualified technician.
Despite not coming from an agricultural background, the 19-year-old has always had an interest in farm machinery which grew from working with local farm contractors near where he lives in Whiteparish, Wiltshire. He has since wanted to expand and progress his knowledge, and John Deere offered the perfect opportunity.
He says joining their apprenticeship programme was a 聭no-brainer聮 and the only option he felt drawn towards, despite having offers from elsewhere.
While he works on a wide range of machines and different technologies, including tractors and combines, Merlin聮s speciality lies with maintaining self-propelled forage harvesters.
He says: 聯For me, forager harvesters are the best machines to work on. I am fascinated by how they work and enjoy seeing what they are capable of in the field.聰
Merlin聮s typical day has changed over the last three years. In his first year, he spent most of his time working alongside his dedicated mentor, who would guide him through workshop tasks and in-field maintenance.
The second year brought more autonomy, and in the final 12 months he is encouraged to work as independently as possible, backed up by his dealer and mentor whenever required.听
聯One of the most important things that I have learnt during the programme is customer relations, and how to deal with various scenarios,聰 Merlin says. 聯The relationships you build with the customers and the impact that has on them is incredibly important to the job.
聯To anyone thinking of becoming a John Deere apprentice, you do not have to be from an agricultural background. If you have the right mindset and passion, crack on and give it a go 聳 it is a brilliant choice for anyone with a passion for farming.聰
The prospects are endless, and Merlin says his qualification will be 聭extremely valuable聮 and could get him employment with any John Deere dealer around the world. There is also the option to train further and become a master technician.
Participants trained at John Deere聮s Apprentice Training Centre in Upper Saxondale, Nottinghamshire, are taught the knowledge and skills needed to deliver a fantastic service to agricultural and professional Groundscare customers, while also holding permanent jobs at dealerships. The courses feature a mix of classroom and workshop learning on subjects including engineering, electronics, hydraulics, diagnostics, communication skills, computing, sales, and marketing.
The programmes also include on-the-job training and assessment, as well as up to eight weeks at the John Deere Apprentice Training Centre.
Since 1992, the programme has helped over 1,000 apprentices start their careers.
For more information go to www.deere.co.uk听
