Key Takeaways
- UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently visited New Holland Agriculture’s apprenticeship program at Writtle University College (WUC).
- The visit aimed to discuss the apprentices’ passion for the food and farming sector and their understanding of agricultural machinery.
- The apprenticeship program is a partnership between CNH Industrial and WUC, launched in 2022, to address the skills gap in agricultural engineering.
- New Holland Agriculture aims to develop a strong workforce of specialist agricultural engineers for the future.
- The Prime Minister’s visit highlights the importance and prestige of the program and CNH’s commitment to agricultural education.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently visited New Holland Agriculture, a brand of CNH Industrial, at Writtle University College (WUC). The visit focused on a hands-on workshop on tractor maintenance, where the Prime Minister engaged with engineering apprentices.
Addressing the Skills Gap
The apprenticeship program is a partnership between CNH Industrial and WUC, initiated in 2022. It aims to address the skills gap for specialist engineers within the agricultural sector. The apprentices, currently employed by New Holland Agriculture’s local dealerships throughout England, discussed their understanding of agricultural machinery with the Prime Minister.
Commitment to Agricultural Education
David Rapkins, New Holland Agriculture Business Director UK & ROI, expressed pride in the partnership with WUC and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC). “We aim to nurture and develop a strong workforce of specialist agricultural engineers for the future,” he said. The program reflects CNH’s strong commitment to agricultural education for young people, a commitment further highlighted by the Prime Minister’s visit.
The Prestige of the Program
The Prime Minister’s hands-on participation in the workshop and his acknowledgment of the program underscore its prestige and importance. Programs like the one at WUC and a similar one at SRUC Oatridge campus in Scotland are key priorities for education in pioneering AgTech, now and in the future.
Image provided by CNH
