AGCO ACADEMY OVERVIEW

Discover a wealth of training and development opportunities available through the AGCO Academy.

AGCO ACADEMY - MANUFACTURER BASED PRODUCT TRAINING

The Stoneleigh based Academy is a manufacturer owned facility offering product and skills based training on a wide range of agricultural machinery, marketed under the AGCO brands in the UK and Ireland.

The Academy provides a centre of excellence where AGCO Apprentices have the opportunity to access industry leading Manufacturer Technical Training.

The Technical Training team facilitates and delivers courses to all AGCO dealer staff working in Sales, Parts and Service areas.

The majority of training we deliver is technical based, in order to ensure dealer staff and technicians are well skilled when called upon to support our products.

The centre delivers to over 1,200 dealer personnel every year, and courses vary by product and function. Below is just a selection of the Valtra training offered:

Fundamentals and full technical overview of the Valtra Wheeled Tractor Range
Valtra CVT Transmission and Hydraulics
Valtra Product Introduction, Features and Operation
Valtra Electronics
Valtra Advanced Diagnostics
AGCO – Air Conditioning, Refrigerant Handling and Diagnosis
AGCO – Product Installation

To find out more about the training courses available here at AGCO, you can contact us directly by email: UKEIRE.Training@agcocorp.com

MEET THE TEAM

Richard Charles

Manager, Aftersales Training, Dealer Readiness & Business Development

Richard is responsible for the delivery of the AGCO Apprenticeship Scheme and Aftersales training programmes across the UK and Ireland, and manages the AGCO Training Centre and training department at Stoneleigh.

Richard has worked at AGCO for eight years, predominantly as a Field Service Manager within our Technical Service department. Prior to this, Richard worked as an Agricultural Engineer for sixteen years and brings extensive experience from a wide range of roles held within dealerships; from Apprentice Technician, Agricultural Engineer and Workshop Foreman to Service Manager and Small Business Owner.

Richard is a great Rugby fan and a loyal supporter of his local club Stratford Upon Avon RFC and all international games. His two sons both play rugby at a junior level at Stratford and Richard enjoys getting involved with voluntary work for the club. As a keen cycling enthusiast - both road and mountain biking - Richard tries to get as much time as possoble out and about on the saddle.
Ashley Briggs

Aftersales Training Specialist

Ashley joined the AGCO Technical Training team earlier this year and has a wealth of technical experience from his previous role working as a Technician in a range of different sectors.

Most recently, Ashley worked as a Technical Training Instructor in the automotive industry where he conducted training on Peugeot and Citroen products and assisted in the development of an advanced electrics training programme.

In his spare time Ashley enjoys carrying out DIY and home improvements on the family home where he lives with his wife and three children. When busy family and work life allows, Ashley is a keen Carp fisherman and enjoys spending time on the river side.
Nick Armstrong

Aftersales Training Specialist

Nick joined the UK and Ireland training team in February 2019. Nick has extensive experience as a technical trainer and a wealth of knowledge about the agricultural and farming machinery industries.

Through his career, Nick has gained training delivery experience from the military, Ford Automotive and more recently, as the Manager of the Land Based Apprenticeship Scheme where he delivered training and managed a team of lecturers teaching land based engineering courses.

Nick is a 4x4 enthusiast and enjoys nothing more than testing his purpose built 4x4 vehicle against the British elements and off road terrain. When not in the driving seat ploughing through extreme water and mud, Nick enjoys spending time with his family and young grandchildren.
Andrew Duguid

Aftersales Training Specialist

Andrew is the newest member of the team and joined us in June 2021. Andrew is a skilled technical trainer and holds a range of teaching qualifications. Similarly to Nick, Andrew spent some time in the military as a Technician and Technical Training Instructor.

In his most recent role, Andrew delivered technical training within the Automotive sector to both experienced technicians and apprentices and comes to AGCO with a wealth of experience.

In his spare time Andrew enjoys a range of hobbies including laser engraving, 3D printing, wood work and audio visual content creation - creating stop motion animations. Andrew is also learning to play the guitar and enjoys practising his new musical skills and performing to his wife and their two children.
Charlie Rollason

Aftersales Training Business Development Manager

Charlie joined the UK and Ireland Training team at AGCO in May 2021 on a part time basis. Charlie’s key responsibilities are to conduct a full review of our current Apprenticeship scheme and training partners in order to help develop the programme further and ensure we are making the scheme more attractive and future proofing it for our every changing industry.

With over 35 years experience in the agricultural industry, Charlie brings expertise from a wide range of roles, from Apprentice Technician, Workshop Technician and Business owner / director to Sales Manager and Depot Manager at one of the largest agricultural dealerships in the UK.

Charlie owns a vast collection of vintage agricultural and construction machinery, including a range of tractors and steel rope controlled excavators. In his spare time Charlie loves attending vintage working demonstrations and charity tractor runs. As a firm fan of dogs and country sports, Charlie has trained many working dogs over the years.