Training for farm mechanics on the rise
Sixty-seven young people are registered as being in phase one of the training scheme the highest level of registrations in the last three years.
At the other end of the scale, there are fewer farm mechanics competing the final phase-seven stage of the training programme. Despite this, a steady number of mechanics are training at phases three and five.
The FTMTA said the figures reflected an increasing awareness of the career as one that offers an opportunity to learn a number of disciplines. Those disciplines can be applied not only in the farm machinery business but can also give young people other options to pursue later on in their careers.
The FTMTA has in the past year circulated to all guidance counsellors in the country information about the opportunities that are arising in the farm machinery industry.
This was the first information programme ever carried out through schools to directly identify the opportunities in the farm machinery industry. It is planned to repeat the exercise later this year.
