A German manufacturer of farm machinery has opened a £1.2 million ‘state of the art’ training centre in Suffolk (next to its UK headquarters at Saxham, near Bury St Edmunds).

The firm’s British and Irish apprentices will be trained in a variety of disciplines, bringing a welcome boost to the local economy.

At the official opening ceremony on 4 October, the Mayor of Bury St Edmunds (Terry Clements) said that he was “totally impressed” with the investment being made, and the boost to highly skilled jobs.

The guest of honour was Lothar Kriszun, who is ‘speaker’ of the board at CLAAS (www.claas.co.uk) and is set to retire after 36 years with the company.

He said: “Although the number of farmers is decreasing in the UK and elsewhere, the land is there, and it will be farmed. These farmers require professional equipment, and training is crucial for the firm’s future success.”

Guests had a tour of the site, and were given a taste of the fast pace of technological change that technicians of the future will have to embrace.

They were also told of the looming skills gap and the need for the agricultural-machinery sector to encourage new recruits.