Lecturers in the agricultural machinery sector chose Kubota UK to host their annual conference, ensuring they are up to speed with the latest machinery and technology offered by the manufacturer.

The Association of Lecturers In Agriculture Machinery (ALAM), whose members boast academic staff from colleges across the country, including Harper Adams and Hartpury College, attended a host of lectures and workshops covering Kubota's business, product and plans for the future, and got hands on experience with Kubota machinery.

Ian Coleman, chairman of ALAM and lecturer at Hartpury College, said: 'The function of ALAM is to keep up-to-date with the latest technologies and to disseminate current practices and focuses to our members, ensuring that what we teach our students across the country reflects the modern industry.

'Holding our conference at Kubota UK this year has filled us with confidence that we are up to speed with technological advances, trends for the future and updating our knowledge on Kubota's product portfolio, from horticulture right the way through to agriculture.

'Technical updates are vital for both ALAM and our students, so another advantage of working with Kubota is that we can look outside of the standard agricultural box into other sectors, giving us a rounded view and ensuring that we have our finger on the pulse of the industry as a whole.

'The three days were hugely beneficial and demonstrated the clear advantages of networking between colleges, colleagues and manufacturers'

Keith Miller, service and training manager at Kubota UK, added: 'For Kubota, the relationship with all the UK agricultural colleges is really important.

'We understand that communicating the essential principles of machinery and their operation to the colleges makes a real contribution to the future learning of the students and the sector as a whole, injecting a high number of skilled engineers into the industry.

'We really wanted Ian and the whole ALAM team to get as much out of the three days as possible and the feedback we've had has been very positive'