Service Technician

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Land-based engineer working on a tractor

You will enter this industry as a trainee and work in a dealership to get experience of a wide range of vehicles and machinery used in:  

  • Farming businesses
  • Forestry businesses
  • Horticultural businesses
  • Ground care and sports facilities including golf courses and parks.  

As a trainee technician you will play an important role in supporting qualified technicians, workshop and repair activities as well as carrying out basic routine repair work when required. 

Duties include keeping equipment in good working order through planned maintenance, as well as carrying out diagnostic and repair work.

After completing your training and after several years of experience at a dealership you may wish to become self-employed.  It is important to keep updating your skills so you can continue to work on new equipment. 

Service engineers usually work from a van and travel to jobs on farms and other businesses. 

As a Technician you may work on, or support those working on:

  • Complex high technology machinery, such as tractors, harvesters, sprayers, processors and planters, some of which use the latest technology including global positioning systems (GPS), electronic mapping and guidance systems
  • Professional and domestic ground care machinery such as compact tractors, rotary tillers, cultivators, quad bikes, grass collectors, mowers, chainsaws and hedge trimmers
  • Equipment used in livestock handling and control, including milking systems, mobile handlers and feeding systems
  • Machinery used in forestry include tree harvesters, chippers and stump grinders.

Land-based Technicians will use a wide range of hand and specialist tools, often including diagnostic equipment and laptop computers.

Working Conditions

Technicians in the land-based sector usually work 37.5 hours a week. This may include early mornings, evenings and weekends, to meet deadlines and seasonal requirements. 

Service Technicians usually work in well-equipped workshops or on site from service vehicles equipped as mobile workshops.  Technicians will spend time travelling to and from customers’ premises where it may be necessary to work outside, in all terrains and weather conditions. 

Working with agricultural, forestry and horticultural equipment can be hazardous and Service Technicians will need to wear protective clothing, high-visibility vests and in some cases hard hats. For some jobs you may also need safety glasses and welding aprons. 

A clean driving licence and reliable transport is essential. 

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Salary

Salaries vary with experience, qualifications and between companies, but here's a guide to what you can expect.

Starting salary:

£14,000

Ending Salary:

£35,000

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Getting started

Experience is an advantage, but training is usually provided.

Employers are looking for people who:

  • Have an interest in the natural environment, conservation, land management and public access
  • Enjoy practical hands-on work
  • Like working outdoors
  • Enjoy problem solving.

What experienced workers can do

  • Diagnostics
  • Advanced engineering
  • Be able to operate plant and machinery
  • Mentoring and coaching
  • High level of engineering and management skills
  • Providing land-based machinery technical support and advice to colleagues
  • Servicing and maintaining a wide range of plant and machinery
  • A high level of IT literacy for machine diagnostics
  • A driving licence. 

If you are self-employed you will also need to be good at:   

  • Time management
  • Budgeting
  • Financial management
  • Business management
  • All round knowledge of the engineering business.

Personal qualities you should have

  • The ability to work alone or in a team
  • Good communication skills
  • Able to solve problems.
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Next steps

It is possible to enter land-based engineering as a Trainee Service Technician.

The two routes for entering the industry are through a Modern Apprenticeship or Industry Apprenticeship with a dealer or manufacturer. 

Having a clean full driving licence will also improve employment opportunities.

Experienced Service Technicians may be able to progress to a wider range of specialist roles once they have qualified and completed a Modern Apprenticeship, including:  

  • Green crop
  • Combine
  • Tractor
  • Forestry/harvesting or diagnostic technician
  • Master technician
  • Workshop supervisor
  • Service manager
  • Sales representative.

There may also be opportunities for self-employment and building a successful business. 

You could also move into training within a college or into sales or managerial positions. 

Useful links

Agricultural Engineers Association

British Agricultural & Garden Machinery Association (BAGMA)

Institute of Agricultural Engineers

My world of work

Your next steps on the Land-based engineering service career path

Workshop Service Manager also appears on these career paths: