Leading groundcare and agricultural machinery supplier Kubota UK is lending its support to Harper Adams University by sponsoring machinery for teaching, research, campus upkeep and farm operations.

The first machine to be delivered to the university thanks to this new partnership was Kubota’s RTV400Ci, a powerful and rugged utility vehicle, which has been provided by the company for use by the university’s grounds department.

Receiving the RTV on Monday, grounds manager Mark Hall said: “I am very thankful to Kubota. This is a vital piece of kit for us when maintaining the grounds and sports pitches. It will allow us to easily and efficiently move tools and equipment around.

“I welcome this opportunity to work with Kubota.”

Thanks to the variety of machines it can provide, Kubota UK will be supporting a wide range of work across the university: from the RTV for the grounds department, to compact, mid-range and agricultural Kubota tractors for the farm, as well as mid-range products for the engineering department, Animal Production, Welfare and Veterinary Sciences Department and Crops and Environment Research Centre (CERC).

Phill Brooks, Dealer Manager for Kubota UK’s Agricultural division, added: “Harper Adams is widely recognised as the UK’s leading agricultural university, so we are absolutely delighted to be joining forces with them. 

“As a business, Kubota is investing heavily as we move into the mainstream agricultural market, which includes the recent introduction of our higher horse power M7001 Series (130hp to 170hp), which we are aiming to be the pride of the Kubota brand.  By working in partnership with the university, it will enable us to build our profile as an agricultural player, as well as access to some of the leading facilities that Harper Adams provide. 

“As part of our sponsorship, we will provide three or four machines to start with and several later in the year. It’s great to be involved with both the university and the local dealer. It’s the start of a good relationship.”

The company has arranged for supply and after sales support via the Shropshire agricultural dealer, Hughes Brothers, Oswestry.

Richard Hughes of Hughes Brothers added: “We’re happy to be part of this; to have a relationship with the university and to push Kubota’s name forward in the agricultural market. Year on year since we became a Kubota dealer, we have grown in all market sectors, from groundcare up to newer, mainstream agriculture products such as the M7001 Series tractor.”

www.kubota.co.uk