Borders Machinery Ring

Borders Machinery Ring Limited

Leader House
Mill Road
Earlston
TD4 6DG

BMR acts as an agent only and not as principal

T: 01896 758091
F: 01896 757036
E: bmr@ringleader.co.uk
Registered in Scotland
Reg No. SP02303R

Woodland Thinning & Clearance

Fencing

Ground Clearance

Testimonials

Bill Rae Contracting, Hawick, booked a group of his staff on our Emergency First Aid at Work +F course in early September 2020.

The course was taken by Jen from First Aid Borders at the BMR office.

‘The gents all really genuinely enjoyed the course, they said it was much more relevant to their work than any course they had completed in the past and said the instructor was fantastic. They’ve all learned lots’

Louise Rae

Good luck to them all!

Farm Health & Safety Induction with Lantra Elearning

Here at Roadhead Farm Feeds we find the Lantra online courses a great help, it means that new employees can do the training as part of their working day and don’t have to waste time travelling. The courses are straightforward, clear, concise and geared specifically for agriculture. We have had more people put through these courses because they are online and effectively ‘on site’. We find this training is much more effective than handing out guidance books for employees to read, with these courses we know they have read and understood the context, putting us, as employers, in a better position. The fact that these courses are certificated and recognised widely means that our employees are also happy to receive their certificate at the end of their training.-

15 Roadhead Farm Feeds employees were put through the Lantra Elearning Health & Safety on Farms course. They booked direct with the BMR office to take advantage of a group discount.

Thank you to Roadhead for sharing the benefits with us

Emergency First Aid at Work +F

’The course wasreally good, and I enjoyed it.

The instructor was exceptionally good at motivating and

teaching.. She involved everybody and made sure by the end of the day you
had a good grasp of the key elements of emergency first aid. By working
through different scenarios with different people it was very engaging and put
you under pressure at times but in a good way.

As part of a
small team, the course is vitally important to our business, and useful too,
to have as an individual just in case life throws something at you where
the training would hopefully kick in.

The venue was first class

Practical mole trapping course

I ‘attended the course a couple of years ago - brilliant, am now keeping on top of the little charmers!’ BMR member
This is one of our most liveliest courses!!

‘Wish I’d done it sooner!

Excellent’

Peter Eccles, Saughland

Recently Jen from FAB took an Emergency First Aid at Work course.

‘Excellent course. Far more relevant to outdoor work & remote locations than previous courses I have done’ Patricia Glennie

John Elliot, Roxburgh Mains

‘When we moved from Rawburn, a high hill farm, to Roxburgh Mains, mainly an arable farm, in 1993, we had a dilemma of whether to tool up for cropping, employ contractors or use the Borders Machinery Ring, which hadn’t been long in existence.

Economics to the tune of £12,000 per annum dictated that I used ‘the ring’. It was one of the best decisions I ever made, particularly as our own inclination was to four legs over four wheels.

Apart from contracting, we now get fuel, electricity, fertiliser and casual labour through ‘the ring’.

It was a pleasure to attend the ceremony to open their new offices in Earlston. We wish them a long and successful future’

First published in John’s popular regular column in The Scottish Farmer’

Spray operator training -

‘The course was very well presented, very informative & practical’

MW-Tantallon Caravan Park

‘Very interesting day.All well explained!’

MB-Tillmouth Farming Ltd

‘Very good’

JM- Mayshiel

Mole trapping course

‘I found the course good and very practical. The trainer was helpful and very approachable. I’d recommend to anyone wanting to learn DIY trapping!’ Kirsty Bailey

‘The course was fantastic. A little bit in the classroom then outside where we were shown what to look for and all the tricks of setting the trap so it is not detected, and then given two or three traps to set ourselves. Very simple but very effective course.’ Rory Aglen

Brian Keen, Forestry & Conservation Services

I find it very beneficial to work with BMR. I work all over Britain and with one phone call to BMR my fuel, chemical or grass seed is delivered anywhere in the country at competitive prices the following day. This free up a lot of time trying to source local suppliers and lets me get on with the job in hand.

Jim Sutherland, Hillus, Oxton

I am a great believer in machinery rings in general and BMR in particular. Be a demander or a supplier ( I have always seen myself as a satisfied user) the concept introduces flexibility and significant cost saving opportunities to the farming business. For me, the best thing is the ability, when other plans have not worked out or the weather has changed, to lift the phone and ask for a man and/or machine to be with you at short notice. Almost always someone is available.

Andrew Myatt, Fencer, Duns

By sourcing my labour through BMR I save time on paperwork letting me get on with quoting for new jobs and completing the work we have on the books.

Adam Marshall, Slighhouses, Duns

I am constantly looking at lowering input costs of which drier gas is significant. Through BMR we changed our supplier and saved 10p/litre. The service was better than from our previous supplier and we saved over £800 in the first season.

BMR

PURPOSE

BMR is a Co-op owned by its members and run for their advantage - To improve member profitability by providing services which reduce costs, improve efficiency, asset utilisation and manage risk. Our main areas of business are Machinery Hire & Contracting, Labour Supply, Training, Farm Supplies & Utilities Procurement

HISTORY

Borders Machinery Ring (BMR), the first Ring to be formed in the UK in February 1987 by 23 farmers and contractors. Currently, there are over 1020 Full, Labour and Private members. Turnover is around £7 million. There are now 8 rings in Scotland and 8 in England and Wales.

NOTICE BOARD

COVID 19

BMR STAFF ARE WORKING AS NORMAL TO SUPPORT OUR MEMBERS.

PLEASE USE THE USUAL CONTACT DETAILS; TEL: 01896 758091 EMAIL: bmr@ringleader.co.uk

To keep BMR members and staff safe, the following office protocols are in place:

BMR staff continue to work from home.

If you have timesheets to hand into the office itself please follow the guidelines: Use hand sanitiser before coming into the entrance hall and wear a face covering. Call the BMR number on the phone in the hall, this will be answered by a member of staff. You are then requested to leave your paperwork on the table for staff to attend to in isolation.

Alternatively please post envelopes through the letterbox and call or email the office to let us know.

Thank you for your continued support and we wish everyone well.

MACHINE HIRE-We have many local hire companies supplying BMR members with exceptional rates-so give the Ring a call for any machine or equipment hire.

BUILDING MATERIALS - Many local building supply companies are members of BMR. You can arrange deliveries or collect goods with a BMR booking number. Call the BMR office for advice.

FERTILISER - Requirements - Contact BMR for a competitive quote. Delayed payment terms available.

FORD VEHICLE DEAL- great deals available on all Ford vehicles including commercial vans.

LIVESTOCK POSITIONS - Please see 'Situations Vacant' for posts or call BMR to register your availability for stock work. We currently have skilled labour available for holiday or short term cover.

TELECOMS - Our telecoms tariffs provide excellent rates for busy businesses and the less frequent user. Advice on handset purchase is available. All through the AF Group.

INTERNET SOLUTIONS - network coverage is improving through innovative companies rolling our solutions to areas where BT Open Reach have not 'reached' or data speeds are poor or intermittent. Contact BMR to find out if your internet could be improved.

ELECTRICITY CONTRACTS- Important reminder for BMR members with electricity contracts through the Ring: please SUBMIT monthly meter readings as near 20th of month as possible. This helps to manage your electricity billing. If your billing contains estimated reads, please get in touch with the office and send a smart phone photo of your meter reading. Notification of termination of contract should be advised to the office by 30 December in the year prior to contract end.

BASL provides training throughout the Scottish Borders, Lothians, Lanarkshire & Northumberland.

Essential Worker training will be risk assessed by all interested parties within the current Covid Guidance and will proceed whenever possible.

Pesticides courses - training and assessment is currrently being scheduled for end April/May 2021. Candidates must have their own equipment to take the relevant City & Guilds assessments.

You may find the Lantra online training for Safe Use of Pesticides a good alternative to a classroom course at present. Call the office for details.

Forklift, ATV, Argo, tractor, chainsaw, woodchipper, garden & estate maintenance machine & equipment training is planned on a regular basis.

Training can be provided through Lantra Awards, NPORS, British Off Road Driving Association (BORDA) or as 'inhouse' training with industry experts and highly skilled instructors.

City & Guilds assessments are arranged for Animal Transport tests, Pesticides Awards and Chainsaw Awards.

Emergency First Aid at Work courses are provided by ITC registered trainers.

Please click on the tab 'upcoming training courses' in Shortcuts to view the current Programme and call the office to register interest and for further details.

Online training is available from Lantra Elearning and includes Rodent Control & Health & Safety on Farms. Please call the office to book your online course.

PESTICIDES TRAINING IS BEING SCHEDULED FOR 26APRIL-MID MAY-CALL TO BOOK-DON'T MISS OUT!

PRE - APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME

Are you looking to work in Agriculture or the Land Based Sector?
Applications are now open for the 2021 Pre-Apprenticeship Programme - Download application form

The 2020 Pre-Apprenticeship Scheme is now drawing to a close. Candidates started on their 6 month work placements in early July. Training courses were provided in Tractor Driving, Telehandler, ATV, Emergency First Aid at Work & Health & Safety on Farms. With candidates making use of chainsaw training, welding & fencing as required on the mentor farm. Candidates will move onto further education including the Modern Apprenticeship or full-time employment.

The work-based scheme is run in collaboration with Borders College and SRUC over 26 weeks including a 2 week residential induction which involves a range of activities and certified training. Farmer mentors play a crucial but rewarding role on the placement with a huge responsibility not only providing the young person with practical knowledge but providing an environment to encourage a good work ethic as well as social and communication skills.

Pre-Apprenticeship Format:

DEVELOPMENT: Programme starts in June with a 3 week induction

TRAINING COURSES: Up to £1500 of training, an element tailored to individual needs

MENTORING: 26 weeks full-time employment, typically working 40hrs per week on a suitable rural business

HANDS ON APPROACH: Earn while you learn in the rural sector. Payment in accordance with Scottish Agricultural Wages Board (SAWB)

Ringlink Scotland: www.ringlinkscotland.co.uk/pre-apprenticeship

Please find link to Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs, Hub, Jobs and Careers in the Rural Sector www.sayfc.org/hub

Lantra Podcast - An Interview with a Past Mentor

If you are interested in finding out more about the scheme as a candidate or mentor please contact Michael at BMR for more information on 01896 758091

Candidate Application Form

The Scottish Machinery Ring Association Retrospective Rebate Scheme provides a rebate over and above any agreement between the purchaser and their dealer. Farmers continue to negotiate with their supplier and come to their own agreement when they buy a tractor or any other Case IH machinery from a recognised CaseIH dealer. Then send a copy of all appropriate paper work to the BMR office. This paperwork must depict the relevant serial number for CaseIH auditing purposes. These copies must be dated for the year in which the claim is made. Details of what exactly is required are available from the BMR Office This annual scheme runs from the 1st December to the 30th November inclusive

Competition deadline now extended to Agriscot Event at Ingliston in November.

Scheme Details - Click Here

Case IH Workwear - Available at your local dealer - Click Here

The CASE IH Youniverse Fair has now started.
The event runs from 8am until 7pm every day until and including the 18th April – there is a live Q&A chat room where participants can chat (type) live on line
Why not have a look around!

Telehandler & Excavator Hire - Group rates for BMR Members with many companies

We will find what you are looking for at the best hire rate & transport costs.

Plant and equipment can be supplied throughout our area.

Tractor Self-Hire

100hp - 300 hp Available
Short & Long Term Hire
Grain Trailers also available to suit your requirements 10 - 18t (with Full Road Kit)

Invoicing your timesheets - this is done every week, so do send these in as soon as completed. Please address any invoice related query to admin@ringleader.co.uk

Automated payments through the Ring

Improve your Cash Flow - BMR carries out a weekly invoice run on behalf of members. Invoices are collected by Direct Debit and paid into your account by credit transfer on 28 days providing funds have been received from the demander.

If you would like to discuss BMR helping out with your invoicing just give us a call at the office on 01896 758091

Keep calling with your requests, updated services and your availability for work

Always let us know any new contact details

Tweets by BordersMR

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