When I started DRC contracting 21 years ago it was a bit daunting as I had always been employed from the age of fifteen one of the first people I talked to was Michael who quickly convinced me to join The Thames and Kennet Machinery Ring, at first it was just the odd job but as the years went by I found more and more work even some whole farm work but I still enjoy the odd phone call from the ring asking can you just?. We nearly always find a way to do some of the oddball jobs like ten miles of pipeline bund spraying or together with Johnny Cantlay a thousand miles of pavement spraying! That one request made us scratch our heads. However we coped, I wouldn’t want to work without the supportive staff at the Ring behind me now as it is an important part of my spraying business now.

Whitlow Agricultural Contractors has been a member of The Thames and Kennet Machinery Ring for 20 years now. We have been more of a supplier to the Ring than a demander. Jobs can be very varied at times. We spent four months working at Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport when it was being built. Moving trailers and building equipment around the site. We run a Muck Spreader Hire business and the Ring do hire our spreaders for demanders. The Fuel ordering service offered by the Ring is excellent. One phone call to the office and the job is done. The Machinery holds a Farming Conference once a year with complimentary place for each Member including a supper. This is very well organised and they have good knowledgeable speakers on things that are relevant and topical with regards to farming practices.

I have been a Member of the Ring since it first started 25 years ago, with a number of businesses. We currently use the Ring from as a Demander for fuel and occasional plant hire. Using the Machinery Ring for the Fuel orders saves me time ringing around for quotes every time, as well as having accounts with a number of suppliers they receive daily group buying prices for Kerosene, Gas Oil, Derv to the office, one simple email stating how much I require and preferred delivery days is all it takes, and Steve and Sandi are on hand to oversee the order from start to finish and always help iron out any delivery issues. From a Supplier prospective I have a number of customers who are also Ring Members, they contact me to arrange their requirements, we do the work and simply invoice through the ring. We are also on hand to quote for occasional TKMR customer requirements, anything from removing Tyres, or Hazardous Waste such as Waste Oil or Pesticide Disposal, even free advice for a Member’s particular requirement. All invoicing is simply done by email and payments are collected and paid to me via by Direct Debit.

I have been a Member of the Ring for 16 years and our partnership works really well – as a demander initially I used the Ring for hiring various machinery mainly Plant Hire and their bespoke system tells them exactly where to look for the exact machine required. I purchase all my fuel via Steve and Sandi and it’s always supplied competitively, having access to several suppliers allows extra delivery options when I require fuel urgently. The phones/emails are monitored or answered 7 days a week and when required weekend assistance is always given. I use the Ring as source of income and very often receive enquiries for harvest work, spraying, grass clearance, baling and wrapping, tree clearance, ploughing and many other jobs I never know quite what I will be asked when they call! If I get a client through the Ring I always ensure I support it to ensure its continuation and success and therefore my invoicing continues to go through them, even if the Client contacts me direct on future occasions, as I never know when I have a breakdown or the weather lets me down I can always rely on Steve and Sandi to help find backup.

The Thames and Kennet Machinery Ring opens us up to a huge potential market place which would otherwise be unattainable to us as a supplier. As a demander the TKMR have at the end of the phone an infinite source of machinery, materials and specialist subcontractors to fill any gap on large projects or just fire fighting for those unseen events.

Hampshire Training Providers has been an Associate Member of Thames and Kennet Machinery Ring for 15 years. We work in co-operation with each other to offer all TKMR Members our training courses at our Members rates without the need for sign up to our particular group. The Machinery Ring helps advertise our courses free of charge and Ring Members can book any course by simply calling into the Ring office Steve, Sandi and Camilla then liaise with us. Benefiting our training group through access to a large coverage of potential course candidates, invoicing is carried out through the ring and the funds arrive directly into our account, TKMR benefit through having another service to offer its members.

We have used the Ring since 1996 for the majority of our arable operations and have always been very happy with the service over the years. The Ring has allowed the flexibility of using different types of equipment on challenging ground and adverse weather conditions. We currently use the Ring for ordering fuel which allows us to receive a competitive price and prompt delivery. The office number is always available and they are very helpful.