Mike Bywater, an experienced and well-respected figure in the agricultural machinery sector, has taken on a new role as territory manager – South West for UK-based manufacturer Claydon. European market leader in direct strip till crop establishment technology, the family-owned and managed company is known for its innovative products, practical designs, and high-quality engineering.
Based at Brackley in Northamptonshire, Mr Bywater works closely with Rob Dunk, Claydon’s sales manager – UK and Ireland, within the company’s Commercial Team headed by Spencer Claydon, commercial director, covering an area from North Wales across to the M1 motorway, down to Cornwall and into west Kent. He comments:
“I am excited to be working for Claydon at a time when the industry is on the cusp of major changes and awareness of the need to invest in technology which creates real benefits, rather than simply replacing like for like, is increasing. All businesses are having to find ways to help them control production costs, increase output, and operate more efficiently with less labour, whilst using fewer inputs, improving their soils, increasing biodiversity, and becoming more aware of water management. The Claydon Opti-Till® System provides a solution to all of these and other key issues.
“Coming from a farming family I have seen the drawbacks of traditional crop establishment methods, which are slow, expensive and inefficient, often requiring extensive remedial work to alleviate soil damage caused by operating heavy machinery in adverse conditions. Claydon Opti-Till® significantly reduces the power required to establish crops, lowers machinery costs, improves timeliness, minimises weather risk and improves soils, yet produces healthier, higher yielding, more profitable crops.
Raised on a farm in Oxfordshire which his father managed, Mike studied at Rycotewood College, Thame where he achieved a GNVQ Advanced in Agricultural Engineering. He then spent a year travelling and working in Australia before returning to the UK in 2000 to study at Harper Adams University College, where he gained an HND Agriculture with Mechanisation qualification.
Mike’s career in the agricultural machinery industry began in 2005 when he joined a New Holland main dealer before moving to Hewden Hire/Speedy Hire in 2006. After four years with the company Mike joined Househam Sprayers Ltd as sales & technical support manager – Southern UK, a position which he held until moving to Kubota UK Ltd in October 2013. As product manager agriculture, Mr Bywater participated in all aspects of the business, from the development of tractors and sales tools to pricing and branding. Two years later, he became EU Sales training development manager and in January 2018 Group Training Manager for Kubota UK.
Mr Bywater subsequently joined Turney Group, a long-established agricultural machinery dealer with branches in Oxfordshire/Buckinghamshire, then became territory sales manager for British trailer and muck spreader manufacturer K-Two Ltd before joining Claydon at the end of September 2021.
