JCB apprentices have created a unique 80th anniversary project at the company’s World Headquarters that invites the public to tune into its past, present, and future.

The team of 15 young engineering, manufacturing and business apprentices designed the innovative ‘listening bench’ for the grounds of the company’s Rocester factory – giving employees, visitors, and the local community the chance to sit, relax and hear JCB’s story.

The bench, designed in the style of Joseph Cyril Bamford’s first ever product - a tipping trailer made out of wartime scrap - has built-in speakers which play recordings at the push of a button, capturing the company’s remarkable story over the past eight decades.

JCB Chairman Anthony Bamford officially unveiled the listening bench and pressed the button to introduce a recording of his father speaking 30 years ago on the company’s 50th anniversary.

Lord Bamford said:

“It’s a real thrill to unveil this listening bench and I hope people will enjoy sitting here and listening to stories about JCB. What I think is so clever is the way that our apprentices have integrated speakers into the bench and when I pressed the button, who should be speaking but my father, which was very emotional to hear.”

Over ten weeks, a team of engineering, manufacturing, craft, commercial, finance and marketing apprentices were challenged to design and build the bench with a focus on sustainability, using surplus materials from production lines to keep the project as close to carbon neutral as possible.

Project leader and Business Administration Apprentice Lana Hockaday, 21, said:

“This project has really helped us develop a wide range of skills - from communication and teamwork to organisation and problem-solving."

"For many of us, it was our first time taking on something of this scale, so it was a great opportunity to build confidence and experience working across different departments and sites. Seeing it all come together and hearing the finished audio playing from the first bench was an amazing moment.”