A new fully funded training scheme is helping UK farmers and agricultural workers strengthen safe ATV operating practices by expanding access to accredited training and appropriate protective equipment.

The 2026 ATV Bursary Scheme, launched by the Farm Safety Foundation in partnership with Lantra and Logic, will fund 50 training places for people working in agriculture or studying at land-based colleges and universities across the UK.

The initiative is designed to make accredited training more accessible at a time when ATVs remain an important part of day-to-day farm operations. Successful applicants will be matched with approved training providers and receive practical instruction covering pre-ride inspections, vehicle understanding, safe handling, basic manoeuvres and operating across varied and challenging terrain. Each participant who completes the training will also receive an ATV helmet supplied by Logic.

The scheme builds on the previous year's bursary programme and reflects a wider focus on preventative safety measures in agriculture. The Farm Safety Foundation, which operates Farm Safety Week, aims to encourage safer behaviours and challenge attitudes towards unnecessary risk-taking on farms.

For employers and agricultural businesses, accessible training can help strengthen operator competence as part of wider workplace risk management. ATV use often takes place across uneven terrain and demanding working environments, making preparation, vehicle knowledge and appropriate judgement important elements of safe operation.

The bursary also places protective equipment alongside practical skills rather than treating the two as separate safety measures. By providing accredited training together with a helmet, the programme reinforces the role of both competence and appropriate PPE in reducing operational risks.

The initiative comes as the wider agricultural sector continues to focus on preventing serious and fatal workplace incidents. Farmers Weekly reported that agriculture, forestry and fishing recorded 22 worker fatalities in 2025/26, underlining the continued importance of practical interventions that support safer working practices.

The programme also reflects a broader cultural shift in farm safety. Training and helmet use are increasingly being positioned as professional standards for people operating powerful machinery rather than as measures required only by inexperienced users.

For health and safety professionals, the scheme demonstrates the value of removing barriers to preventative training. Providing workers with access to recognised instruction can help businesses strengthen everyday safety practices before an incident occurs, particularly where equipment is used frequently and familiarity can create complacency.

Applications for the 2026 scheme are open to eligible agricultural workers and land-based students in the UK until 25 September. The Lantra-accredited programme aims to support participants in developing the knowledge, confidence and practical skills needed for safer ATV use.

For the sector, the lesson is clear: improving safety does not always require waiting for an incident to identify a problem. Investment in accessible training, operator competence and appropriate protective equipment can help make safer practices a routine part of modern agricultural operations.

Source: Agriland / Lantra / Farm Safety Foundation / Farmers Weekly