IOG announces successful rebrand

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IOG announces successful rebrand: The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG), the leading not-for-profit membership organisation, today announces its new name and brand, the Grounds Management Association.

Following unanimous backing by the Board, a member vote was called on the new name at the beginning of March. Votes have been cast by members via post over the last month, with 84% of those who voted supporting the new direction and name.

IOG announces successful rebrand

Extensive research conducted by the organisation, including the 2019 report “Groundsmanship – Sport’s Vital Profession”, identified an ageing demographic within both the paid professional and voluntary sectors, and a lack of diversity within the existing profile. The organisation decided to modernise, to widen the appeal and status of the profession. The new, fresh identity befits the modern-day approach to the management of sports turf in the 21st Century.

The new name is part of a wider re-brand, including updated branding and the new tagline – making sport possible. The icon is inspired by pitch markings and intersecting grass patterns. This creates a unified mark symbolising teamwork and partnership with the different elements working together.

The rebrand provides clarity on the role of the industry and is in line with the Grounds Management Association’s ‘Grounds for Sport’ campaign, which seeks to highlight how vital grounds management is to sport nationwide.

The independent report ‘Groundsmanship – Sport’s Vital Profession’, found that 40% of the industry’s workforce is over 50. One in five grounds managers will be leaving their jobs within the next five years and only 1% of the current workforce is female. Furthermore, more than two thirds of community grounds volunteers are aged over 60 and almost all are over 50, making modernisation vital to attracting a new generation crucial for the future success of the industry.

Further research which looked at how the IOG was perceived, found that one in five thought the word ‘groundsmanship’ was a barrier to attracting new talent.

Following these findings, focus groups made up of current members, non-members, stakeholders, Board Directors and staff, led to the selection of Grounds Management Association, which has today successfully been passed by members.

Geoff Webb, CEO at the Grounds Management Association, said:

“Our Board, senior team and members all know that the future success of the industry depends on us attracting more people from all backgrounds to the profession, which is why we’re so pleased to announce our new name and brand.

“Under the banner of the Grounds Management Association, we are ideally placed to promote the profession to the wider public, raise awareness of the vital work of grounds managers and staff and attract a new generation of grounds staff to the profession.

“The support of our members has been absolutely crucial, and now means we can meet the challenges and expectations we face to elevate the standing, status and value of our sector today. We’re excited to take this first step on our new journey and continue to support our members, who make sport possible.”

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Rigby Taylor message to customers

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Rigby Taylor message to customers: Firstly, it is our wish that you, your family, friends and work colleagues remain safe and well during these challenging times. I would like to assure you that all decisions we make in the coming days and weeks will, of course, put you and the health of your work colleagues at the forefront of our minds.

We are with you all the way.

Whilst it is uncertain as to what the immediate future holds, we as a company are adapting the way we work to ensure we continue, where possible, to meet your requirements during this uncertain situation.

We are here to talk.

To ensure Health and Safety of the community at large and to comply with Government request, your normal Rigby Taylor contact staff will no longer be able to call upon you in person whilst this situation lasts. However, they are still available to be contacted by telephone or email and are ready and able to supply you with products, information, support and when required, advice.

Our Freephone number is 0800 424 919 so please call us if we can be of assistance. Also our website www.rigbytaylor.com provides a wealth of information.

We remain committed to providing you will the best possible service during this time of uncertainty and will be ready and able, when we emerge from this difficult period, to be there for you when normality returns.

Keep well and keep safe.

Chris Clark
Executive Chairman
Rigby Taylor Ltd

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JCB help on the menu

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JCB help on the menu: JCB has launched an international aid initiative in the communities around its factories to help people in need of food as a result of disruption caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.

The company’s catering staff in the UK and India are preparing more than 37,000 meals a week for distribution around towns and villages located close to its plants. The initiative is the idea of Lady Bamford, wife of JCB Chairman Lord Bamford.

JCB help on the menu

JCB help on the menu

In the UK, staff are busily preparing 2,000 cottage pies a week for distribution in the North Staffordshire area. The first of the cottage pies arrived at The Hubb Foundation in Burslem, Stoke-on Trent for distribution today (Thursday, April 2ndd), to children and families in need of support across the city. JCB also plans to expand the initiative to cater for the homeless.

The first meals arrived in specially prepared containers with a message, which reads: “Lovingly prepared by JCB’s chefs for our local community.”

The scale of the operation in India is even bigger, where the Coronavirus has caused huge disruption to people’s lives. Forty-five JCB staff have been mobilised to cook more than 35,000 meals a week in the company canteens for communities around JCB’s factory locations in Delhi, Pune and Jaipur.

Today Lady Bamford said: “The world is facing an international crisis and now, more than ever, it’s important for communities to pull together and help some of the most vulnerable people in our society. The JCB teams in the UK and India are doing an amazing job to prepare so many meals for distribution to people who are most in need right now.”

In the UK, distribution of the meals will be widened in the coming days and weeks to cover the homeless, NHS frontline employees, vulnerable families in Rocester, Cheadle and Uttoxeter, the elderly and those suffering from mental illness.

The Hubb Foundation offers free activities, spaces and food to children and their parents across    Stoke-on-Trent during school holidays.

Carol Shanahan, founder of The Hubb Foundation, said: “Our activities are limited due to the national restrictions, but the team was determined to provide meals in these unprecedented times.

We are indebted to JCB for their support. The food will be delivered to our base at Port Vale Football Club and then distributed through our network of staff, volunteers and local businesses who are collaborating with us to a make difference in the city.”

The Hubb Foundation is planning to send out 5,000 meals over the Easter holiday, with the support of JCB.

Meanwhile, India is currently in national lockdown until April 14th and tens of thousands of the country’s 45 million migrant workers have been heading back to their villages after losing their jobs as businesses in the cities were forced to shut temporarily.

Thousands of migrant workers are also choosing to remain in the places where they work but with no income, they have no means to buy food.

To help alleviate the harrowing situation, JCB is providing food parcels to the most vulnerable in the areas around its factories. The food being distributed includes a vegetable curry, rice, green vegetables and chapatis and provides a meal of 1,000 calories. A team of JCB volunteers is working with local authorities to ensure the aid reaches the most vulnerable in society.

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