Online offering for BASIS training & assessment

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Online offering for BASIS training & assessment: BASIS is offering candidates the option to complete courses and exams online, to ensure standards are maintained in the industry and training can continue.

Having worked with the HSE Chemicals Regulation Division (CRD) and accreditation partner Harper Adams University throughout the process, a number of our BASIS exams are now fully digital. Written exams are completed using online exam and invigilation software, followed by viva examinations via video call.

Online offering for BASIS training & assessment

Online offering for BASIS training & assessment

Sue Mason, BASIS exams and training manager, explains that the new invigilation software, QMark, enables BASIS to deliver examinations under stringent conditions, akin to being held in traditional exam format without the need to meet face-to-face or in groups.

“We’re pleased this is now in place,” says Sue.

“We know a number of candidates have either completed their training, or were near finishing earlier in the year, so this gives everyone the opportunity to finalise training and undertake the exams to gain the qualification.

“The online exams will mirror the format of a formal written test. We’ve worked closely with Harper Adams to ensure the software is quality assured so we’re delivering exams in the same conditions,” she adds.

Should candidates have halted training mid-way through the course due to lockdown, BASIS is still offering this online alternative, with the new exam format taking place once the course has been completed.

Stephen Jacob, BASIS CEO, says this online offering means important training and certification can still go ahead, despite the current restrictions, to maintain industry standards and customer or employer expectations.

“We want to ensure all those looking to complete exams and become accredited members of the Professional Register in 2020 can do so. The process hasn’t altered, we’ve just gone digital.

“I would advise those looking to take their exams to speak to their BASIS approved trainer to discuss the next steps to undertake their exams,” concludes Stephen.

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KUHN upgrades hedge cutter range

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KUHN upgrades hedge cutter range: KUHN Farm Machinery has added the Agri-Longer GII to its range of hedge and grass cutting equipment.

Positioned as a compact ‘go-anywhere’ farmer-owned and amenity sector machine, the Agri-Longer GII has a straight arm format with the main boom structure welded from ultra-high strength steel to guarantee the best flexibility-to-robustness ratio. It is available in two models offering a horizontal reach of 4.3m (4345 ML) or 4.8m (4845 ML).

KUHN upgrades hedge cutter range

KUHN upgrades hedge cutter range

In addition to the new feature of pendulum link mechanical safety, the key differences between the GII models and earlier Agri-Longer machines include increased hydraulic rotor circuit power (up from 34hp to 40hp) and electric joystick control as standard.

As with earlier models, the Agri-Longer GII hedge cutters have a 1.2m direct drive flail head with 220-degree flail head rotation. The cutting head, which can work directly behind the tractor wheel, has a removable wear plate and a reversible rotor that can be turned around to optimise lug wear. The rotor has 24 boot flails mounted on 12mm shackles.

The Agri-Longer GII has an oil cooling system as standard, offering constant power and protection of all hydraulic components.

Vertical reach for the two models is 5.21 and 5.74m respectively, while maximum hedge height is 3.59 and 3.98m respectively.

The electrically operated joystick is compact in design and the control unit includes the oil-pneumatic lift float, the oil temperature display and the hour counter for ergonomic efficiency.

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Kiveton Park take pitches to the next level

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Kiveton Park take pitches to the next level: Kiveton Park Football Club’s team of volunteer grounds people are aiming to take their pitches to the next level following the arrival of a New Holland Boomer 40 and Trimax Striker from Campey Turf Care Systems.  

The Yorkshire based club restructured three years ago and moved from their previous site to Wales High School. When they arrived, there was one football pitch on the school’s front field with burnt in lines and plenty of work to do. But now, led by the enthusiasm and growing knowledge of club secretary Gordon Johnson, the club is being recognised for the quality of their eight pitches.

Kiveton Park take pitches to the next level

Kiveton Park take pitches to the next level

“I’ve got a passion for groundsmanship which I found when we moved to the school,” Gordon explained. “The Sheffield FA pointed us towards the Grounds Management Association, and we became members and signed up to the FA’s Pitch Improvement Programme. From there, I got really into it and did a level one course, and I’ve progressed from what I learnt on my level one with more maintenance techniques to try and get more games on. This year I did my level two at Stockport County FC, which was brilliant, and I absolutely loved it.

“It was through a coaching course that I got involved with Campey. One of the FA Tutors told me we could apply for an equipment grant from the Football Foundation and the amount was significantly higher than before so as a grassroots club we didn’t have to put as much money in.

“I applied for it, and the guys at the Sheffield FA were brilliant and guided me through it. I did a lot of homework based on the Pitch Improvement Programme because it tells you what equipment you might need. I Googled searched it and found an article that explained how Campey had done a similar thing with another grassroots club and the guy from that club was sitting in his tractor and I thought we could have that.

“Campey was absolutely brilliant with us. I got talking to Simon Holland, who was absolutely superb. He was asking me all the right questions like do we want turf tyres – which we would have probably missed – and other little questions like that. We spoke about whether we were planning to just cut or do other things with the tractor and we are, so he suggested a manual gear system rather than a foot pedal which is better for the volunteers.  It was advice like that which really helped us.

“With the money we saved in those areas, we were able to get a better quality cutting deck with the Trimax Striker, which again Simon suggested, and it’s a brilliant bit of kit. We were ready to get it just before COVID-19, so the machines were sat in their yard until they could complete the installation safely. But when we did get them, they were absolutely brilliant. They came out and showed us the machines and went through all the care aspects as well. They didn’t want to just deliver it, they wanted to give us that bit extra customer care and go that extra mile, and I was really impressed with that.”

The quality of pitches has gone full circle at Kiveton Park FC from burnt in lines to hosting League Cup Finals, and with the new machinery, Gordon hopes to take them even further. With their own tractor, the club can now look at hiring in other machinery to save on contracting costs which allows them to redistribute funds into their other community projects.

Campey offers detailed help and advice before, during and after purchasing to grassroots clubs who are looking to invest in their own machinery. For more information, contact your local Campey product specialist, dealer or email info@campeyturfcare.com.

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PRO 34R improves the Tigers

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PRO 34R improves the Tigers: Stuart Vause, head groundsman at Castleford Tigers RLFC, claims that his Dennis PRO 34R rotary mower has helped him make huge improvements to both the main pitch and also the training pitch.

In the five years that Stuart has been the head groundsman at his beloved Castleford Tigers, the pitch at The Mend-A-Hose Jungle Stadium has vastly improved – so much so, that Stuart has picked up the Professional Rugby Football League Grounds Team of the Year award twice in three years.

PRO 34R improves the Tigers

PRO 34R improves the Tigers

Stuart’s expertise coupled with the support and investment from the club has made this all possible. When he first arrived at the club, he inherited only an old mower designed for golf fairways which he used alongside his own personal equipment.

“The club has realised that if you want a good pitch then you have to have the correct equipment,” said Stuart. “We’ve spent quite a bit of money now, not just on equipment but on fertilisers, top-dressings and other products, and it has really made a difference.”

In terms of the machinery, the club’s first major purchase three years ago was a Dennis G860 cylinder mower. After reporting fantastic results from the G860, Stuart decided to continue with the Dennis brand and has since purchased a Dennis PRO 34R rotary mower.

“I needed a mower which would serve a few purposes,” said Stuart. “Recently, I have decided to put a lot more focus on the training pitch so I wanted a mower that would provide a fantastic finish but one that would also assist with other tasks such as cleaning up both pitches after use. The PRO 34R seemed to tick all the boxes.”

The Dennis PRO 34R is a 34” (860mm) rotary mower which has been designed to help groundsmen achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance and desired playing surface. It is ideal for sports pitches and lawns producing the enviable ‘Dennis Stripes’ while a powerful vacuum flow collects debris quickly and efficiently.

The angle of the cutting deck and twin blades can be easily adjusted using a single ‘click adjuster’ ensuring the mower is suitable for changing conditions and meeting groundsmen’s requirements.

“The PRO 34R is my main mower for the training pitch and I’m now in a routine where I’m cutting regularly with it,” he said. “In the past twelve months since I’ve been using it, the sward has really thickened and the surface has significantly improved. The finish is so good – it is just like a cylinder mower and the quality of cut is the best I’ve ever seen on a rotary mower. You can also cut and collect with it in the wet which is a big benefit.

“On the stadium pitch, I use both the G860 and the PRO 34R,” continued Stuart. “I will cut with the G860 and then use the PRO 34R to clean the pitch up after the games. It literally picks everything up and it is surprising how much the grass box holds.

“It is an ideal mower, especially as it is just me here. It has a wide cutting deck and various speed settings so I can get the job done quickly which is great if I am up against time or the weather. I tend to use it on a speed setting of 4 but I can always slow it down slightly if I want to take a bit more time.

“The PRO 34R is also incredibly easy to use. There is no time-consuming setting up and you can adjust the height of cut in no time at all. Ultimately, it is an incredibly simple and effective machine which you can rely on.

“In some way I like to think that the playing surfaces have played a little part in the team’s success over the last few years and has helped them to play the way they want to play. We are also unbeaten at home this year and the win percentage has been high. Long may that continue!”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on Twitter and Instagram @DennisMowers and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK You can also view the latest Dennis videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers

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