September 23, 2025 - Turf Matters

Reesink celebrates excellence with dealer awards: Reesink UK has once again recognised its outstanding dealer network with the 2024 Aftermarket Dealer Awards, celebrating exceptional standards in customer support, service, skills, and parts.

Alastair Black, Technical Support and Training Manager at Reesink UK, explains how the relationship between Reesink and its dealers is central to everything it does and how the awards are essential in recognising that: “Dealers are often the first and most regular point of contact for customers, so their service reflects directly on us as a distributor.

Reesink celebrates excellence with dealer awards

“The Aftermarket Dealer Awards highlight the importance of that role and recognise the hard work, commitment and customer-first mentality that keeps our standards high across the UK.”

The awards cover five categories: Excellence in Service, Parts and Skills, alongside overall Aftermarket Dealer of Excellence and Improved Performance recognitions.

This year, Reesink Scotland took home the Gold Award for both Aftermarket Dealer of Excellence and Excellence in Skills. Mike Turnbull, Branch Manager at Reesink Scotland, commented: “These two awards reflect all the changes and hard work done by the whole service team in Scotland over the last year.

“Since taking over as branch manager we have set out to implement several changes to elevate the standards of the aftersales service for customers at our Livingston branch, which has resulted in helping reduce downtime and running costs on their Toro equipment and improving the overall customer experience.”

The Excellence in Parts Gold Award went to the Ted Hopkins dealership, and Robert Skipp, Aftersales Manager at Ted Hopkins Ltd said: “This is a fantastic recognition of the whole team’s dedication to delivering the highest standard of service and support. It reflects our proactive approach to ensuring customers receive the parts they need, when they need them, and our commitment to supporting the wider industry with the reliability and expertise of the Toro brand.”

Reesink East Anglia confirmed its outstanding support capabilities by securing the Excellence in Service Gold Award, while the Keys Brothers from Northern Ireland were named the 2024 Improved Performance winner. Andy Keys, Company Director at Keys Brothers, said:

“We’re delighted to have won the Improved Performance Award – it honours the hard work and commitment from everyone at Keys Brothers, as well as our focus on building strong relationships with customers, always striving to provide the best service and support, and continuing to contribute positively to the wider industry.”

Keys Brothers also secured the Silver Award for Excellence in Parts, while Cheshire Turf Machinery won the Silver Awards for Aftermarket Dealer of Excellence and Excellence in Service. Finally, the Silver Award for Excellence in Skills went to Reesink South East.

Another way Reesink helps raise the level of excellence and expertise in the industry is through its wide offering of training programmes. Special recognition goes to Darrell Richards from Reesink Southeast and Norann Chambers from Ted Hopkins, who recently completed the prestigious Master Service Technician Award (MST).

By completing Reesink’s MST programme – developed in collaboration with Toro’s factory experts – both technicians have proven their expertise in the latest hybrid and electric technology, as well as their ability to stay at the forefront of new product developments, warranty processes and best practice service techniques.

Their success ensures that their dealerships can continue to offer customers the highest level of service, keeping fleets running efficiently and helping turf professionals get the very best from their Toro machinery.

For more information on Reesink’s aftermarket support or becoming a Master Service Technician, call 01480 226800 or visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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All-female grounds team make history: For the second time in as many years, history will be made on the pitch, but by the team preparing it.

On Saturday 27 September, an all-female team of 15 grounds professionals will take charge of the pitch at Allianz Stadium ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final and bronze medal match. It marks the first time in rugby history that a women-only grounds team has prepared the surface for a showpiece global final.

All-female grounds team make history

Brought together by the Grounds Management Association (GMA), along with England Rugby and Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, the 15 behind the 15 will feature pioneering pitch professionals and volunteers from some of sport’s most iconic venues, from Wimbledon and Wembley to Lord’s, Leicester Tigers, UK Ryder Cup Venue, The Belfry and Ipswich Town FC – as well as leading schools and colleges.

The landmark initiative aims to spotlight female talent in grounds management and inspire more women to consider careers in the sector. It follows the landmark moment at the Emirates Stadium in March 2024, when the first-ever all-female grounds team prepared the pitch for Arsenal vs Tottenham in the Women’s Super League.

The move shines a light on both opportunity and challenge in the sector. The latest GMA industry data shows 77.5% of head grounds managers feel recruitment is the biggest challenge facing the industry. Almost half of groundspeople are aged 45–64, and around 1,500 retire every year. Women are key to closing the employment gap but currently make up less than 10% of the professional workforce.

Head of Grounds at Allianz Stadium Jim Buttar, says: “Encouraging more women to consider a career in grounds management is so important and where better to profile the profession than at Allianz Stadium during the Rugby World Cup Final.

“We are really pleased to be working with the Grounds Management Association and Women’s Rugby World Cup to bring in an all-female team for the final. Our team is really looking forward to meeting the 15 highly skilled women involved and supporting them as they prepare the pitch for the teams.”

The all-female grounds team is made up of:

Georgia Edge, All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon
Liddy Ford, Wembley Stadium
Beth Gibbs, Wellington School
Cheryl Hill, Leicester Tigers
Rachel Hunter-Worrell, Queen Ethelburga’s York
Jessica Jackson, Wellington College
Meg Lay, Lord’s Cricket Ground
Pippa Lewis, Haberdashers Boys School
Naquita Lloyd-Edwards, Weymouth and Portland Rugby Club
Emma Lynch, Lord’s Cricket Ground
Jasmine Nicholls, Yorkshire County Cricket
Anna Nilsson, Brabazon Golf Course at The Belfry
Zibby Parker, Ipswich Town FC and Essex County Cricket Club
Lucy Rogers, Kings Lynn Golf Club
Sofia Sousa, South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

Jennifer Carter, Director of Communications and Marketing at the GMA , said: “Everyone involved is proud to be part of history and looking forward to creating the perfect pitch for the showpiece matches.

“Last year we put women in grounds management on a national stage. Now, we’re taking this a step further, showcasing their skills and leadership on a global scale with the view to encouraging more people to consider in the industry.

“These females are fantastic role models – not only for their peers in the industry but for the next generation of women aspiring to work in sport and grounds.

“As a female myself having worked in the sports industry for many years, I know first-hand the perceptions and assumptions that are often made in a male dominated industry – we are here to break down barriers.”

Jennifer adds: “Groundspeople make sport possible, from grassroots games to the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final. It’s a fantastic career offering unique opportunities – like working at world-class venues such as Allianz Stadium.”

The event is part of the wider work the GMA is doing to secure the future of the industry. This includes the NextGen team, young ambassadors inspiring the next generation of groundspeople, and a new online hub to help people take their first steps in the sector.

To find out more about careers in grounds management, visit www.thegma.org.uk/what/support-the-sector/get-into-the-industry/