GMA launches Workforce Insight Report

/in , /by

GMA launches Workforce Insight Report: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) has released its new Workforce Insight Report, offering the most complete picture yet of the UK grounds management workforce.

The report shows the scale, value and pressures within the sector, and explains why fair and sustainable workforce practices are now essential for the future of the profession.

GMA launches Workforce Insight Report

GMA launches Workforce Insight Report

Grounds management is a skilled and important part of the UK’s sporting and recreational system. More than 30,000 people work in the sector, supported by over 13 million volunteer hours each year. These teams help maintain the pitches, parks and playing surfaces that communities and sports rely on.

The report shows that the workforce is committed and proud of its role, but also under strain. Nearly half of grounds staff are aged between 45 and 64, and around 15% plan to retire within three years. Recruitment and retention continue to be major challenges, and employers report increasing difficulty attracting experienced applicants. Many sites depend on overtime and goodwill to maintain quality.

Job satisfaction is generally high, but the research shows clear concerns around pay, benefits and work‑life balance. Rising workloads and pay compression linked to the National Living Wage are creating pressure points that could affect motivation and progression, especially for long‑serving staff. These issues reflect wider pressures across the sector, where budgets are tight and demand is increasing.

To support employers, the GMA has also launched a new public resource, “Working in Grounds Management: Securing the Future of the Profession,” which is a shorter guide including key findings, updated salary information and practical points for employers.

It is available through a simple download on the GMA website. The full Workforce Insight Report is available exclusively to GMA members through MyGMA.

Insights from the report will help shape the GMA’s Fair Work Strategy. The strategy aims to support employers to strengthen pay structures, improve wellbeing, develop skills and create clearer progression routes, in ways that are practical and financially realistic.

Geoff Webb, CEO of the GMA said: “Our pitches and playing surfaces depend on a skilled workforce. This report helps us understand the pressures staff and employers face, and why workforce issues are now business issues. The Fair Work Strategy will help the sector build a stable, motivated and resilient profession for the years ahead.”

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters

ATT welcomes David Withers as Company Chairman

/in , , /by

ATT welcomes David Withers as Company Chairman: Following the recent announcement that Advanced Turf Technology (ATT) has been reacquired by original founder John Coleman, the company is pleased to reveal a strengthening of its leadership team with the appointment of David Withers.

A well-recognised name and face of the groundcare industry, David will be bringing decades of knowledge and experience to a new role as Co-Owner and Company Chairman.

ATT welcomes David Withers as Company Chairman

ATT welcomes David Withers as Company Chairman

David’s career began as an equipment demonstrator for Redexim before embarking a 25-year tenure with Jacobsen where he held a number of senior leadership roles including six years as President. The last eight years has seen David spearhead the ISEKI UK & Ireland business, where his proven ability to develop brands and drive sustainable growth saw the company more than double its sales.

His deep understanding of professional turf machinery, manufacturing and brand development makes him a valuable addition to the ATT strategic team at a pivotal point in its evolution.

“David’s experience, insights and leadership credentials within the sector cannot be denied” comments ATT Managing Director John Coleman. “His support and guidance will be instrumental to establishing our new manufacturing facility, re-invigorating the INFINICUT® and TMSystem™ brands back to their position as leaders in the marketplace and driving the business forward, both at home and further afield, as we embark on this next chapter.”

David added, “I am delighted to have the opportunity to work alongside John and the team as we re-establish INFINICUT® as the go-to mower for golf and sports turf applications around the world. I am looking forward to this new role and continuing to play my part in this fantastic industry of ours!”

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters

RM21 Combo Drives New Levels of Productivity

/in , , /by

RM21 Combo Drives New Levels of Productivity: Managing three separate sites with just four full-time staff would stretch almost any grounds team – but at Leicester Tigers, the introduction of the RM21 Combo robotic marker and mower, supplied by Agrovista Amenity, has transformed efficiency, quality, and day-to-day workflow.

For Head Groundsman Ed Mowe, who oversees the stadium pitch, three pitches and an indoor facility at the training ground, plus the women’s training centre at Oakes Park, the time spent on routine pitch marking alone had become a major pressure point.

RM21 Combo Drives New Levels of Productivity

RM21 Combo Drives New Levels of Productivity

“We were spending around seven hours a week just marking out,” Ed explained. “That’s one person’s full working day gone. With only four of us across three sites, we needed a smarter way of working.”

A trial of several robotic systems followed, but the RM21 Combo, supplied by Agrovista Amenity with full technical support, training, and backup from XDC, stood out immediately.

While Ed initially sought a robotic line marker, the multifunction capability of the RM21 quickly set it apart.

“It gave a really good mark, and the lines were spot on,” he said. “But the added benefit of the mowing deck and the fact we can add attachments like a dew brush made it a no-brainer. Instead of just being a marker, it’s a multi-tool we get far more out of.”

The team now uses the robot to mark four pitches across the men’s and women’s training facilities and to cut surrounds and soil-based training surfaces when staffing is tight.

This has had a dramatic impact on productivity:

“Three or four hours of robotic marking gives us three or four hours back,” Ed said. “That means we can cut a pitch, strim, fertilise – and carry out other pitch management work. It’s also helped us claw back some lieu time for the team, which we couldn’t before.”

One of the biggest challenges for any grounds team is the initial mark after renovations. With three-point data setup and highly accurate RTK navigation, the RM21 has made that process almost instant.

“The initial mark was always the longest,” Ed said. “Now, every mark is as accurate as the first. Even if there are no lines on the ground, the robot puts them in perfectly. It’s massively simplified things.”

The robot’s precision also extends beyond standard pitch layouts.

“We can programme it for grids, lineout areas, whatever we want. If something isn’t on the system, Agrovista and XDC get it mapped and send it straight over to us.”

For a machine expected to work autonomously across multiple sites, reliability and safety were essential. Ed admits he was initially cautious about the RM21’s weight – especially on damp soil-based pitches – but has been impressed.

“I was a bit sceptical at first, but there have been no wheel marks and the quality of cut is brilliant.”

The RM21’s ability to map complex or irregular areas has been another surprise:

“We’ve even mapped banks on site and it cuts them autonomously now. It saves us struggling to walk them.”

Ed is quick to praise the support from Agrovista Amenity and XDC.

“No issues whatsoever. They’re always at the end of the phone or a message. They’ve gone above and beyond.”

With future attachments already in development, Ed sees the RM21 as a long-term asset.

“We’ve got this machine now; why not use it to its full ability? The versatility is one of its biggest features, and the potential for even more is really appealing.”

As Leicester Tigers continue to push standards across all their facilities, the RM21 Combo has become an integral part of how the team works. For Ed and his staff, it’s not just a machine but a smarter, more reliable way of managing an ever-growing workload – and one that promises even more capability in the seasons ahead.

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit https://amenity.agrovista.co.uk/

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters

Its all about the cut for South Herts Golf Club

/in , , /by

Its all about the cut for South Herts Golf Club: South Herts Golf Club is underlining its commitment to exceptional course presentation and outstanding playing conditions through its continued investment in Baroness mowing technology.

With two LM66 tee mowers, four LM56 hand mowers dedicated to greens, and an LM331 already in use as well as a Agrimetal GR400 Greens roller, the impact on turf quality has been immediate and unmistakable. The superior quality of cut has been widely recognised by both the greenkeeping team and players alike, prompting the club to further strengthen its fleet with the addition of two new LM311 triple greens mowers, due for delivery in spring 2026.

Its all about the cut for South Herts Golf Club

Its all about the cut for South Herts Golf Club

Course Manager Sean Brocklehurst joined the South Herts team in March 2023, spearheading the maintenance of the club’s 18-hole Vardon course and its 9-hole Rees Course. “I was introduced to Baroness at a previous role back in 2003, so am very familiar with the quality of the machines. The biggest selling point has always been, and continues to be, the cutting reels” Sean explains. “The quality of the bedknives and how long they stay on cut is by far and away the best on the market. At my previous club we changed the bedknives on our Baroness fairway machine, which had run the same set for seven years – and they still had life in them!”

The Baroness range delivers a low maintenance, quality-built solution ideally suited to the club’s ‘North London Clay’ construction – with the hand mowers helping to elevate the course not only in appearance but in agronomic condition. Between October and February, when ride-on machine usage is reduced to minimise weight and tyre marking when travelling between greens, the pedestrian LM66’s and LM56’s become the mowers of choice.

“The LM66 mowers deliver the cherry on the cake to year-round presentation on the tees. The cut is uniform and, from a maintenance perspective, there’s so little we need to do with them to retain that high level of finish.” Sean continues, “When we switch from ride-ons to the LM56’s on the greens, the players notice the difference in cut quality straight away! Here, we’re cutting roughly twice a week at a height of 6mm and it really takes the surfaces to new levels.”

“We also find that we are saving both time and money with the Baroness machines, by not having to replace blades so frequently or spend hours on upkeep and maintenance.”

Sean also praises the support from Baroness and local dealership George Browns which has also played a part in his loyalty to the brand. “We’ve always found support readily available, whether its advice, parts or even the odd favour here and there. Stuart Gray at Baroness and David Fisher at George Brown’s are always more than willing to help when needed.”

“I also like that Baroness are doing their part to support the wider industry, with educational initiatives and updates to their facility which hopefully means we’ll be able to make a trip for some training to ensure we’re using our machines to their full potential” he concludes.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters

Cutting Edge sharpens its service with Redexim

/in , , /by

Cutting Edge sharpens its service with Redexim: Operating across a diverse mix of natural and synthetic surfaces, Cutting Edge Grounds Maintenance has built its reputation on delivering effective, practical solutions for sports turf and grounds maintenance.

From schools and grassroots football to rugby, cricket, athletics and synthetic facilities, the business takes a truly all-round approach – and Redexim equipment plays a key role in that strategy.

Cutting Edge sharpens its service with Redexim

Cutting Edge sharpens its service with Redexim

Managing Director Josh Blackburn explains: “We’re a full grounds maintenance company – it’s not just one area. We look after natural and synthetic surfaces across schools, grassroots sports clubs, rugby clubs, athletics clubs and cricket clubs. The majority of our work is schools, but we really do cover everything.”

That variety of sites and surfaces has led Cutting Edge to invest in a range of Redexim machinery, with the Verti-Quake® 2516 and Verti-Top® 1800 proving to be standout assets.

Having operated the Verti-Quake 2516 for around a year, Josh says it has become an essential part of Cutting Edge’s aeration programmes, particularly on heavy clay soils where surface drainage is often the limiting factor.

“A lot of our land is clay-based, and people really struggle with drainage,” he explains. “Traditional deep-tine aeration does a great job of cracking the ground eight, ten, twelve inches down, but on its own it doesn’t always address surface water movement. That’s where the Verti-Quake really comes into its own.”

The Verti-Quake addresses this challenge through linear decompaction of the upper soil profile, allowing water to move away from the surface more effectively.

“With the Verti-Quake, you’re creating that linear drainage. You’re getting water off the top surface, through the soil profile and away, while your Verti-Drain® holes are still doing their job underneath. Together, you’ve got a solid pocket of drainage. “It works really well hand-in-hand with the Redexim Verti-Drain. If you’re doing four aeration treatments a year and you mix in a Verti-Quake, you’ll see a huge difference in your soils.”

Cutting Edge uses the Verti-Quake across private schools, football pitches, clubs and open spaces, particularly on winter sports pitches where playability is critical.

“We look after Yarm Private School, and the improvement there has been massive,” says Josh. “This year, the only time they had a game called off was when it snowed. They’ve had fixtures every week – not one game lost to waterlogging.”

On the synthetic side, Cutting Edge relies on the Verti-Top 1800 to maintain a wide range of surfaces, including sand-filled and rubber crumb pitches.

“We use it on all of them – sand, rubber crumb, hockey-type surfaces,” Josh explains. “I had a few machines on demo, but the Verti-Top really stood out as the all-round, all-in-one solution.”

The Verti-Top combines powered brushing, interchangeable sieves, optional decompaction tines and an integrated vacuum system, allowing debris to be removed while infill is separated and returned to the surface.

“It’s the only one with decompacting rakes on,” Josh says. “If you’re deep cleaning and decompacting at the same time, you’re saving yourself going back over the surface with another machine. It’s one pass, one man, one tractor.”

For a contractor, that efficiency directly impacts profitability.

“Instead of sending one man with two attachments and being there twice as long, one operator can decompact and deep clean in one go. From a labour point of view, it’s a huge time saver.”

Josh also points to the thoughtful design and features of the Verti-Top, particularly its low horsepower requirement and adjustable sieves.

“You don’t want a big tractor on artificial turf, especially on rubber crumb – all you’ll do is flatten it. The Verti-Top requires low horsepower, the sieves are interchangeable, and the way it vacuums out fine material is really clever. It’s a very well-built machine.”

Alongside performance, Josh is keen to highlight the importance of backup and aftersales support – something he says has been consistently strong.

“The performance of the machine is great, but it’s also the backup you get from Tom Alexander at Rickerby Ltd and Allen Whellans at Redexim,” he says. “If I’ve got a question, they’ll come out at the drop of a hat. It’s very good aftersales service.”

With a growing portfolio of sites and surfaces, Cutting Edge Grounds Maintenance continues to rely on Redexim machinery to deliver measurable improvements for its clients – combining technical performance, operational efficiency and the support needed to back it all up.

For more information, visit https://www.redexim.com/uk/

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters