One system, every tool: why Mike Day trusts Kress

One system, every tool: why Mike Day trusts Kress

One system, every tool: why Mike Day trusts Kress

For Mike Day, owner of Mike Day Garden Maintenance, consistency is everything. Running a thriving business across Hertfordshire and North London, he and his team rely on equipment that can perform day in, day out without compromise.

One system, every tool: why Mike Day trusts Kress

One system, every tool: why Mike Day trusts Kress

That’s exactly why every van in their fleet now runs exclusively on Kress commercial tools.

“We’ve got the whole range,” Mike says. “Strimmers, hedge trimmers, blowers, chainsaws, everything that Kress make, we use day in and day out. We’ve even got their 20V small hand saws and secateurs, which we use pretty much every day.”

It’s a setup that has evolved over time, but one that now gives Mike and his team complete confidence across every job, from routine maintenance to full garden renovations.

“We’ve tried a lot of different brands in the past,” he explains. “But we’ve ended up going all in with Kress. Every other battery product we had used in the past, we’ve sold. We’re one brand now and that’s something we wouldn’t have been able to do before.”

A key part of that confidence comes down to performance. Across the entire handheld range, Mike says the Kress tools deliver more than enough power for both everyday tasks and more demanding work.

“We’ve genuinely tried to find their limit, and we’ve never been able to find it,” he says.

“There’s just an abundance of power. Even when we’re doing full garden renovations and putting the tools through really demanding loads, they always outperform your expectations.”

For Mike and his team, the most-used tools are the grass strimmers, particularly the latest lightweight model with the motor positioned at the head.

“It’s slightly less powerful than the bigger machines, but for what we do, it’s perfect,” he explains. “Most of our work is regular maintenance, so we don’t need huge power. What we want is something lightweight and easy for us to use all day.”

Weight and balance are where the Kress tools really stand out.

“That strimmer is about 2.5kg, and even with a battery on, you’re only up to around three-and-a-half, maybe four kilos,” he says. “That’s the weight of a lot of other machines without a battery and that is why my team prefer using the lighter kit.”

The same thinking applies across the range, including hedge trimming. Mike highlights the articulating long-reach hedge trimmer as a particular standout.

One system, every tool: why Mike Day trusts Kress

One system, every tool: why Mike Day trusts Kress

“We use the smaller articulating long reach, and it’s brilliant,” he says. “It’s really well balanced, and the blade speed is right up there – 3400 to 4000 cuts per minute. I honestly can’t think of anything I’d improve on it.”

While performance and comfort are key, it’s the battery system that continues to set Kress apart according to Mike.

“It always comes back to the batteries and the infrastructure,” Mike says. “They charge quicker than you can deplete them. You’re never waiting around.”

Rapid charging has completely changed how the team works throughout the day.

“With other brands, once a battery was at zero percent, it was basically out of action,” he explains. “You’d throw it in the van and grab another one. But with Kress, you stick it on the CyberTank or a charger, and 10, 15, 20 minutes later, it’s back in use. That makes a massive difference to a garden maintenance company such as outselves.”

Even in extreme conditions, the system has proven its reliability.

“We’ve used them in minus eight degrees and up to nearly 40 degrees last summer, and they’ve never missed a beat,” he says. “The batteries just keep going.”

Durability over time has also stood out, with minimal degradation even after years of use.

“I’m still running the same batteries from 2022, and they’ve barely lost any capacity,” Mike adds. “That’s important because a lot of brands don’t last like that.”

Beyond the tools themselves, Mike also values the support behind the brand.

“There’s always someone at Kress you can speak to,” he says. “Very helpful support – they’ve all got time for you. It’s a close-knit setup, and that makes a difference when you commit to switching over to battery powered equipment.”

It’s that combination of performance, reliability and support that has led Mike and his team to fully commit.

“At first, I didn’t know how the team would feel about going all in with one brand,” he says. “But it didn’t take long before they were asking for everything to be Kress and none of us have looked back since.”

For Mike, it’s a simple equation – one system, one brand, and no compromises.

For more information, please visit https://www.kress.com/en-gb/

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Skilled Groundsman – Cricket Specialist

Epsom College

Skilled Groundsman – Cricket Specialist

Skilled Groundsman – Cricket Specialist

This role is responsible for maintaining and preparing sports facilities to a high independent school standard, with a particular specialism in cricket pitch preparation and performance. The postholder will support year-round sports surface management while leading on the delivery of high-quality cricket squares and outfields capable of supporting intensive school use and competitive fixtures.

Role and Responsibilities

Sports Pitch Preparation & Maintenance

• Prepare and maintain rugby, football, cricket, and hockey pitches to a high-performance school and competition standard.
• Carry out mowing, line marking, aeration, overseeding, top dressing, fertilising, and turf repairs.
• Monitor surface performance and adapt maintenance programmes to manage heavy school and fixture usage.
• Manage pitch rotation and usage schedules to maximise surface longevity and playing quality

Cricket Pitch Preparation (Specialism)

• Lead on the preparation and maintenance of cricket squares and outfields, delivering surfaces to a high school and competitive standard, with ambition towards county-level quality where appropriate.
• Prepare wickets through rolling, cutting, marking, and surface management techniques.
• Set out and mark cricket pitches to required specifications for matches and training.
• Protect cricket surfaces from adverse weather using covers, sheeting, and proactive planning.
• Monitor pitch performance and contribute to continuous improvement of cricket surface quality.
• Support long-term cricket square development programmes, including renovation and end-of-season recovery.

Seasonal Turf Management

• Deliver winter renovation and recovery programmes including deep aeration, overseeding, and surface restoration.
• Assist with summer preparation of cricket squares, outfields, and athletics areas.
• Implement drainage and irrigation strategies to maintain safe playing conditions.
• Monitor turf health, pest control, disease management, and soil condition.

Grounds & Estate Sports Facilities Maintenance

• Maintain sports grounds, practice areas, and surrounding landscapes to a high standard.
• Assist in landscaping and presentation of sports and garden areas in line with estate plans.
• Ensure all facilities are safe, clean, and visually aligned with the College’s standards.

Role and Responsibilities

Match, Event & Stakeholder Support

• Prepare pitches and facilities for fixtures, tournaments, training sessions, and external lettings.
• Set up markings, equipment, and safety checks prior to use.
• Liaise with sports staff and other stakeholders to ensure facilities meet requirements.
• Support delivery of high-quality surfaces for internal and external users, including potential representative fixtures.
• Assist with post-event repairs and surface recovery.

Machinery & Equipment

• Operate specialised sports turf machinery including mowers, aerators, tractors, rollers, and marking equipment.
• Maintain tools and equipment, reporting faults and ensuring safe operation.

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Adhere to Health & Safety policies and safe working practices at all times.
• Conduct risk assessments and ensure safe use of machinery, fertilisers, and treatments.
• Use appropriate PPE and maintain compliance with environmental and sustainability standards.

Continuous Improvement & Team Contribution

• Contribute ideas to improve working practices, machinery utilisation, and pitch performance.
• Support and mentor less experienced team members where appropriate.
• Maintain and develop professional knowledge in sports turf and cricket pitch preparation.

Person Specification

Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in sports turf maintenance, with specific experience in cricket pitch preparation.
• Strong knowledge of fine turf management and sports surface preparation.
• Experience operating a wide range of grounds maintenance machinery.
• Understanding of turf performance, drainage, and seasonal maintenance programmes.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Sports Turf Management or equivalent (essential or working towards).
• PA1 & PA6 Pesticide Application Certificates (desirable).
• First Aid qualification (desirable).
• Full Driving Licence (desirable).

Personal Attributes

• Strong work ethic and pride in maintaining high-quality sports facilities.
• Passion for school sport (particularly cricket) and supporting pupil development through excellent playing environments.
• Reliable, proactive, and flexible approach to workload and seasonal demands.
• Strong organisational and problemsolving skills.
• Commitment to professional development and best practice in sports turf management.

The responsibilities listed are not exhaustive, and the postholder will be expected to carry out other reasonable duties as required to support the efficient operation of the Grounds and Gardens department.

Terms and Conditions

• Salary: £32,000 – £37,000 (to be discussed at interview)

• Hours: During term time (34 weeks of the year), your standard working week will be 45 hours. These will be scheduled on a rota between Monday and Saturday. In the Autumn and Spring terms, your hours will fall between 07:00 and 18:30. In the Summer term, this may extend to 20:00. Outside of term time, your working week is 40 hours.

Because of the nature of the role, some flexibility is required to support fixtures and events. Your work pattern, including any evening or weekend work, will be set by the Head of Grounds and Gardens through a rota provided with reasonable notice. Any overtime must be approved in advance.

• Holidays: Entitlement will be 28 days per annum, inclusive of bank holidays. This entitlement rises by one day per year up to a maximum of 33 days per annum inclusive of bank holidays.

• Pension: The College operates the Epsom College Automatic Enrolment Scheme. The Scheme is administered by The Pensions Trust and eligibility is based on statutory criteria. If eligible, the Employee will be required to contribute a minimum of 5% of basic salary and the College will contribute 4% in compliance with current legislation.

Benefits:

• Private health care
• School fee discount
• Life Assurance
• Meals and refreshments free of charge during working hours
• Free use of fitness suite at certain times
• Free car parking on site

Method of Application:

Candidates to complete an application form which can be downloaded via our website www.epsomcollege.org.uk.

To comply with safeguarding procedures when working in a school, CVs will not be accepted. Applicants should refer to the Recruitment, Selection and Disclosure policy on the College website. Applications will be assessed in order of receipt and interviews and appointment may occur at any stage after applications are received. Please apply as soon as possible.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact us on hr.recruitment@epsomcollege.org.uk