Bionema Receives the King’s Award

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Bionema Receives the King’s Award: Bionema Group Ltd., a pioneering UK biocontrol technology company, has been awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise – Innovation 2024, recognising its world-leading innovations in sustainable crop protection and soil regeneration.

The prestigious award was formally presented by Mrs. Louise Fleet CStJ, JP, His Majesty The King’s Lord-Lieutenant for West Glamorgan, acting as the personal representative of His Majesty King Charles III, during a grand ceremony held on 15 May 2025 at The Guildhall, Swansea.

Bionema Receives the King’s Aaward

Bionema Receives the King’s Aaward

“This once-in-a-lifetime honour highlights the global impact of Bionema’s nature-based innovations,” said Dr. Minshad Ansari, Founder and CEO of Bionema. “We are proud to lead a movement away from harmful chemicals and toward a more regenerative, sustainable future in farming.

Why Bionema Was Selected

  • Innovative Technology: Patented NemaTrident®, a tri-component nematode-based bioinsecticide system with a biocompatible wetting agent—acquired by Syngenta in 2021.
  • Environmental Impact: Zero residue, safe for non-target species, and free from pesticide resistance, supporting biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.
  • Commercial Growth: 1,882% export growth, 105% increase in total sales, and 62% of turnover driven by innovation.
  • Customer Success Model: Integrated technical training and support to ensure optimal field performance.
  • ESG Leadership: Proven alignment with sustainability goals and environmental stewardship.

Royal Recognition at Windsor Castle

In July 2024, Dr. Ansari was invited to Windsor Castle, where he met His Majesty The King and shared insights into Bionema’s microbial innovations. This rare honour underscored the national significance of Bionema’s leadership in advancing nature-based crop protection.

Award Celebration – The Guildhall, Swansea | 15 May 2025

The formal award ceremony gathered over 70 distinguished guests, including:

Mrs. Louise Fleet CStJ, JP – HM Lord-Lieutenant of West Glamorgan.

Mrs. Diana Stroia, High Sheriff of West Glamorgan, and Mr. Dave Matthews.

Cllr. Paxton Hood-Williams, Lord Mayor of Swansea, and Lady Mayoress Patricia Hood-Williams.

Cllr. Wayne Carpenter, Mayor of Neath Port Talbot, and Mayoress Carol Carpenter.

Prof. David Smith, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University.

Representatives from Swansea University, Innovate UK, UK Agri-Tech Centres, and regional leaders in science, government, and business

Keynote speakers:

Prof. Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, Chairman of Bionema

Dr. Minshad Ansari, Founder and CEO

Stephen Ford, Chief Technology Officer

“This is a proud day for UK science and sustainability,” added Stephen Ford, Bionema’s CTO.

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Corey Finn Wins Department Head Award at Yas Island Ruwad Awards

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Corey Finn Wins Department Head Award at Yas Island Ruwad Awards: Corey Finn, Cluster Director of Agronomy for Viya Golf Abu Dhabi, has been honoured with the prestigious Department Head Award at Yas Island’s Ruwad Awards. 

This accolade celebrates exceptional leadership and excellence in departmental management, celebrating Corey’s’s instrumental role in overseeing golf course operations and ensuring top-tier conditions for world-class events such as the DP World Tour’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links.

Corey Finn Wins Department Head Award at Yas Island Ruwad Awards

Corey Finn Wins Department Head Award at Yas Island Ruwad Awards

With over eight years of experience working within Aldar golf facilities, Corey has been pivotal in managing world-class golf courses, including Yas Links Abu Dhabi, ranked the number one course in the Middle East and Africa region. His expertise in sustainable agronomy and tournament preparation has set new benchmarks in golf course management, ensuring the highest standards for prestigious international events like the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Corey played a crucial role in hosting the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, a key tournament in the DP World Tour’s season-ending playoff series. Under his leadership, Yas Links consistently met the highest standards required for professional play, enhancing both the quality of competition and the global reputation of Yas Island as a premier golf destination.

The Ruwad Awards, launched by Miral, celebrate the outstanding individuals and businesses that contribute to the growth and success of Yas Island as a global destination. This recognition highlights Corey’s dedication to innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence, reinforcing Yas Island’s position as a premier location for world-class sporting events.

“I’m truly honoured to receive this award,” said Corey Finn. “It’s a recognition of the passion and dedication I put into my work, and I’m incredibly grateful to be acknowledged among such talented professionals in the industry.”

In addition to this award, Corey’s contributions have been widely recognised, including winning the 59club Agronomy Team of the Year award for Best Conditioned Golf Course at Yas Links in 2021 and Yas Acres Golf & Country Club in 2022. Over the years, he has also mentored and empowered team members, fostering the next generation of turf management professionals.

The Ruwad Awards ceremony took place at Hilton Abu Dhabi, Yas Island, bringing together leading professionals, influencers, and industry experts to celebrate excellence and achievement in the businesses that shape Yas Island’s success.

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NextGen Members Recognised with Pioneer Marks

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NextGen Members Recognised with Pioneer Marks: Seven members, past and present, of the GMA NextGen group have been awarded their Pioneer Marks as part of the Grounds Management Association’s (GMA) ‘Pioneer Legacy’ initiative at the GMA Industry Awards.

The Pioneer Legacy is a recognition scheme dedicated to celebrating the contributions of those who have been part of GMA NextGen, acknowledging their impact on the profession.

NextGen Members Recognised with Pioneer Marks

NextGen Members Recognised with Pioneer Marks

Central to this initiative is the Pioneer Mark – a distinctive legacy number assigned to each NextGen member, reflecting their role in shaping the future of the industry.

The following individuals received their Pioneer Marks at the GMA Industry Awards:

  • Nick Phillips (#007) – Head of Grounds & Landscaping at Tottenham Hotspur
  • Liam Cash (#011) – Head Groundsman at Stockport County FC
  • Tom Grafen (#012) – UK Area Manager at SGL
  • Liddy Ford (#032) – Groundsperson at Wembley Stadium
  • Beth Gibbs (#033) – Groundsperson at Wellington School
  • Jack Langley (#034) – Deputy Head Groundsperson at Ashton Gate Stadium
  • Meg Lay (#035) – Groundsperson at Lord’s Cricket Ground

This initiative not only celebrates individual achievements but also ensures that the contributions of these young professionals are remembered and honoured for years to come.

Jennifer Carter, Director of Communications & Marketing at the GMA said: “The Pioneer Legacy is about recognising the impact of the next generation of grounds professionals. We’re incredibly proud to celebrate their achievements and what better stage to do it on than at Anfield Stadium. All you need to do is look at how far these members have come and the incredible careers they’ve built in the industry. GMA NextGen has been a great springboard for them, and the Pioneer Legacy is our way of recognising that journey.”

For more information on GMA NextGen and the Pioneer Legacy, visit thegma.org.uk/who/ambassadors.

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Avant Dealer Awards 2025

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Avant Dealer Awards 2025: The 2025 Avant Tecno Dealer Awards brought together the top-performing dealers and sales teams from across the UK to celebrate their outstanding achievements.

Hosted at the All Saints Hotel in Bury St Edmunds, the event highlighted the pivotal role that dealers play in Avant Tecno UK’s continued growth and success.

Avant Dealer Awards 2025

Avant Dealer Awards 2025

The Awards followed an exciting day where dealers were given an exclusive tour of Avant Tecno UK’s brand-new headquarters in Bury St Edmunds, offering a glimpse into the company’s ambitious future.

The newly opened Avant HQ is a testament to the company’s forward-thinking approach. Designed to enhance operations, the state-of-the-art, 32,200 sq ft facility boasts modern offices, a spacious showroom, dedicated training spaces, an advanced warehouse, and a cutting-edge technical workshop.

The evening Awards ceremony was a celebration of the hard work, dedication, and achievements of Avant’s dealers over the past year. This year’s winners showcased remarkable success across various categories:

  • Dealer of the Year: Essener Equipment
  • Recognition Award: Coppards
  • Most Machines Sold: Essener Equipment
  • Sales Competition Winner: Chris Slane, Essener Equipment
  • Best Newcomer Award: Lister Wilder
  • Marketing Award: Global
  • After Sales Support: Avant Southeast Ltd
  • Leguan Dealer of the Year: Coppards
  • Best Newcomer of the Year Award: DM Forklifts
  • Leguan Sales Person of the Year: Francisco Wingrove

Essener Equipment stood out as a top performer, earning both Dealer of the Year and Most Machines Sold, while their Managing Director Chris Slane secured the Sales Competition Winner title. Coppards also made a significant impact, winning the Recognition Award and Leguan Dealer of the Year.

Avant Tecno UK Managing Director Raimo Ala-Korpi emphasised the importance of Avant’s dealer network. “Our dealers are more than just partners,” he said. “Their expertise, dedication, and passion for our products are what enable us to grow and deliver exceptional value to our customers. These awards are a way of acknowledging their tremendous efforts.”

For more information, please visit www.avanttecno.com/uk

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Lister Wilder win the treble at Baroness dealer awards!

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Lister Wilder win the treble at Baroness dealer awards!: After a record-breaking year of growth and success, Baroness UK celebrated achievements at BTME 2025 with the return of their annual dealer awards.

For the first time, the three categories of Highest Overall Machinery Sales, Highest Growth in Machinery Sales and Salesperson of the Year we’re all won by the team at Lister Wilder!

Lister Wilder win the treble at Baroness dealer awards!

Lister Wilder win the treble at Baroness dealer awards!

The Baroness UK dealer awards were introduced to recognise the outstanding individual and team efforts across the nationwide network. While it’s fair to say that 2024 presented its share of challenges, it was Lister Wilder who emerged as the winners of all three categories – achieving the treble and clean-sweep for the very first time. Alongside the team awards for overall sales and highest growth in machinery sales, the individual ‘Salesperson of the Year’ award was presented to Lister Wilder’s David Gray.

“It was a huge surprise, and an incredible honour to find out we’d scooped all three awards” comments Phill Hughes, Sales Director for Lister Wilder. “I am especially pleased for David Gray who has championed Baroness and shown his total dedication to our golf customers over the last twelve months. This recognition goes some way to reward him for all the hard work he’s put in. Of course, we couldn’t achieve what we have without the support of Team Baroness and our aftersales departments, so we’d like to thank them all as we look ahead to another positive year.”

“All of our dealers have put in an incredible effort throughout 2024 and it becoming our best year yet would simply not have been possible without the unwavering commitment of our entire network” adds Baroness UK Sales Director Adam Butler. “We continue to strive for the very best equipment matched by world-leading backup, and we’re getting there year-on-year. The whole team at Baroness UK extend huge congratulations to David and the Lister Wilder team and thank all of our dealers and customers for their unwavering and ongoing support.”

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