Kyle Walker To Host GMA Industry Awards

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Kyle Walker To Host GMA Industry Awards: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) is delighted to confirm that renowned sports broadcaster Kyle Walker will host the GMA Industry Awards 2025.

With a broadcasting career spanning Sky Sports, Premier League Productions (PLP) and the BBC, he has become a familiar face to sports fans, presenting programmes such as The Transfer Show, Saturday Social and Sky Sports’ ePremier League coverage.

Kyle Walker To Host GMA Industry Awards

Kyle Walker To Host GMA Industry Awards

His love for football has led him to interview many high-profile figures in the sport, including his namesake, AC Milan and England defender Kyle Walker.

In 2018, he landed his own show on BBC Radio Manchester, The Dead Good Show, before moving to BBC 5Live to host Talking Balls from 2019 to 2020. He also became a regular reporter for BBC Football Focus and Match of the Day.

He soon became the presenter of Sky Sports’ Transfer Show, the host of the Sky Sports ePremier League Show and a regular on Saturday Social and The Early Kick Off Show. His on-air talent was recognised when he was nominated for an SJA Award in The Ones to Watch – On-Air category.

2022 saw him co-present Sky Sports’ ‘Good Morning Euros’ and he was also a key part of Sky Sports’ coverage of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Kyle Walker, GMA Industry Awards host, said: “I’m really looking forward to hosting the GMA Industry Awards and celebrating the work of grounds teams up and down the country. These are the people who make sure playing surfaces are in top condition, and their work often goes unnoticed. It’s going to be a fantastic night, and I can’t wait to be part of it.”

The GMA Industry Awards, the leading celebration of professional and volunteer grounds staff, return in 2025 to recognise contributions across a range of categories within the industry.

Taking place at the iconic Anfield Stadium, home of Liverpool Football Club, on Thursday 13 March, the awards are an unmissable occasion to acknowledge the talent within the entire grounds management sector.

Geoff Webb, CEO of the GMA, said: “We’re really pleased to have Kyle Walker hosting this year’s awards. He’s got a fantastic energy and a real appreciation for the work that goes on behind the scenes in sport. The GMA Industry Awards are all about celebrating the people who make sport possible, and I know that Kyle will help us to shine a spotlight on their achievements.”

Tickets for the GMA Industry Awards 2025 are available from £110 (GMA Member price). Experience the awards amongst the industry’s finest and celebrate the achievements of grounds staff at every level.

Further details about the awards, including ticket information and sponsorship, can be found here: gmaindustryawards.uk

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GMA and ECB Apprenticeship Support Scheme

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GMA and ECB Apprenticeship Support Scheme: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have joined forces to launch the ‘Apprenticeship Support Scheme’, designed to enhance the experience of grounds people apprentices in First Class Counties.

This pilot initiative is designed to strengthen the future of cricket by attracting and supporting more aspiring grounds professionals.

GMA and ECB Apprenticeship Support Scheme

GMA and ECB Apprenticeship Support Scheme

With the demand for skilled grounds managers growing, the scheme aims to provide apprentices with not only the technical knowledge required for cricket-specific turf care but also the essential support they need to develop their careers.

It also aims to address broader industry challenges such as workforce retention and succession planning by making apprenticeships a more structured and attractive career pathway. At the same time, it provides additional support for existing grounds professionals, ensuring they have the resources and expertise to mentor and develop the next generation effectively.

The GMA will provide tailored cricket-specific online courses to supplement apprentices’ learning, as well as bespoke webinars designed to enhance their knowledge and better prepare them for a career in cricket grounds management.

Apprentices will also have access to GMA membership, unlocking a range of benefits including the GMA Member Assistance Programme – a 24-hour confidential counselling and wellbeing service – alongside online technical resources, salary advice and guidance, legal consultation and much more.

The ECB Pitch and Grounds Advisor, Andy Mackay, will play a central role in the pilot, acting as a key point of contact for employers seeking advice on apprenticeship support. Andy will also work with stakeholders to develop an information and support hub, and resources to help promote grounds management as a career, laying the foundation for an all-rounded scheme in the future.

By working closely with First Class Counties, the ECB and GMA are hoping to help modernise grounds management recruitment and improve career progression opportunities to ensure that cricket venues continue to be maintained to the highest standards.

With this announcement coinciding with National Apprenticeship Week, it’s a great opportunity to recognise the important role apprentices play in the industry’s future.

Jason Booth, Chief Operating Officer at the GMA, said: “We are proud to be partnering with the ECB to pilot this initiative which not only opens the door for new talent but also strengthens the long-term sustainability of the profession. Apprentices are the future of the grounds management industry and providing them with the right support is essential to achieving high standards across professional cricket.”

Andy Mackay, ECB Pitch and Grounds Advisor, said: “Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to develop skills and discover talent, whilst having the potential to set people on the path to a rewarding and enjoyable career. We are excited to bring the GMA and our Counties together in partnership to explore how we can maximise this opportunity to add value to the apprenticeship framework for employers and apprentices alike and create long term solutions to recruitment challenges.”

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GMA NextGen welcomes four new members

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GMA NextGen welcomes four new members: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) is pleased to announce the addition of four new professionals to its NextGen group.

GMA NextGen, sponsored by Reesink UK, is comprised of talented young grounds professionals who represent the grounds management industry and act as ambassadors for the GMA. Their mission is to encourage more young people to consider a career in grounds management.

GMA NextGen welcomes four new members

GMA NextGen welcomes four new members

Luis Arregui, Deputy Grounds Manager at Real Madrid City, joins the GMA NextGen group with the aim of promoting a profession he believes is key to sports success. With a degree in Forest Engineering, he combines agronomic knowledge and a passion for sports to advance in his career, aiming to inspire the next generation in grounds management.

Flynn Good, Skilled Sports Turf Operative at Leicester City FC, is hoping to connect with others in grounds management and inspire future professionals. He began volunteering at his local club at the age of 10, driven by a love for maintaining high-quality playing surfaces and takes pride in his team’s impact on players’ success.

Jack Leather, Specialist Groundsperson at Liverpool FC, aims to raise awareness of grounds management as a viable career. Inspired by his father, Jack developed a passion for the industry early on. He enjoys seeing the direct results of his work and is especially passionate about using science and data to improve surfaces and sustainability.

Oliver Mahon, Grounds and Gardens Manager at Monkton Combe School, joins GMA NextGen to promote grounds management to the next generation. His love for sports, the outdoors, and machinery led him to study horticulture and agriculture. He takes pride in preparing high-quality pitches for students, enjoying their appreciation for his team’s work.

Jack Langley & Meg Lay, GMA NextGen Co-Chairs, said: “We’re excited to see more young professionals joining the GMA NextGen group and helping to raise awareness of the incredible career opportunities in grounds management. It’s an industry that offers so much variety, and we’re looking forward to working alongside our new members to showcase the value and impact of our profession.”

With an estimated 1,500 professional grounds staff potentially retiring each year, workforce development is a pressing priority for the industry.

The GMA NextGen group plays a vital role in addressing this challenge by not only promoting the opportunities available within grounds management but also providing a platform for emerging professionals to share ideas and learn more.

By engaging with younger generations, the group helps ensure a sustainable pipeline of talent to safeguard the future of the profession and maintain the high standards expected across sports and green spaces.

Jennifer Carter, Director of Communications & Marketing at the GMA, said: “We know the industry is facing significant challenges in terms of workforce shortages, but the GMA NextGen group continues to make a real difference in addressing these issues. They’ve done an outstanding job in attracting talented young professionals, not only to the group but also into the wider industry, showing the rewarding careers available in grounds management. We’re really pleased to welcome the four new members to the group and look forward to seeing their contributions as they help shape the future of our industry.”

For more information about the GMA NextGen programme or the new members, please visit thegma.org.uk/who /ambassadors.

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SIS Pitches celebrates record year

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SIS Pitches celebrates record year: The UK’s leading sports manufacturer, SIS Pitches has announced it has secured a patent for its new machine, rounding off an exceptional year.

A patent has been granted for the vacuum mechanism ‘Revolution’ machines, made by SIS Pitches to produce premium hybrid pitches for an array of sports. The machine is the first of its kind, allowing the manufacturer to stitch pitches at variable depths, offering more flexibility to clubs and sports facilities.

SIS Pitches celebrates record year

SIS Pitches celebrates record year

The patent is the latest addition on a long list of achievements for SIS Pitches in 2024 – the company’s most successful year to date. In addition to investing £500,000 in its Maryport factory for new tufting machines and solar panels, and growing its overall employee headcount by 20% since January, the company has opened four new offices globally. These are located in Poland, India, Saudi Arabia and Georgia, in order to meet rising demand locally.

Earlier this year, one of SIS Pitches’ major pitch maintenance projects in the Middle East, the Kingdom Arena, in Riyadh, built in partnership with Sela, won two Guinness World Records for the largest covered football stadium and the highest capacity for an indoor covered stadium. The stadium itself was the first ever indoor grass pitch grown entirely without natural sunlight.

In India, the SIS Pitches team installed the country’s first hybrid cricket pitch – a SIS Grass Hybrid product tried and tested across the English game – marking the beginning of a series of projects in the country. The manufacturer, working with Greater Ten locally, used its own ‘Universal’ machine to stitch hybrid cricket pitches in locations including the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamshala.

Other major projects won by SIS Pitches this year include names football fans around the world will recognise immediately, including Manchester City Football Club, MLS’ Chicago Fire, as well as Iceland National Stadium and Uganda Athletics and Football. The company also made significant forays into other sports internationally, securing projects with Baseball United to build the first professional baseball ballpark in the Middle East and South Asia, as well as Aramco Stadium in Saudi Arabia.

The manufacturer also toasted two news milestones, joining the Green Sports Alliance, cementing its commitment to promote sustainability, and ESTC, the trade association for the Synthetic Turf Industry in the EMEA region.

To top things off, one of SIS Pitches’ installations took centre stage at this year’s Paris Olympics. The Stade de France, which features a hybrid SIS Grass pitch, was the chosen venue for a handful of disciplines, including rugby sevens and athletics.

SIS Pitches owner and founder George Mullan said: “I’m incredibly grateful for our team’s hard work and commitment this year – none of this would have been possible without them.

“2024 was a year of many ‘firsts’ for us, and one we’ll remember for a very long time. We’ve grown immensely, as a group – opening new offices abroad, working with some of the biggest names in sports and continuing to lead from the front when it comes to innovating.

“We’ve not forgotten our roots, however. The investment in our Maryport factory is a symbol of our commitment to British quality and expertise, and will enable us to meet the growing demand when it comes to high-quality sports surfaces, both nationally and internationally.”

SIS Pitches has also shared some of its plans for 2025. The manufacturer is readying to launch its innovative dry hockey solution widely in the second quarter. The surface, developed by the organisation’s experts, features a unique technology to replicate the properties of a water-based system without using a water ball, which can hinder the flow of play.

A US office is also in the works, and it was announced that current SIS Grass Managing Director, Ivo Lamot would become the company’s new Chief Executive, with owner and founder George Mullan stepping to Executive Chairman. Other major appointments also include Luke Edwards, set to become Chief Innovation Officer, while Rob Hope will continue on as Chief Operating Officer. SIS Pitches also underwent a rebrand earlier in the year and is set to launch its new website next year, focused on its philosophy of ‘Powering more play’.

George added: “Our business has evolved in the last few years, and with our new goals to expand to new markets, our structure had to follow too.

“Our ambition is to make 2025 an even bigger year, so I’m excited to have Ivo lead on the delivery of our shared vision, along with Rob and Luke.”

For more information about SIS Pitches, go to sispitches.com

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ICL Acquires GreenBest

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ICL Acquires GreenBest: ICL Growing Solutions, a global leader in specialty fertilisers, announce today the acquisition of GreenBest, a UK-based manufacturer specialising in tailored specialty fertilisers and solutions for the Sports Turf, Landscape, and Horticulture markets.

This marks ICL Growing Solutions’ third strategic acquisition this year, following Nitro 1000, a Brazilian leader in biostimulants, and CAF, a North American leader of customised agricultural formulations. Together, these acquisitions demonstrate ICL’s ongoing commitment to delivering innovative and customised solutions, reinforcing its leadership in these core specialty markets.

ICL Acquires GreenBest

ICL Acquires GreenBest

Enhanced Capabilities for Customer-Focused Solutions

With over 25 years of expertise in custom manufacturing in advanced granular and liquid nutrition portfolios, GreenBest has built a strong reputation for agility and customer-focused solutions. Its established presence in the Turf, Landscape, and Horticulture sectors, combined with a strong distribution network, enhances ICL’s ability to deliver sustainable, tailor-made solutions to customers worldwide.

Elad Aharonson, President of ICL Growing Solutions, stated: “The acquisition of GreenBest further solidifies our leadership in the Turf, Landscape, and Horticulture markets. GreenBest’s agility, customer focus, and responsive manufacturing capabilities will enable us to better serve our customers with innovative, tailor-made solutions that address their specific needs.”

Expanding Reach and Customer Impact

With GreenBest joining ICL’s global platform, ICL will further expand its market reach while continuing to prioritise its customer-first approach. The synergy between GreenBest’s specialised expertise and ICL’s global resources is set to deliver a strong value proposition to customers.

Tim Le Mesurier, Founder and Managing Director of GreenBest, commented: “The GreenBest team is thrilled to join the ICL family. It will enable both to combine their strengths, expand their innovation capabilities, and provide even greater value to our customers worldwide.”

Commitment to the Turf, Landscape and Horticulture Markets

This acquisition aligns with ICL’s strategic focus on growing its leadership in the specialty Turf, Landscape, and Horticulture markets. It underscores ICL’s commitment to driving innovation and supporting customers with cutting-edge technologies and reliable supply to deliver exceptional solutions and continue shaping the future of these dynamic industries.

Please contact ICL on 01473 237100 or visit www.icl-sf.co.uk or www.icl-sf.ie if you are in Ireland.

For more news and insightful views, you can follow ICL on Twitter @ICL_Turf

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