Q&A with Tim Yates

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Q&A with Tim Yates: Q&A with Tim Yates, Business Development Manager- Groundcare, Kubota UK 

After 20 years at Kubota, how are you finding your new role? 

The groundcare sector is well known for being friendly one. Since moving into the Business Development Manager role at Kubota’s groundcare division in December, I have enjoyed a warm welcome from our dealer network, many of whom I have known for the last few decades.

Q&A with Tim Yates

Q&A with Tim Yates

I’ve spent that last 20 years at Kubota and, over this time period, I’ve occupied many different roles within the company. Thanks to this, when moving into my new position, I already had a really solid understanding of the UK business and our customer base, alongside the connections and tools often required to make swift decisions and keep business processes fluid. I also possessed an understanding of the Kubota business as a global entity, having worked closely with our European and Japanese colleagues over the years.

These experiences have enabled my transition to be a smooth one. I have taken on my new responsibilities whilst continuing to work closely with the rest of the wider team at Kubota and engage with our dealer network. I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds for our groundcare division.

Can you tell us about Kubota’s latest updates to its groundcare range? 

From a product perspective our main focus at the moment is to ensure that our line up meets the Stage V emissions regulations which impact products over 19kw. Being the largest manufacturer in the world of industrial diesel engines under 100hp, Kubota are particularly well placed to meet these new regulations and adopt the compliant engines into our groundcare product portfolio.

We’re also currently placing an emphasis on customer and machine support. As part of a push around these areas, we’ve launched Kubota Care. This is a fully Kubota-backed extended warranty option, meaning that customers can now fully cover their machines against unforeseen expensive repair costs for 5 years. This can help to ensure that a customer’s machine is maintained to the highest possible standards and serviced by Kubota-trained service engineers. The entire warranty can be wrapped up as part of a maintenance agreement and by utilising it – alongside the Kubota Finance options we offer – customers can get more value for their money than ever before.

Are there any machines in particular that are proving popular at the moment? Why do you think this is? 

The zero-turn mower market is one that grows each year. These machines make the task of grass cutting quicker, more efficient and more enjoyable. Our ZD1211 model falls under this range of machinery. Designed to offer faster, improved cutting performance, whilst ensuring that user ease and comfort are still front of mind, this machine is proving popular with our customers.

Each year, more and more people are seeing the benefit of cutting around obstacles in on swift pass, therefore we expect this market to continue to grow moving forward.

What do Kubota customers typically look for when it comes to groundcare machinery? How does Kubota look to deliver on this?

Typically, customers are looking for high quality machinery that delivers on reliability, efficiency and cost.

Having operated within the UK market since the 70’s, Kubota brings decades of experience and expert knowledge to the table. We support our customers through their buying decisions and then provide a high standard of after care.

Put simply, over the years, our products have spoken for themselves. That’s how we have the reputation we have today; as a reliable company that provides sound products and caters to its customers. The important role that our strong dealer network plays in this cannot be overstated. They ensure that our customers’ expectations are not only met but exceeded.

Our end goal is always to align our services and products to our customers’ needs; whether that’s today or in the future.

What are your plans for Kubota’s groundcare division moving forward? 

Kubota is an engineering company at heart, so from a product design point of view we know that the machines of tomorrow are being designed today and we always try to be at the fore-front of this.

On the UK business front, we will look to further focus on the aftersales market, with the Kubota Care extended warranty packages, maintenance agreements, leasing and other finance options from Kubota Finance.

Do you think that client demand is likely to change and how? 

Customers will always demand more. After all, everyone wants to develop their business in order to outpace their competitors. This is true of every sector, whether it is groundcare, manufacturing or even retail. In the groundcare space, having the right machinery can play a big part in standing out from the crowd and delivering on productivity and efficiency goals.

Although we can’t be certain about what customers will be demanding from their groundcare machinery in the future, Kubota needs to be one step ahead of the curve. As such, we continually investing in innovations – such as electric technologies – in order to be better than ‘the best’ and keep our customers happy.

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Campey gives new roles

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Campey gives new roles: Campey Turf Care Systems has appointed Ethan Yates as product specialist for North West England and the Isle of Man and expanded the role of product demonstrator, Dave Stonier, to include Asia and the Middle East.

Ethan has worked at Campey since 2013, starting in the workshop as a New Holland apprentice while completing a three year New Holland agricultural course at Reaseheath College where he achieved triple distinction and was awarded the best academic student in his year. His experience within Campey continued when he moved into the role of product demonstrator in 2016 before taking up his new role in December 2019.

Campey gives new roles

Campey gives new roles

Campey has also expanded the role of product demonstrator, Dave Stonier. Dave has been with the company since 2015, having gained eight years of mechanical knowledge in his previous role and has worked as a product demonstrator throughout his five years at Campey. During that time, he has built his knowledge working with Lee Morgado on pitch renovations, demos and product installations in Europe and Scandinavia. Having progressed into the role, Dave has completed numerous installations and demos across Europe and has also represented Campey at trade shows in the UK, America and Eastern Europe. This hands-on experience made him the perfect candidate to continue Campey’s presence in Asia and the Middle East.

Speaking on the appointments, Campey managing director, Julia Campey said: “For the past seven years it’s been great to see Ethan progress through the company. Because he has spent time working in different areas of the business, he has a very detailed knowledge of the machines and how they work, and he is very capable of sharing that with customers. We’re all very happy to have seen him progress to this point and know he will excel in this role.

“Dave’s progression has been similar to Ethan’s in that he has been working with us for a number of years and really understands the machines and how they work. His enthusiasm for travel and knowledge makes him a great person for this job, and we’re all looking forward to seeing the progress he makes.”

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Adam Cooper joins GaNTIP

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Adam Cooper joins GaNTIP: The Institute of Groundsmanship-led Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme (GaNTIP) has announced the appointment of Adam Cooper, a practising groundsman with more than 31 years’ experience, as regional pitch advisor (RPA) for the North West.

His appointment comes at a time when sports clubs up and down the country are suffering the devastations of storms Ciara and Dennis, and the skills and advice of GaNTIP’s team of RPAs – now nine, plus two key account managers – will be essential in helping grassroots clubs recover from the devastation.

Adam Cooper joins GaNTIP

Adam Cooper joins GaNTIP

GaNTIP is the successful programme that is improving the standard of grassroots football and cricket pitches, as well as the skills of those who look after them, throughout England. It will now be working closely with the England & Wales Cricket Board and Country Cricket Boards, as well as with County FAs, to offer advice and help to clubs when the flood waters subside.

Based in Preston, Lancashire, Adam – who entered the groundscare industry after qualifying as a quantity surveyor – brings to the role extensive experience in maintaining cricket surfaces as well as surfaces for tennis, football, bowls, hockey, croquet and golf. He also spent the past two years in an advisory support role within the GaNTIP programme.

His CV includes work at four Premier League cricket clubs, as well as at AFC Fylde and Accrington Stanley FC plus managing the cricket, hockey, tennis and football surfaces at Lytham Cricket and Tennis Club.

Adam has also been involved in many volunteer grounds roles over the years, particularly at his local cricket club and at the various sporting venues where his children played football, tennis and hockey.

He says he “is looking forward to helping grassroots clubs by applying this understanding of the challenges faced by volunteers, especially now as they face a tumultuous task in reinstating pitches that have been destroyed by the storms.”

Out of work, Adam is a keen sportsman and plays hockey and cricket. He also enjoys salmon fishing and sailing.

GaNTIP is a joint programme between the Institute of Groundsmanship, The Football Association, Football Foundation and the England & Wales Cricket Board, and programme director Jason Booth, says: “Adam’s appointment reinforces how GaNTIP continues to apply the best skills in order to help grassroots sports clubs up and down the country.

“Their experience and advice will be now also be vital in helping grassroots clubs recover from the awful flooding that we’ve experienced in recent months.”

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Expanded greenkeeper team at Chart Hills

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Expanded greenkeeper team at Chart Hills: The ambitious new owners of Chart Hills Golf Club, in Kent, are continuing their investment into the club’s staff and facilities by expanding the greenkeeping team and completing previously unfinished renovation projects.

The recruitment process has been led by Golf Course Manager, Neil Lowther, who has 18 years of service at Chart Hills to his name and is committed to restoring the course to its full potential following the venue’s recent purchase by Ramac Holdings Ltd.

Expanded greenkeeper team at Chart Hills

Expanded greenkeeper team at Chart Hills

“After initial conversations it became clear that it was paramount for us to add resource and build a new greenkeeping team in order to take the golf course forward,” commented Lowther.

“Investment has already begun, and we are now able to complete unfinished projects such as the renovation of the 10th and 12th tees which are now well under way.”

The new employees join the existing greenkeeping team of Adam Weeks, Irrigation Engineer, who has worked at Chart Hills for 25 years; Mathew Krause, First Assistant Greenkeeper; Marc Mulholland, Greenkeeper in Training; Gavin Spiers and Geoff Lezemore, both part-time Greenkeeping Assistants.

William Watkins joins Chart Hills as a qualified Greenkeeper with five years’ greenkeeping experience, while Liam Levett heads to the club at the beginning of March as a Greenkeeper in Training, having had previous experience working at the resort.

The club has ambitious plans for major improvements to all the main playing surfaces, excluding the recently renovated greens and bunkers, with drainage works forming a major part of these improvements.

“There is a very positive vibe amongst the greenkeeping team, and we are all looking forward to being part of a new era for Chart Hills,” added Lowther.

Ramac Holdings Ltd are committed to investing significantly in the venue having announced its acquisition in December 2019 and are working on an extensive development strategy alongside the in-house team, led by General Manager James Cornish and Director of Golf Ant Tarchetti.

For further information on Chart Hills, visit www.charthills.co.uk, ring 01580 292222 or email reception@charthills.co.uk

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Obituary – John Shepherd

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Obituary – John Shepherd: It is with great sadness we announce that John Shepherd has passed away after an 18 month battle with cancer. John fell asleep peacefully for the last time with his family at his side on Sunday 2nd February 2020.

John was a close friend and colleague to me and many people in the irrigation industry. He was always positive and had a smile looking for the best solution for customers.

Obituary - John Shepherd

Obituary – John Shepherd

John started his career, after studying at Myerscough College, at Turf Irrigation Services (TIS) Ltd and this is where we met for the first time. John was a Technical Sales Engineer/Designer and I was a junior in the drafting office preparing design and as laid plans for projects undertaken by TIS. He always had time to spend with me. Indeed without the kind opportunities, education and experience given to me by Robin (Hume) and John I would not be where I am today. The irrigation and indeed turf industry seems large to many on the outside, however, it is actually a small and personal industry.

John once told me that when he started working for TIS he was conscious of his stammer and that he spoke to Robin about this. Robin responded in saying “People recognise me for my size and people will recognise you for your stammer”. Indeed Robin once told me that people would recognise me for my red hair, something which many still do, and I know many will always remember John’s stammer.

In his career John also spent many enjoyable years working for Hunter Industries as a Technical Sales Manager in EMEA [Europe, Middle East & Africa] before returning back to his roots to finally setup his irrigation design company, Irrigation Project Management [IPM], and working closely with myself at RHA.

Football was a passion and often a topic of conversation with many who knew him.  He was an avid supporter of Preston North End with a season ticket and seat on the nose of Tom Finney.

John is survived by his wife Nicholette and two children Chrissie and Joseph. His funeral will be held at Crewe Crematorium on the 27th February at 13.45 followed by a wake at the Hunters Lodge in Crewe. All are welcome to celebrate John’s life. John requested no flowers, and that any donations made in his memory will go to Macmillan Cancer Care and Help for Heroes.

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