Gary Smith Joins STRI Group

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Gary Smith Joins STRI Group: STRI Group is delighted to announce the appointment of Gary Smith as an agronomic consultant, based in its Scotland office.

Smith has worked in the turf industry for over 25 years, mainly in a professional technical support role, including various new product launches in the chemical, nutrition and biotech industries.

Gary Smith Joins STRI Group

Until recently he was employed by Symbio UK and previously at Agrovista UK and Scott’s UK (now ICL) for 14 years.

Paul Woodham, STRI’s general manager of agronomy, said: “It’s an exciting time to welcome Gary who comes with a wealth of technical knowledge and industry experience. Gary will be a great addition supporting our operations across the business.”

Smith is one of several new faces to join STRI Group in May, as the business continues to grow across its global territories.

Consultant Samantha Maxwell joined STRI’s Melbourne-based business SportsTurf Consultants; Kate Breare and Oliver Thornton are the new trials officers at STRI’s UK research team.

STRI Group’s recent expansion has also seen new roles created, for a Planning & EIA consultant, as well as a CAD technician, in its new Consultancy division. Full details can be found on the jobs section of the STRI website.

Lee Penrose, STRI Group director, said: “STRI is always searching for ambitious and talented individuals to continue our growth as the leading provider of turnkey plan, design, build and operate services into sports developments. Engaging with industry leaders such as Gary ensures our work exceeds the expectations of our clients.”

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AEA Appoint New President

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AEA Appoint New President: Newly elected President of the AEA, Mr Adrian Winnett, speaks of the need to retain and attract young talent into agriculture and engineering.

The UK agricultural engineering industry needs to continue finding ways to retain and attract young talent, not just from within but also from outside the industry, according to the newly-elected President of the AEA.

AEA Appoint New President

Adrian Winnett, Managing Director of Argo Tractors operations in the UK and Ireland, said: “It is a terrible shame that beyond our own circle neither of the words ‘agriculture’ and ‘engineering’ resonate in terms of a career choice with the majority of young people.

“Yet we all know what challenging, fulfilling and rewarding opportunities there are in agriculture generally and in the agricultural and groundscare machinery sectors in particular.”

Speaking at the annual conference of AEA, the organisation for machinery manufacturers and importers, Mr Winnett suggested that from the outside, agriculture is often thought of as being another world, of being insular and open only to those already in it with personal experience of farming or at least of rural life.

“We must do our bit to help change those perceptions if we are to capitalise on the wealth of talent that, at present, is attracted to other industries and commercial sectors.”

After two years as Chairman of the AEA’s Farm Equipment Council, Adrian Winnett was elected President by fellow members of the AEA’s management board.

“It’s an honour I couldn’t have imagined when I left school and started repairing tractors at my father’s equipment dealership in Towcester,” he said. “And, frankly, it wasn’t something I could foresee at any other time during my career in tractor and farm equipment sales.”

In September 2018, after around 10 years running the Amazone farm equipment business in the UK, Adrian Winnett was appointed Managing Director for the UK and Irish markets by Argo Tractors, the Italian manufacturer of Landini and McCormick products, with plans to recruit a larger team to support an expanded dealer network as a driver for increased sales.

“Dealer networks are restructuring as more manufacturers go ‘full line’ in the hope of securing more business from their dealerships,” he points out. “Argo remains focused on its core products – tractors from 43-310hp – while emphasising its support for dealer independence, which enables them to decide on the other products they sell.”

As President of the AEA, his role will be to lead the management board while the farm equipment and outdoor power equipment councils and specialist groups on manufacturing, training and education, chemical applications, sprayer testing, service management and all-terrain vehicles focus on current issues and initiatives.

“Consultation on proposed legislation as it impacts machinery and helping members interpret and implement new rules when they are introduced remain key functions of the AEA, along with the statistics and export services,” says,” Mr Winnett. “As our relationship with the rest of Europe and the world evolves, I think membership of the AEA by agricultural and outdoor power equipment companies has never been more important.”

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Campey’s Mick Parks Retires

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Campey’s Mick Parks Retires: Campey Turf Care System’s outside service engineer, Mick Parks, has retired from his role after 27 years at the company.

Mick started his job with Campey in July 1991 and has been a valuable member of the team ever since. His qualities, not only as an engineer but as a person, will be missed by everyone at Campey and the many customers he worked with throughout the years.

Campey's Mick Parks Retires

Mick was well known to his customers especially in the North West of the UK. When needed he would turn up at the customers site and fix many problems himself reducing downtime and allowing the greenkeepers or groundsmen to continue their work.

Speaking about his time at the company, Mick said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time at Campey , and I wouldn’t change it. Richard has always let me get on with the job and despite working alone most of the time I’ve always had the support of the Campey team and I’ve valued the support and friendship of my colleagues and Richard.”

Mick’s contribution has been greatly valued by Richard Campey, who is sad to see him go after so many successful years.

“Mick has been with us for a long time, and he epitomises everything that is good about the company,” he said. “He has represented us out in the field and always delivered excellent work, and he has been an esteemed member of our team throughout his 27-years with us.

“I’m sorry to see him go, but I’d like to thank him for his service and wish him all the best for his retirement.”

In retirement, Mick intends to spend a lot more time with his family, particularly his grand-children, and indulge his hobbies of cycling and walking.

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MHM’s Leonie Wins Award

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MHM’s Leonie Wins Award: A talented young apprentice from Treherbert, in the Rhondda, South Wales has scooped a top prize in the 2019 Hire Awards of Excellence.

Leonie Morris, who works as an apprentice fitter for the equipment supplier firm MHM Plant Ltd, has been judged as ‘The Apprentice of the Year’ at a glittering ceremony held at the Grosvenor Hotel, London. Her prize was awarded to her by BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, Anton Du Beke.

MHM’s Leonie Wins Apprentice Award

Leonie (22) joined the company in August 2017. She extends her time repairing, maintaining and servicing a wide range of power generation and associated equipment, alongside her studies at Bridgend College.

The Hire Awards of Excellence celebrate the amazing achievements of hire and supply companies across the UK and Ireland’s plant, tool, equipment and event hire industry. Crucial recognition is also given to outstanding individuals who have consistently stood out from the crowd and achieved and set some of the highest standards in the industry. All the winners have been independently judged against stringent criteria, with the awards providing an excellent way of acknowledging and showcasing some of the very best practices that the hire industry can offer.

Commenting on winning this award, Leonie said, “I am honoured to have been given this award. It’s a great feeling to be formally recognised for doing a job I genuinely enjoy.  I am lucky enough to be surrounded by enthusiastic and talented people, who always have the time to help me progress. I hope that my success will encourage other young men and women to take up an apprenticeship in the UK hire industry, as it’s a great business to be in.”

Steven Jones, Workshop Manager, MHM Plant Ltd added, ““Talent isn’t a word I would use lightly, but in Leonie’s case, it applies. She is equally at home with petrol, diesel, mechanical and electrical equipment. I’ve worked with a few apprentices in my time, but none achieved, so early in their growth, the very high standards that Leonie sets out for herself.”

MHM Plant hires and sells a wide range of power, fuel storage, lighting, welding and associated equipment for the UK and Ireland rental markets. The company was incorporated in February 2010 and has their headquarters in Port Talbot, South Wales. They operate nationwide from two locations. MHM West is located in South Wales and MHM North in Coatbridge, Scotland. A London depot, MHM South, is currently under development.

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New Appointment At total-play

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New Appointment At total-play: Sports surface specialist total-play Ltd has continued the ongoing expansion of its team with the appointment of Lee Bennet in the role of Sales Development Manager.

With a background in medical capital equipment sales, Lee brings extensive sales experience to his new role, which will see him work alongside clubs to develop new natural and non-turf sports facilities. Lee will focus on the Midlands territory for design and build projects, while also working alongside Business Development Manager Anthony Burton on the evolution of the company’s online cricket ground store, thecricketgroundshop.co.uk.

New Appointment At total-play

A keen Liverpool supporter who enjoys attending sporting events and playing cricket, Lee relishes the opportunity to work in the sports sector. He says:

“I’m really looking forward to getting my teeth into my new role, most especially working with clubs and schools to provide a world-class training facilities which will ultimately improve their game and performance.”

Lee’s appointment is part of an ongoing drive to grow the company’s workforce as its profile continues to rise, as MD David Bates explains:

“We’re still very much cricket pitch experts, and now have six ECB approved non-turf cricket pitch systems in our portfolio, but we are working on an increasing number of MUGA and other artificial sports surface projects. Lee’s appointment will allow us to manage the growing number of projects and will also help us to further develop the range of products available via thecricketgroundshop.” 

For full information on total-play’s range of services – call 01604 864575 or visit www.total-play.co.uk

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