GMA Industry Awards Shortlist Announced

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GMA Industry Awards Shortlist Announced: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) is pleased to reveal the shortlist for the 2026 GMA Industry Awards, taking place at the iconic Edgbaston Stadium on 12 March 2026.

Each year, the awards shine a spotlight on the individuals, teams and organisations who are raising standards across the industry. And this year, there’s an exciting new addition: the GMA Conference, taking place earlier in the day and setting the stage for an evening of celebration.

GMA Industry Awards Shortlist Announced

GMA Industry Awards Shortlist Announced

From grassroots volunteers to elite-level grounds teams, this year’s shortlist highlights the depth of talent and expertise that continues to elevate the grounds management industry across the UK and beyond.

The finalists were selected following a thorough judging process, undertaken by a panel of sector experts who reviewed entries across sixteen categories.

Jason Booth, GMA Chief Operating Officer said: “It has been inspiring to once again see the dedication shown by so many teams and individuals submitting entries for the GMA Industry Awards.

“This year we received a record number of submissions, and the calibre of work on display has been outstanding. It’s been particularly encouraging to welcome fresh faces into the mix. I would also like to thank our independent judging panel for their expertise and considered evaluation of each submission.”

The 2026 Industry Awards Shortlist:

Young Grounds Person of the Year (Sponsored by Origin Amenity Solutions)

  • Adam Hooper – Tottenham Hotspur F.C
  • Daniel Birrell – National Cricket Centre Jersey
  • Flynn Good – Leicester City F.C
  • Ged Newman – Manchester City F.C

Newcomer of the Year (Sponsored by ICL)

  • Jack Churchman – Cutcrew Ltd
  • George Legg – Stanley Park Sports Ground
  • Samuel Knowles – Nottingham Forest F.C

Volunteer Groundsperson/Team of the Year

  • Trubshaw Cross
  • Eddie Mills – Northfield Town F.C
  • Tom Banks – Kirkoswald F.C
  • Craig Dinsdale – Settle United AFC

Community Groundsperson/Team of the Year (Sponsored by the National Governing Bodies of Sport)

  • Yeovil Recreation Centre
  • AELTC Wimbledon Qualifying & Community Sports Centre
  • Stanley Park Sports Ground
  • Stoneham Lane Football Complex

Bowls & Croquet Groundsperson/Team of the Year

  • Dean Gibbons – Wantage Bowling Club
  • Port Sunlight Village Trust

Best Managed Artificial Surface of the Year

  • Stanley Park Sports Ground
  • Stoneham Lane Football Complex
  • University of Warwick

Environmental and Sustainability Impact Award

  • Liverpool F.C
  • University of Warwick

Professional Horse Racing Grounds Team of the Year

  • Newbury Racecourse
  • Warwick Racecourse

Professional Tennis Courts Grounds Team of the Year

  • Edgbaston Priory Club
  • Lexus Nottingham Tennis Centre
  • The Queens Club
  • The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club

Professional Cricket Grounds Team of the Year

  • Marylebone Cricket Club
  • Warwickshire County Cricket Club

Professional Rugby Union Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by MJ Abbott / Premier Pitches)

  • Bristol Bears
  • Northampton Saints
  • Twickenham Stoop
  • Twickenham Stadium

Professional Rugby League Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by Agronomic Services Ltd)

  • Wigan Warriors
  • Castleford Tigers
  • Leeds Rhinos

Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by Reesink UK)

  • Lincoln City F.C
  • Tranmere Rovers F.C
  • Stockport County F.C
  • MK Dons F.C

Professional Football Grounds Team (Elite) of the Year (Sponsored by SGL)

  • Liverpool F.C
  • Leicester City F.C
  • London Stadium
  • Manchester City F.C

University/College Grounds Team of the Year

  • University of Warwick
  • University of Nottingham
  • University of Leeds

Independent School Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by ISEKI UK & Ireland)

  • Culford School
  • Eton College
  • Whitgift School

Join us at the GMA Conference 2026
Designed for grounds professionals, the GMA Conference offers curated opportunities for advanced learning and development. Shape your own agenda and explore solutions to workplace-specific challenges, empowering you to make a tangible impact.

It provides a focused environment to tackle complex industry issues while earning recognised CPD points.

Registration of interest is now open for those who want to secure early access. To learn more about the GMA Conference & Industry Awards or to register your interest for the conference, visit gmaindustryawards.uk/conference.

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Ben Muschamp at bmushcamp@thegma.org.uk.

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Bernhard Academy champions leadership and development

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Bernhard Academy champions leadership and development: The Bernhard Academy strengthened its commitment to driving education and thought leadership across the golf and sports turf industries as it delivered two highly engaging workshops at the 2025 Women in Golf Awards, held on 27 November at Foxhills Golf Club, Surrey.

With 20+ delegates in attendance, the sessions formed part of the Academy’s wider mission to elevate industry professionals not only through technical growth, but also through essential management and people-development training.

Bernhard Academy champions leadership and development

Bernhard Academy champions leadership and development

Delivered by Phil Helmn MG, Programme Leader at the Bernhard Academy, the workshops explored how understanding different personality types can strengthen communication and teamwork, alongside practical insights into the behavioural drivers that influence performance under pressure. Delegates praised the relevance and accessibility of the content, noting the immediate value it could bring to their everyday roles.

Attendees represented a broad mix of roles, from greenkeepers and club managers to events teams, trustees, and board members – reflecting the growing demand for inclusive leadership development across the sector. Their feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with Dolores Brown, Head of Tournaments at Golfbreaks, commenting: “It’s so engaging, has a relaxed feel but also combines a lot of learning – without feeling draining or boring!”

Sami Strutt, Education Director at the Bernhard Academy, commented: “We’re incredibly proud that the Bernhard Academy is continuing to work with such respected organisations across the golf industry. Our mission has always been to help raise standards through learning, whether that’s technical development or supporting people to grow as leaders. Opportunities like this reinforce the value of investing in people and help to create a stronger, more confident, and more connected workforce for the future.”

The Women in Golf Awards celebrates achievement, provides education, and drives cultural change within the sport. Bernhard Academy’s contribution this year further reinforces its role as a leading provider of progressive learning experiences, helping professionals build stronger teams, improve communication, and unlock their leadership potential while continuing to support technical growth across golf and sports turf management.

For more information on the full range of programmes, courses, and development opportunities offered by the Bernhard Academy, please visit www.bernhardacademy.co.uk.

For bespoke training or tailored workshop requests, organisations can get in touch via www.bernhardacademy.co.uk/contact-us-bernhard-academy to discuss customised packages designed to meet specific needs.

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Royal Mail makes electric move with Paxster

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Royal Mail makes electric move with Paxster: BOSS Off-Road Vehicles, Paxster’s UK distributor, has announced Royal Mail has taken a major step towards decarbonising its delivery operations, deploying over 100 micro electric vehicles (MEVs) across the UK. This is part of its journey to reach net zero emissions by 2040 and to reduce delivery times.

Eighty-four of these vehicles are supplied by the Norwegian manufacturer Paxster, now becoming a central partner in one of Europe’s largest and most ambitious fleet transitions.

Royal Mail makes electric move with Paxster

Royal Mail makes electric move with Paxster

In the first deployment phase, 52 larger vans are being replaced by compact electric vehicles operating in cities including London, Bristol, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Brighton. The shift is expected to reduce emissions by around 242 tonnes of CO₂ annually, while improving air quality and delivery flow in dense urban areas.

Aleksander Säfvenbom, Managing Director at Paxster AS, says:

“Royal Mail conducted extensive trials of multiple MEVs before selecting Paxster. Their decision to scale with our vehicles confirms that the Paxster platform meets the real operational needs of postal fleets: easy charging from standard sockets, excellent manoeuvrability, safety, security, comfort for the driver and low TCO.”

Royal Mail’s rollout shows how MEVs can complement larger e-van fleets to optimise last-mile delivery, particularly in cities facing congestion, access restrictions and limited charging capacity. The results are now drawing attention from postal and parcel operators across Europe, who are looking for scalable, low-infrastructure solutions to accelerate fleet electrification. Aleksander adds:

“Many operators face the same reality as Royal Mail. They need to deliver faster, cleaner and more efficiently in increasingly crowded cities. MEVs are becoming a vital tool in achieving that balance between sustainability, productivity and profitability.”

With the Royal Mail partnership, Paxster reinforces its position as one of Europe’s leading providers of electric vehicles for postal and parcel distribution. The company continues to expand its presence across several European markets as operators move from pilots to full-scale deployment of purpose-built MEV fleets.

For more information on Paxster you can call BOSS ORV on 01785 561046 E-mail: sales@bossorv.co.uk Web: www.bossorv.co.uk

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The Outdoor Room claim top honour at BALI awards

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The Outdoor Room claim top honour at BALI awards: The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) announced the Grand, Special and Principal winners of the National Landscape Awards 2025, in a spectacular event held at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House London on Friday 5 December.

Just over 1,000 BALI members and their guests saw Surrey-based The Outdoor Room capture the prestigious Grand Award for their standout project Hawthorn House, a scheme celebrated for its ambition, technical mastery, and exceptional craftsmanship.

The Outdoor Room claim top honour at BALI awards

The Outdoor Room claim top honour at BALI awards

The winning project impressed the judging panel with its elegant and expansive design, delivered despite stringent access restrictions, challenging weather conditions and frequent expansion of the project scope. Coordinating with multiple third-party contractors, The Outdoor Room produced a landscape described by judges as “full of visual beauty that belies the complex nature of the work that went into it.”

Presented by Headline Sponsor Origin Enterprises, via their Living Landscapes Division, the Grand Award recognises the company’s ability to balance high-level problem-solving with meticulous execution. The project team resolved significant drainage issues, delivered intricate hard-landscaping features, and installed a refined planting scheme, all while maintaining seamless workmanship throughout. The team brought to life a landscape the judges deemed exemplary in every respect.

“We’re incredibly proud to receive the Grand Award at the BALI National Landscape Awards,” said Mark Britton, Managing Director of The Outdoor Room. “These awards represent the highest level of recognition in our industry. To be acknowledged by such experienced and knowledgeable judges is an honour, and achievements like this inspire and motivate our whole team, especially our younger members.”

BALI Chief Executive Wayne Grills praised the achievement, noting the exceptional standard of entries: “The standard this year was one of the best we’ve ever seen, so this is a hugely deserved win for Mark and his team. Every year I continue to be amazed by the creativity, innovation and expertise demonstrated by our members. The Awards remain the pinnacle of landscaping excellence because of their dedication and skill.”

It was double delight for The Outdoor Room, as Senior Foreman and Director James Sponder bagged a Special Award for individual professional achievement.

Alongside the announcement of the Grand Award winner and Principal winners, Water Gems (Alba) received a Special Award for their project “Maggie’s Forth Valley”, while John O’Conner Grounds Maintenance was presented with the Environmental Awareness Award for “Biodiversity Boost”.

Next year, the 2026 Awards will mark a milestone 50th Anniversary celebration, with Origin Enterprises confirmed to reprise their role as headline sponsor.

For the full list of winners, event photographs, and future entry information, visit baliawards.co.uk

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New GMA Conference Set To Bring The Sector Together

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New GMA Conference Set To Bring The Sector Together: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) is thrilled to announce a major new addition to the industry calendar: the GMA Conference 2026 – a full day of practical learning and big industry conversations.

Hosted at the iconic Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham on Thursday 12 March, the landmark event will bring together leading experts and experienced practitioners from across the UK and beyond for an immersive programme designed to inform, inspire, and connect.

New GMA Conference Set To Bring The Sector Together

New GMA Conference Set To Bring The Sector Together

What to expect

Backed by Platinum Sponsor ISEKI, and industry organisations such ICL, Origin Amenity Solutions, Reesink UK, Agronomic Services Ltd, SGL, MJ Abbott and Premier Pitches, the 2026 programme offers real-world sessions with immediate takeaways:

  • Expert Speakers: Hear from industry leaders including: Ruth Mann (Head of Integrated Crop Technologies, Agrii), Tony Hanson (Environmental Solutions International), Daniel Ratling (Grounds and Estate Manager at Whitgift School), broadcaster Mark Clemit, Chris Hunter (GMA), Will Brierley & Mark Ferguson (All England Lawn Tennis Club), and John Lawrence (Edgbaston Priory Tennis Club), with more names to be announced soon.
  • Practical Sessions: Gain actionable insights with real-world case studies, including:
    • A behind-the-scenes look at Lord’s full-scale pitch renovation
    • Strategies for future-proofing facilities under new water regulations
    • Workshops on soil health, workforce development, and leadership skills
  • Interactive Panels: CPD-rich discussions tackling the challenges and opportunities shaping the sector right now.
  • Soft Skills Matter: Build leadership, communication and team management skills to complement your technical expertise. These sessions will ensure you leave not only with technical know-how, but also the interpersonal skills essential for long-term success.

Attendees can build their own agenda to focus on the skills and knowledge most relevant to their career whilst accessing the latest research and emerging best practice – a snapshot of where grounds management is heading.

Networking runs throughout the programme with plenty of time to connect and meet new peers. A guided tour of Edgbaston’s world-class facilities will offer a rare behind-the-scenes look at excellence in action.

After the conference, delegates are invited to stay for the GMA Industry Awards, the annual celebration of the people and achievements driving standards across the sector.

The conference will complement other GMA educational events throughout 2026, offering a wider programme of learning opportunities for grounds professionals at every stage of their career.

Sarah Hunter, Head of Events at the GMA, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be launching a dedicated conference for the sector in 2026. Grounds professionals operate in a fast-changing environment, and there’s a real appetite for events that combine practical learning with the chance to connect with others facing similar challenges.

“One of the real strengths of this programme is that delegates can tailor their day by choosing the sessions and speakers that are most relevant to their role. This conference delivers exactly that – flexibility and depth. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to Edgbaston for what promises to be a standout day.”

Full programme details will be announced soon, but you don’t need to wait to secure your place. Register your interest now to be among the first to get early access for this must-attend conference.

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