Q&A with Sophie Allen

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Q&A with Sophie Allen: Sophie Allen started her apprenticeship with Agrovista Amenity as a Trainee Business Support Administrator 17 months ago.  As a keen cricketer and a volunteer groundsperson at her local cricket club, Sophie was already aware of Agrovista before applying for the position.  

In this Q&A Sophie reveals her love of the sport and how she’s developing into her role within the company.

Q&A with Sophie Allen

Q&A with Sophie Allen

Before you started your apprenticeship you worked as a volunteer groundsperson at your local cricket club – are you still doing this?

Yes, I’m still currently at my local Cricket Club, Allscott, where I am captain and organiser of our ladies’ team. There’s a lot of development going on over at the club, with a new clubhouse being built to improve our facilities. This year we are having a big push on bringing new players into all our teams and building the foundations of the club with our junior teams. With this new development, I am also due to become treasurer of our cricket section starting the 2024 season.

With regards to the maintenance of the ground, I work alongside my dad Jason who is the Head Groundsperson and has recently become a county pitch advisor for Shropshire.

Working alongside him is really eye opening due to the knowledge he has, and I am always learning something new. I tend to help him out as and when I can, whether it be after work for a couple of hours in the week or possibly a Saturday morning before the match. I would say that my favourite maintenance task is either marking out the wicket or using the roller to roll the wickets out.

What are your main responsibilities as a Business Support Administrator?

I work within the customer support team, so my main responsibilities are confirming orders from our Ecommerce platforms and our account managed customers, telephone communication with customers through our customer support call centre, dealing with customer support tickets, assisting the sales team, and answering the door to customers.

What does a typical day at work look like?

My average day can be very different but usually consists of opening everything up in the morning and checking if there is anything urgent that requires my attention. If there is, then I will deal with it straight away. If not, then I will get all the orders allocated to me confirmed.

After this, I will check my tickets and emails and deal with enquiries on these. We will usually have a few calls whilst doing these jobs, so if I’m free, I will take as many calls as I can. Then for the rest of the day, I will flick between confirming any new orders that are placed on the system and new enquiries, along with dealing with any issues that I may be chasing with a supplier or courier.

Did you enjoy completing your NVQ and how did you manage to fit your studies in alongside working?

I have recently completed an NVQ Level 3 in Business Administration. Within this, I learned about a variety of things, such as IT packages, personal development, project management, organisation, stakeholders, building a project, communication, personal skills, teamwork and many more topics. We were given a certain number of hours that they call ‘off the job hours’ to complete the relevant tasks and coursework. So, I found it manageable to balance this work along with my day-to-day work within the customer support team to complete my apprenticeship.

Learning new skills through my apprenticeship programme has really helped in the development of my skills within my role in the customer support team. One key skill I feel I have developed through my apprenticeship is confidence.

The support from Agrovista Amenity has been really good. If there has ever been an issue, then it has been sorted instantly and I couldn’t ask for a better company to work for.

What are your goals now you have completed the apprenticeship?

Now that I have completed my NVQ I am hoping to progress my responsibilities within the customer support team. I would really like to carry on developing new skills and hopefully gain new qualifications.

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

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Bookings open for Bernhard Academy programmes

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Bookings open for Bernhard Academy programmes: The Bernhard Academy, the turf industry’s foremost education provider, has unveiled its all-new programme of educational courses, that are now available for booking at its three Academy sites around the UK via the new Bernhard Academy website.

The new courses have been carefully curated over the past 12-months and are designed to help greenkeepers, turf professionals, and mechanics take their skills to the next level. The courses offer valuable opportunities for attendees to take away real-world skills and solutions that can enhance the performance of their turf maintenance facility on a day-to-day basis.

Bookings open for Bernhard Academy programmes

Bookings open for Bernhard Academy programmes

Managing Director of Bernhard and Company, Steven Nixon, said: “We are thrilled to see this new programme of courses come to life after months of research and development. We’ve really been working hard to truly understand what it is that the turf industry needs, to continue moving forward, so we are excited to offer courses that address those needs head-on.”

Bernhard Academy has partnered with respected golf venues around the UK and installed bespoke facilities tailored to turf maintenance workshops. Each of the new courses will be delivered in a world-class learning environment at either Moortown Golf Club or Royal Norwich Golf Club in England – in addition to the Bernhard Academy headquarters in Haverhill – and Gleneagles in Scotland. There will also be an interactive online webinar series, which will be delivered live from the Bernhard Academy in Haverhill.

The new programme features educational courses that fall under two categories: Management or Technical. Both categories will cover a range of essential topics to help achieve success in turf maintenance.

The Bernhard Academy Management Series is an interactive and engaging series of workshops that will provide guidance to those in supervisory, middle management, and senior management positions, supporting the transition through their careers. The courses available to book are:

– The power of understanding others: Develop crucial interpersonal skills to foster effective relationships within teams and with stakeholders
– Using data and information for solid decision making: Learn how to utilise data for well-informed decision-making in turf management

– Principles of innovation and how to generate great ideas in the workplace: Explore the foundations of innovation and techniques for generating creative ideas in a professional setting
– Managing finance, prepare and control budgets: Learn the fundamentals of budgets and how to deliver to your business needs
– Stakeholder communication and engagement techniques that work: Master the art of stakeholder management, a critical aspect of successful turf maintenance projects
– Transparent project management tools to achieve great results: Acquire project management skills to plan, execute, and oversee turf-related projects efficiently
– Change – how to prepare and manage effectively: Understand strategies for effectively preparing for and managing organisational change
– Performance management and unlocking maximum productivity: Learn techniques for optimising productivity through effective performance management

Additionally, the Bernhard Academy offers a technical, skills-based course:

– Cutting unit setup and sharpening techniques: This course provides hands-on training in the precise setup and maintenance of cutting units, ensuring agronomic and economical benefits and best quality of turf presentation and health

Craig Haldane, Director of Education for the Bernhard Academy, added: “At the Bernhard Academy, we are committed to empowering individuals in the sports turf and club management industry with the knowledge and skills they need to excel in their roles and careers. Our courses are designed to meet industry demands and have been created to allow attendees to take the next step in their career. We look forward to welcoming passionate participants that are eager to learn and continue driving this great industry forwards.”

Seize the opportunity to enhance your turf maintenance career by securing a place in one of the Bernhard Academy’s educational courses today and embark on a journey of professional growth.

For booking information, course details, registration, and support please visit the new user-friendly Bernhard Academy website: www.bernhardacademy.co.uk

For more information on the Bernhard Academy, you can visit the LinkedIn page: www.linkedin.com/company/bernhard-academy/

You can also find the Bernhard Academy on Twitter at @BernhardAcademy or on Instagram at @bernhard_academy.

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Johnsons J Tee proves the solution to shade issues at

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Johnsons J Tee proves the solution to shade issues at: A trial of J Tee from the Johnsons Sports Seed range has now been rolled out course-wide at Knutsford Golf Club in Cheshire, after solving a number of issues on their heavily shaded tees.

The combination of high footfall and a lack of sunlight caused by trees have previously posed a number of problems when it comes to the maintenance of the small tees, which Course Manager David Jones now claims to be a thing of the past thanks to the ‘second to none’ results from the J Tee mix.

Johnsons J Tee proves the solution to shade issues at

Johnsons J Tee proves the solution to shade issues at

Knutsford Golf Club, once part of National Trust site Tatton Park, is somewhat unique with a 10-green layout. While this enables golfers to play a different 9 and 18th hole, for David and his team of four, this means double the traffic on the tees which he admits used to let the overall course condition down. “We knew that removing trees to allow for better light and airflow was not going to be an option accepted by the members so we had to find another way” he explains. “I put an SOS call out to Stuart Yarwood, our Regional DLF Technical Manager, to see what we could do and the support and advice we’ve had has been brilliant.”

Stuart recommended Johnsons J Tee – combining 4Turf® tetraploid ryegrass along with traditional ryegrass and strong creeping red fescue. The additional inclusion of 5% Sabrena rough stalked meadow grass makes J Tee truly unique, creating a mixture that delivers exceptional disease resistance, rapid establishment and a hard-wearing sward even under heavy shade, making it ideal for golf tees and pathways. The fineness of leaf and shoot density of Sabrena is comparable to a high-quality bent cultivar, while its speed of establishment is akin to that of perennial ryegrass – enhanced further by DLF’s Growmax seed coating which enhances overseeding results in difficult conditions. In shade trials, Sabena is amongst the hardest wearing varieties on the market.

“We began a programme with J Tee in the spring, which has really come to fruition over the summer. The biggest difference has been the wear tolerance, the team and I have seen a noticeable improvement in sward density which is withstanding and the wear and tear.” David continues, “The 4th tee is the most shaded and even here, we’ve achieved outstanding coverage.”

The successes of J Tee come alongside three years of fantastic results with Johnsons J All Bent on the greens. “Our greens are over 100 years old and where other varieties have struggled with the drainage and poor soil profile, the strike we had from the J All Bent made this a no-brainer to continue.” He adds, “We’ve also noticed that we require less water and chemical inputs to maintain the greens, even in the difficult weather conditions we’ve all had these last couple of years, while still retaining good plant health and little to no disease.”

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ES-510 delivers at Cheltenham Ladies’ College

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ES-510 delivers at Cheltenham Ladies’ College: Ross Spry, Head of Grounds and Gardens at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, claims that his new Dennis ES-510 cylinder mower is supporting the college’s sustainability requirements.

Ross, who has been working at Cheltenham Ladies’ College for 15 months, explained the reasons behind choosing a battery-powered cylinder mower.

ES-510 delivers at Cheltenham Ladies’ College

ES-510 delivers at Cheltenham Ladies’ College

“It is College policy to be sustainable. Whenever we are thinking of purchasing a new product, we must always look for an environmentally friendly option first.

“We needed a new cylinder mower and there was only one battery-powered machine we looked at. That was from Dennis because I don’t think anything else can match their mowers.”

The mower Ross was keen to look at was the Dennis ES-510. The ES-510 is based on the popular Dennis FT510. With a choice of 12 interchangeable cassettes, the ES-510 is capable of scarifying down to -10mm. Ideal for fine turf it has the power to cut 10km on a single charge.

The ES-510 features a robust LCD keypad screen on the handlebar console providing the operator with a multitude of information options including speed, clip rate, service checks, lifetime running reports and battery information. Furthermore, traditional FT510 cassettes will also fit their battery-powered alternatives, meaning that customers will not have to purchase additional cassettes.

The aim with the Dennis E-Series is to help professionals meet sustainability and environmental initiatives, reduce carbon footprint emissions, running costs and noise without any range anxiety. Ross believes the ES-510 certainly delivers on all fronts.

“We knew we instantly wanted it following the demonstration,” he said. “It is very easy to use, and it provides an excellent cut every time. Every member of the team enjoys using the machine. Personally, I like being able to change the clip speed while I’m mowing, and the fact you can set the speed of the machine to suit your walking style is a great feature.”

The mowers take just 2 hours for an ultra-fast full battery recharge utilising a 1.5KWh battery and will help turf professionals meet sustainability and carbon neutral goals. The ultra-low HAV’s and noise allows operators to use the machines for a full day in any environment and along with the low maintenance, very low lifetime costs and significant cost savings on fuel are all benefits of the Dennis E-Series range.

“It is very comfortable to use, and you don’t get the vibrations which you get when using a petrol mower,” continued Ross.

“We predominately use it on our cricket square, but recently we used them on the College lawns during lesson time to see if we got any complaints. Normally, we would have to cut these lawns early before classes start because of the noise of the petrol mowers. Not one person said a single word after using the ES-510 because they are so quite in operation. The noise level alone is worth getting them for and these will be great for when exams are on.

“We never have any problems with the ES-510, and it is a joy to use.”

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on Twitter and Instagram @DennisMowers and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK. You can also view the latest Dennis videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers

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VMS keep operations ‘on track’

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VMS keep operations ‘on track’: One of the country’s leading de-vegetation contractors have explained why woodchippers from GreenMech are their go-to choice for safety and versatility in rail, waterway and commercial clearances.

Currently running a mixture of EVO 205D SURE-Trak and 19-28 SAFE-Trak models, the team at VMS have not only been impressed with performance but the technical guidance and back-up support too, claiming their experience to date has been second to none.

VMS keep operations ‘on track’

VMS keep operations ‘on track’

From humble beginnings in November 2017 where VMS began operations with two vans and a single woodchipper, their unique ability to undertake even the most complex of arboriculture projects has seen significant growth and expansion into three depots across the Midlands, North and Northwest. “From the start, the GreenMech’s with their industry-leading SAFE-Trak platform set us up on the right track for embankment working and tasks in remote locations where other brands and towed models simply weren’t up to task” explains Business Support Manager for VMS, James Harris.

“Together with accessibility and brilliant build quality, the GreenMech technology which enables each leg of the SAFE-Trak to be independently operated resulted in optimum slope safety for the operators and outstanding performance of the chipper itself.” As their reputation and customer book continued to grow, VMS have not only expanded their depots and ground team, but also their fleet of GreenMech’s – now utilising four SAFE-Trak 19-28’s and more recently adding three new EVO 205D SURE-Trak’s to their day to day operations.

The EVO 205D SURE-Trak extends the legacy of the iconic 19-28, combining an aggressive 8” chipping capacity with unrivalled climbing ability thanks to a pivoting track base which allows each track to be raised or lowered independently on the move. Powered by a 50hp Kubota diesel engine, the model includes horizontal rollers and a 6-blade heavy-duty flywheel promising to make light work of bulky brash and timber.

James adds, “The pivoting SURE-Trak system has come into its own on some of our key contract work with the river and rail networks, with its extra power not going unnoticed. Particularly in the rail sector, we’re working to tight timeframes to get the work complete – the EVO 205D’s can handle the huge amount of material we need to process.”

The tight timeframes also mean that the equipment needs to deliver reliable service and be backed up with professional support when required. “The availability and supply of parts are notoriously challenging at the moment, yet with GreenMech we’ve never had an issue in six years! If we need something, it’s often on site in a day or two which makes such a difference operationally. We also now hold an impressive number of parts in stock so sometimes issues can be rectified on the spot.”

He adds, “On the odd occasion where mechanics have been unable to resolve a problem, GreenMech have even gone as far as loaning us a machine to ensure we’re able to get contracts complete. Everything with the chippers and the service are a fantastic fit for what we need.”

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