GMA campaign kicks-off to attract future workforce

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GMA campaign kicks-off to attract future workforce: New research to coincide with #GroundsWeek finds high levels of job satisfaction and fulfilment among grounds staff and volunteers, urging those outside of the industry to try grounds management

  • Those who work outdoors get greater fulfilment from their roles, and feel more rewarded than those who work behind a desk (77% vs 47%)
  • 63% of grounds staff and volunteers “love” their job, and almost all (90%) are passionate about the sector
  • Key attributes of a career in grounds management include being outdoors and active, taking pride in the end result, working in sport, and the day-to-day variety
  • This #GroundsWeek, the GMA is encouraging more people to work outdoors in sectors like grounds management or horticulture  
GMA campaign kicks-off to attract future workforce

GMA campaign kicks-off to attract future workforce

The Grounds Management Association (GMA), the leading not-for-profit membership body for grounds professionals and volunteers, is marking its annual #GroundsWeek (28th February – 6th March) with a campaign to help tackle the lack of skilled talent coming into the industry.

Targeting young people and those already in employment in other sectors, #GroundsWeek aims to reach those taking stock of their personal and professional trajectories and reassessing what they truly want from life. With the backdrop of the pandemic, fulfilment is key.

The GMA’s recent survey of over three hundred grounds staff and volunteers show high levels of job satisfaction and fulfilment, with 63% saying they “love” their job, and almost all (90%) report being passionate about the sector. Some of the key attributes of a career in grounds management, as reported by both paid staff and volunteers, include:

  • Being outdoors and active
  • Taking pride in the end result
  • Working in sport
  • The day-to-day variety
  • Working as part of a team
  • Learning new skills

Geoff Webb, CEO of the GMA, says: “After highlighting the recruitment crisis, now we want to show the world the true potential of working in grounds management. Work can dominate most of our time so it’s important to consider how a job makes us feel. We know there are challenges across the sector, but we also know that grounds management is a varied and rewarding role – it gives people who love sport and outdoor activities the opportunity to work in a variety of settings like iconic sports venues, educational grounds, parks and estates, as well as across local community sports facilities. By sharing the positives and tackling the misconceptions that exist, we hope to attract more talent into the sector.”

To coincide with this year’s #GroundsWeek, the GMA has also released separate research highlighting that people with jobs in the outdoors, including grounds staff, get greater fulfilment from their roles, with 77% saying they feel rewarded and a strong sense of achievement at the end of each day. This is compared to 47% of people working behind a desk. The research further highlights that those working indoors or behind a desk feel a greater negative impact on their physical (43% vs 35%) and mental health (50% vs 18%), compared with those who work outside.

The research also reveals that 83% of indoor workers would consider a career change, with the desire to learn new things (49%), greater variety of daily tasks (33%), and wanting to spend more time outdoors (73%), being the most commonly cited reasons. What’s more, over a third (34%) of indoor workers feel unfulfilled in their current roles. In contrast, 73% of outdoor workers view their current role, and its future opportunities, as a career for life.

Geoff Webb continues: “Grounds staff work with skill, dedication, and passion to produce quality surfaces for sports and recreational spaces all year round. Labelled the ‘hidden profession’, a key focus for us now is helping more young people and those outside of the sector understand what it involves, and how to get into grounds.”

With a booming sports sector in the UK and growing demand in the turf care sector for skilled talent, the GMA is encouraging more young people and those tempted by a career change to consider a career in grounds management. To encourage more young people into the sector, the GMA has been working closely with schools through its ‘Schools into Stadia’ initiative, which introduces GCSE-level school children to the art of grounds management through a series of one-day workshops, showcasing the profession as an ideal opportunity to work in an outdoor environment within sport.

The GMA is also working to elevate the grounds sector by tackling its misconceptions and upskilling future workforce through its training and qualifications. Its annual salary framework is imperative to shaping the future of grounds management and help employers understand minimum rates of pay based on the skills required at each level.

John Wright, Chair of the GMA Young Board, and Head Grounds Manager at Southampton FC, says: “I joined this sector a decade ago because I love sport and the outdoors, and this is a career that allows me to be involved with both. Now, I can’t imagine doing anything else. 

“There are vast opportunities for people in this sector and career fulfilment is something that so many of us within it feel on a day-to-day basis. This #GroundsWeek, I hope young people and those who might not feel satisfied in their current job think about learning more about grounds management, because this could definitely be the right career move for them.”

For more information about the GMA and this year’s GroundsWeek campaign, visit: [thegma.org.uk/groundsweek]

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New name for ICL’s concentrated seaweed extract

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New name for ICL’s concentrated seaweed extract: ICL is rebranding its alkaline-extracted seaweed ‘SeaMax’ as ‘SMX’.

SMX is a highly concentrated Atlantic Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed, harvested from sustainable and renewable sources by Acadian Seaplants.

New name for ICL’s concentrated seaweed extract

New name for ICL’s concentrated seaweed extract

For any turf professional it is important to weigh up the evidence from product trials. Multiple trials carried out using SMX clearly demonstrate how seaweed extract improves the condition and rooting of the turf. This is because the SMX extraction process retains important and influential biochemical compounds.

As an example, research recently published in the European Turfgrass Society Proceedings showed how different Ascophyllum nodosum extraction methods produced contrasting effects on turfgrass rooting. The alkaline-extraction method (as used in the production of SMX) produced significantly greater root length and root volume than other commonly used extractions.

Independent trials also showed that SMX helped the turfgrass produce longer roots, a greater root mass and it improved the quality of growth (shoot weight), compared to competitor products or controlled conditions (using no seaweed extract). Trials that placed the turf under drought conditions, showed that the turf quality and colour improved noticeably when treated with SMX.  In addition, when SMX has been included in annual nutritional programmes, the turf quality remained significantly higher throughout the autumn and in the lead up to winter.

Although the name might have changed, the formulation is the same. SMX is available as a standalone product in water soluble form (Sportsmaster WSF SMX) and in liquid form (Vitalnova SMX). It is also included as an effective dose in SierraformGT Spring & Summer CalMag 14-0-7 as well as the new organo-mineral fertiliser Gronamic Golf 6-2-4.

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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EVO 205D emerges victorious

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EVO 205D emerges victorious: After putting a selection of 8” woodchippers through their paces, it was the EVO 205D from GreenMech that proved to be a cut above for Myers Tree Services.

Owner Jamie Myers has been in the industry for 30 years and admits that his early experiences of GreenMech weren’t always ‘overly positive’, however, the fantastic performance of a second-hand SAFE-Trak 19-28 soon changed that opinion – paving the way for their new EVO 205D to take power and usability to new heights!

EVO 205D emerges victorious

EVO 205D emerges victorious

Conducting the majority of their work across Surrey and West London, Myers Tree Services have built up a large portfolio of commercial and domestic customers in their 25 years of trading. “With projects of all shapes and sizes, we were looking to upgrade an existing 6” machine for an 8” to make things quicker and easier for the guys on the ground” explains Jamie. “We went to another manufacturer who we’d had machines from in the past, but feeling underwhelmed with their 8” offering, we used that opportunity to see what else was out there.”

“Our opinion of GreenMech was transformed a few years ago when we purchased a SAFE-Trak unit which continues to give us nothing but fantastic, consistent performance so we took a look at their 8” EVO 205D and were seriously impressed. It was really the performance and high levels of reliability we’ve had with GreenMech that sealed the deal for us.” The 205D was supplied by local dealers GA Groundcare Ltd in August 2021 and, since its delivery, has exceeded Jamie’s expectations when it comes to power. “It’s an amazing machine. We looked at chippers with some serious throughput capability and the EVO is more than on par, giving us a machine on our fleet that is both easy to use, and powerful enough to process whatever we need it to.”

At the heart of the 205D is a 50hp Kubota diesel engine, offering a processing capacity of up to 25 cubic metres of material per hour, making it one of the most productive machines in its category. Strength, durability and ease of maintenance are at the forefront of its design – something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by Jamie. “With the EVO range, you can tell GreenMech have thought about how the operator really uses the machine. Giving easy access to all of the components that require servicing makes our lives so much easier and whenever we’ve needed advice, GreenMech have given us fantastic, prompt technical support, meaning it hasn’t skipped a beat in months.”

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Trime take pole position

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Trime take pole position: Trime, the market leading manufacturer and supplier of sustainable lighting towers and associated equipment, have expanded their T-ZERO range with the introduction of a brand new tower light, the X-POLE SOLAR PRO.

The Trime X-POLE SOLAR PRO is a brand new emission and noise free lighting tower. It is an upgrade on the original X-POLE SOLAR, with a whole host of new features and benefits. X-POLE SOLAR PRO features a single 40watt high luminous, energy saving LED lamp fitted to a 5.5metre mast that delivers an illuminated area of 400 sq.m. Power to the 110Ah (Absorbent Glass Mat) AGM battery is via a high efficiency and multi-directional (in three positions) solar panel which is fully protected against most weather conditions. There is also a useful battery level indicator.

Trime take pole position

Trime take pole position

The X-POLE SOLAR PRO is fitted (as standard) with an automatic start-up PIR operation, together with handy dimmable lighting. It offers extensive running times of 15 hours at 100% illumination and 58hours in dimmed operation. The complete unit has tough galvanized metal works of 80 μm attractively finished. There are also galvanized forklift pockets base for safe, effective manoeuvrability from all sides. There is also a handy central lifting hook.

The X-POLE SOLAR PRO is ideally suited to provide zero emission lighting in a variety of situations, including construction sites, outdoor events, car parks and anywhere else that needs energy saving, noise-free illumination,

Trime have on offer some optional features for the X-POLE SOLAR PRO including; a telemetry system for remote location and operational monitoring.

The Trime X-POLE SOLAR PRO is just one product in a complete line up of sustainable, fossil-fuel free lighting towers. The complete T-ZERO range can be view on the company website – www.trimeuk.com.

The Trime Group has over 50 years of experience in the manufacture, development and marketing of environmentally sustainable lighting sets for the rail, off-shore, event, construction and rental markets. Trime equipment is distributed worldwide. Trime UK is headquartered in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire; their manufacturing plant is based near Milan, Italy.

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Midlothian Council making an impact with Pellenc

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Midlothian Council making an impact with Pellenc: Midlothian may be one of the smallest councils in Scotland, but it is certainly making a big impact with a little help from a range of Pellenc battery-powered equipment.  

“I think we are the second smallest local authority by area in Scotland,” said Jim Hay, Grounds Maintenance Manager for Midlothian Council. “However, as far as we are aware we have more electric equipment than any of the other councils and we’re trying to lead the way in this respect.”

Midlothian Council making an impact with Pellenc

Midlothian Council making an impact with Pellenc

From managing teams to choosing equipment, Jim is responsible for overseeing the maintenance of all the grounds and green spaces throughout Midlothian. One of his biggest responsibilities is the health and safety of the personnel who are operating grounds maintenance equipment, and it is for this very reason that he first started exploring battery-powered technology.

“We identified that the Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV) measurements on the majority of our petrol equipment were not ideal and felt that battery-powered machinery was the solution,” said Jim. “For this reason, we looked at a wide-range of equipment from various manufacturers. Unfortunately, we found that most of the equipment was not to a professional standard – it appeared to be more suited to domestic use.

“Pellenc however, was different. As far as we are concerned, Pellenc is by far the best professional equipment in the battery-powered market.”

A forerunner when it comes to lithium-ion technology, Pellenc has established itself as the number one choice in the ‘zero emission’ professional power tools market for the maintenance of urban and green-spaces.

Light, odourless, noise-free, with no starting problems and enough power to enable professional users to work for a full day on a single charge, it’s no wonder more and more professional users are turning to Pellenc. It is an attractive alternative to those who have, for several years, been relying on fuel-based machinery.

A demonstration was arranged through Pellenc dealer Agrovista Amenity, and Midlothian Council purchased a wide range of Pellenc products which included Rasion pedestrian mowers, Helion hedge trimmers, Selion chainsaws, Excelion grass strimmers and Airion blowers.

The equipment is already making a positive difference in many areas throughout the borough of Midlothian as Jim explained.

“The Pellenc tools are used in a lot of the local schools because we can operate them when classes are on or when exams are in progress, due to how quiet the machinery is. It’s the same when we work close to residential homes or the public in general.

“Aside from the equipment being so quiet it is just so much easier and more comfortable for the staff. With our old petrol machinery, they could only use it for three hours at a time because of the HAV levels, but they can use the Pellenc tools all day. The battery life is excellent, and we can run them all day if needed.

“I’ve had nothing but positive feedback from everyone using it.”

Jim claims that his experience has been boosted by the dedicated Pellenc technical centre – which was launched after Agrovista Amenity joined forces with Edinburgh City Council. It means that customers like Jim, have access to dedicated Pellenc operatives who have been fully trained at the state-of-the-art Pellenc factory in Pertuis, France.

“We have definitely benefited from the Pellenc service centre,” he said. “Whenever I need a machine serviced, looking at, or need any advice then I can just call the team there. It’s a fantastic service and when the Pellenc equipment goes in for a service it is always returned very quickly.”

Jim feels that the purchase of the Pellenc equipment is another step in the right direction for Midlothian Council.

“The public are becoming more ‘green aware’ – and we are doing our utmost to boost our green credentials. We first started investing in electric equipment five years ago we are proud of what we have achieved already.

“Going forward we are keen to record the savings in CO2 emissions from this change in power source to further demonstrate our green credentials. We are already telling people to keep their eyes peeled because we have more electric equipment coming.”

Pellenc is distributed exclusively in the UK by Etesia UK.

For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit www.pellencuk.com

You can also follow Pellenc on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @PellencUK for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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