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GMA campaign kicks-off to attract future workforce

February 28, 2022/in News, Press Release/by External Source

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 […]

New name for ICL’s concentrated seaweed extract

February 28, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

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. For any turf professional it is important to weigh up the evidence from product trials. Multiple trials carried out using SMX […]

GMA campaign kicks-off to attract future workforce

February 28, 2022/in News, Press Release/by External Source

New name for ICL’s concentrated seaweed extract

February 28, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

GMA campaign kicks-off to attract future workforce

February 28, 2022/in News, Press Release/by External Source

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

The Grounds Management Association (GMA), the leading not-for-profit membership body for grounds professionals and volunteers, is marking its annual #GroundsWeek (28^th February – 6^th 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

February 28, 2022/in News, Press Release/by Lucy Nicholls

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

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

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

GMA campaign kicks-off to attract future workforce

New name for ICL’s concentrated seaweed extract

GMA campaign kicks-off to attract future workforce

New name for ICL’s concentrated seaweed extract

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

GMA campaign kicks-off to attract future workforce

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

New name for ICL’s concentrated seaweed extract

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

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