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BTME and Continue to Learn bookings surpass 2024 numbers

December 17, 2024/in Events, News, Press Release/by Admin

BTME and Continue to Learn bookings surpass 2024 numbers: The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) is gearing up for a bumper edition of its annual trade show and education conference and with only a handful of exhibition stands available and education bookings at an all-time high, anticipation for the event is stronger than […]

GroundsFest Education Fund Helps Student Land Career

December 17, 2024/in Industry News, News, Press Release/by Admin

GroundsFest Education Fund Helps Student Land Career: The GroundsFest Education Fund is already making a significant impact on the next generation of grounds management professionals, with several students already benefitting from its support. The most recent success story is George Legg, a student studying Sports Turf NVQ Level 2 at Wiltshire College and an Apprentice […]

BTME and Continue to Learn bookings surpass 2024 numbers

December 17, 2024/in Events, News, Press Release/by Admin

GroundsFest Education Fund Helps Student Land Career

December 17, 2024/in Industry News, News, Press Release/by Admin

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BTME and Continue to Learn bookings surpass 2024 numbers

December 17, 2024/in Events, News, Press Release/by Admin

BTME and Continue to Learn bookings surpass 2024 numbers: The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) is gearing up for a bumper edition of its annual trade show and education conference and with only a handful of exhibition stands available and education bookings at an all-time high, anticipation for the event is stronger than ever.

By early December, stand bookings had already exceeded the overall total achieved for the 2024 edition of the show, while the Continue to Learn education programme has achieved over 1,000 bookings at its earliest point ever. BIGGA is proud that BTME’s reputation as the official start of the sports turf calendar is growing, with all elements of the event increasing substantially year on year.

BTME and Continue to Learn bookings surpass 2024 numbers

To date, 133 stands have been allocated across 4,105m²of exhibition space at the Harrogate Convention Centre. In 2024, the total exhibition space was 4,086m². To accommodate this demand, BIGGA has introduced innovative solutions including the debut of the Industry Launchpad attraction.

Key industry partners due to return to the event include The R&A, BAGMA, EIGCA, Grounds Management Association, England Golf and the GCMA, underscoring BTME’s influential role in the UK golf industry.

The trade show also supports BIGGA’s flagship education initiative, Continue to Learn. Open to anyone working withing golf greenkeeping and sports turf management, the programme has already seen exceptional demand with 80% of Continue to Learn: Classes already sold out. The Continue to Learn: Conference programme is also proving popular and during the first week in December, BIGGA reached its 1,000^th Continue to Learn booking, a milestone achieved earlier than ever before.

Jim Croxton, BIGGA CEO, said: “I’m incredibly proud of the BIGGA team, whose dedication and innovation has propelled BTME and Continue to Learn to new heights. Their commitment to creating an exceptional experience for our members and the wider turf industry has established BTME as a cornerstone of the golfing calendar that is growing in size and reputation each year.

“The strong support for Continue to Learn also highlights a positive shift in attitudes towards greenkeeper education. The golf industry has a growing appetite for education and training and Continue to Learn and BTME are the ideal format for that to take place. This enthusiasm for professional development bodes well for the future of our sport and the industry as a whole.”

Robotic machinery manufacturer Kress will be exhibiting at BTME for the second time, having made its debut at BTME 2024. Kress was recently announced as headline sponsor of the BIGGA Celebration, which takes place on the opening evening of the event in the Harrogate Convention Centre’s Royal Hall.

Nicki Jones, Kress Head of Marketing, said: “At Kress, we are delighted to attend the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition and proud to host the BIGGA Celebration, including the highly regarded BIGGA Awards. We are well aware of BTME’s stellar reputation within the industry as a premier event for showcasing innovation and excellence in turf management. This makes it a particularly exciting and meaningful opportunity for us to actively participate. Kress is dedicated to driving innovation and sustainability in the sector and we look forward to connecting with the talented professionals who make this industry thrive.”

Registration for BTME is open now. For more information about the trade show and the Continue to Learn education programme, visit www.btme.org.uk.

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GroundsFest Education Fund Helps Student Land Career

December 17, 2024/in Industry News, News, Press Release/by Admin

GroundsFest Education Fund Helps Student Land Career: The GroundsFest Education Fund is already making a significant impact on the next generation of grounds management professionals, with several students already benefitting from its support.

The most recent success story is George Legg, a student studying Sports Turf NVQ Level 2 at Wiltshire College and an Apprentice at Stanley Park Sports Ground. Thanks to the Fund, George was able to finance essential qualifications that played a key role in him securing a full-time position at Stanley Park Sports Ground after completing his Level 2 qualification.

GroundsFest Education Fund Helps Student Land Career

One of the key certifications George was able to pursue through the Education Fund was the PA1 qualification in the Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides, as well as the PA6 qualification for the Safe Use of Pesticides with Handheld Applicators. These qualifications are crucial for anyone working in grounds management, particularly when it comes to managing fertilisers and ensuring the safe application of pesticides—a vital aspect of maintaining sports turf and other landscapes.

“The Education Fund helped massively,” George explains. “Once I had those qualifications on my CV, it was a massive boost. It made me more qualified to do certain things and definitely made me more employable.”

He continues, “I needed some extra funding to be able to do these courses, and the PA6 is especially important for grounds management with fertilisers and calibrations. It linked in perfectly with everything I was studying. Having those extra qualifications was big for me and for Stanley Park, especially because they didn’t have to fund them themselves.”

The Education Fund not only enabled George to obtain these qualifications, but it also allowed him to gain valuable skills without burdening his employer, Stanley Park Sports Ground, with the costs. This, according to George, is crucial in a time when the grounds management industry is facing a shortage of qualified professionals. “The GroundsFest Education Fund is great for creating opportunities for people like me,” he says. “It’s crucial because we are seeing more and more people drop out of the industry. There’s already a lack of groundstaff, and without funding or support, it becomes much harder for people to progress.”

In January, George will begin his new role as a full-time Groundsperson at Stanley Park, where he will be responsible for day-to-day tasks such as line marking, mowing, calibration, and operating machinery safely. Looking ahead, George hopes to continue advancing in his career. “I’d like to eventually become a Grounds Manager,” he shares.

Christopher Bassett, Event Director of GroundsFest, expressed his excitement about George’s success and the broader impact of the Education Fund. “This is fantastic news,” he says. “We are currently working hard on entering the next phase of the Education Fund, which will see the profits from the event reaching an even wider range of people in the industry. Watch this space.”

The GroundsFest Education Fund is an integral part of the event’s mission to invest in the future of the grounds management industry. The Fund is helping to address the challenges facing the sector, from skills shortages to the declining number of young people entering the industry. Through initiatives like this, GroundsFest is playing a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of industry leaders.

For more information, please visit www.groundsfest.com

You can also follow GroundsFest on X, Facebook and Instagram @GroundsFest for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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)

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BTME and Continue to Learn bookings surpass 2024 numbers

GroundsFest Education Fund Helps Student Land Career

BTME and Continue to Learn bookings surpass 2024 numbers

GroundsFest Education Fund Helps Student Land Career

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

BTME and Continue to Learn bookings surpass 2024 numbers

GroundsFest Education Fund Helps Student Land Career

GroundsFest Education Fund Helps Student Land Career: The GroundsFest Education Fund is already making a significant impact on the next generation of grounds management professionals, with several students already benefitting from its support.

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