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Barry lands exciting new role

June 21, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Barry lands exciting new role: When people say the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, Barry Browne is among those who scan the landscape and honestly say that for him and his team it absolutely is. With 20 years of industry experience Barry is ideally positioned to lead the growth of ProGreen, a […]

Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finals line-up

June 21, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finals line-up: A former IT recruiter, a hotel doorman, a county cricketer and a heavy metal guitarist are just some of the finalists of the most prestigious awards event in the student greenkeeping calendar. The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and co-founders and sponsors Toro and Reesink […]

Barry lands exciting new role

June 21, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finals line-up

June 21, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Barry lands exciting new role

June 21, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Barry lands exciting new role: When people say the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, Barry Browne is among those who scan the landscape and honestly say that for him and his team it absolutely is.

With 20 years of industry experience Barry is ideally positioned to lead the growth of ProGreen, a highly-regarded business which supports a range of sectors around the UK and Ireland.

Barry lands exciting new role

ProGreen, owned by the part employee-owned WCF Ltd, is a specialist business which ensures the likes of top golf courses, Premier League football pitches, famous country houses and estates, Commonwealth War Graves and a range of landscaping environments including holiday parks and highways, look their best thanks to their market leading products, bespoke training and expert advisers.

ProGreen is well-known for offering trusted advice with its knowledgeable and professionally qualified team ensuring its customers receive the optimum product or service for their needs.

It also offers both conventional classroom-based training on the safe use of pesticides and e-learning courses in a range of sectors.

Through its own Peterborough-based operation and its link-up with Amazon it supplies a wide range of weed killers, moss and algae control products, fertilisers and grass seed, as well as providing a comprehensive range of sprayers, granule application equipment and accessories.

Barry, who was appointed as ProGreen’s General Manager earlier this year, knows this industry inside out, and when the opportunity arose to join the company he knew it was an ideal fit.

Barry said: “When I met with Phil Muray (WCF’s Deputy Managing Director) I knew that ProGreen and I were on the same journey.

“I know how to grow this business and what its potential can be. It can really take off from where it is. It is highly regarded and trusted by its suppliers and customers and has an ideal platform to grow.

“The team here is amazing. The level of qualifications they have and the specialist knowledge they can share with customers is second to none. From soil analysis to their training portfolio, from fertilisers to sprayers, they are trained to give the best possible advice so that customers get the right products for their particular situation and scenario at the right price.

“We build long-term relationships with customers, whether that’s large businesses and organisations or individual consumers – we treat them all with the same attention and respect.

“They trust our advice and our products and we are there for them to hold their hand and share our knowledge with them through the process.”

Among the diverse sectors of ProGreen’s corporate clients are:

agriculture businesses
commercial contract spraying companies
football clubs
golf courses
local authorities
highways
housing developers
shopping centres and retail parks

ProGreen also ensures its team are trained to give the latest up-to-date advice on a range of emerging topics, from Biodiversity Net Gain legislation with advice on trees, grasses, meadows and wildflowers; to the latest changes in planning developments; from advice on dealing with invasive plants like knotweed, buddleia and bamboo to some of the more unusual issues such as from outbreaks of bed bugs affecting the hotel and leisure industry.

“We can advise customers on a whole range of issues,” said Barry. “When housing developers are wanting a wildflower meadow for example we are able to advise on the best UK native wildflowers which will support the British bee population, which in turn will provide the best, long-term, sustainable net gain.

“Whatever the challenge, the ProGreen team is available to discuss the best solution for the customer,” said Barry.

Phil said: “We are delighted to have brought Barry on board to lead our expert team at ProGreen. Barry is an ideal fit for our business and our people and brings with him more than 20 years of experience in this sector.

“We are excited about how the company can grow by expanding our offering and building on our excellent reputation for providing our customers with top quality advice, training, products and services.”

As well as being available online, over the phone and in person, the ProGreen team also exhibits and demonstrates at a range of major trade events including:

UK Lawn Care Association Summer Festival at Brailsford Golf Club, Derbyshire on June 26;
GroundFest, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire; September 10 & 11;
FutureScape Landscape and Trade Exhibition, Excel, London, on October 15 & 16.

For more information visit https://www.progreen.co.uk

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

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Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finals line-up

June 21, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finals line-up: A former IT recruiter, a hotel doorman, a county cricketer and a heavy metal guitarist are just some of the finalists of the most prestigious awards event in the student greenkeeping calendar.

The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and co-founders and sponsors Toro and Reesink UK have revealed the line-up for the 2024 Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards. Now in its 35^th year, the awards have helped unearth some of the brightest talents within the turf management industry and laid the foundations for decades of professional success.

Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finals line-up

Held at Oulton Hall in Leeds on 2-4 September, the finalists will compete in a series of challenges that are designed to test their technical knowledge and passion for the greenkeeping profession. Winners will then be crowned in the categories of Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year and Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year.

BIGGA Learning and Development Manager Deb Burnett said: “Whether joining the industry fresh from full-time education or opting to switch after a career elsewhere, our finalists are a diverse group, but they demonstrate the extraordinary talent that is present in today’s golf greenkeeping industry. The degree of knowledge they possess is testament to the quality of training they receive, both at work and with their training providers, and we’re looking forward to welcoming them all to the finals in Leeds in September for what stands to be an exciting couple of days.”

David Timms, National Accounts Manager at Reesink UK and Young award category judge, said: “We are very much looking forward to again welcoming this year’s finalists to the long list of student greenkeepers who have made it to this stage previously. The interviews this year were all of a high calibre and showcased how positive the future of the industry is. On behalf of everyone at Reesink UK and Toro, we wish all the finalists good look and will see them in September for the next part of their journey.”

The Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finalists are:

Patrick Brown, greenkeeper at Wentworth Club and student at Berkshire College of Agriculture
Jack Chapman, apprentice greenkeeper at The Grove and student at Capel Manor College
Matt McCreadie, greenkeeper at Tadmarton Heath Golf Club and student at Myerscough College
Jack Vowell, greenkeeper at Farrington Park Golf Club and student at Bridgwater & Taunton College
Jack Wellings, greenkeeper at JCB Golf & Country Club and student at Myerscough College

The Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year finalists are:

Morgan Bowen, greenkeeper at Nevill Golf Club and student at North Kent College
Alex Fox, apprentice greenkeeper at Woodhall Spa Golf Club and student at Bishop Burton College
William Moore, apprentice greenkeeper at Kilworth Springs Golf Club and student at Myerscough College
Daniel Parker, greenkeeper at Knighton Heath Golf Club and Sparsholt College
Cameron Redden, apprentice greenkeeper at Strathmore Golf Centre and SRUC Elmwood College

To be eligible for the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year category, candidates must have been a greenkeeper for a minimum of 12 months and be studying towards the Level 2 Golf Greenkeeper or Level 3 Advanced Golf Greenkeeper qualifications.

To be eligible for the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year category, candidates must be aged 21 or under and studying towards the Level 2 award at the time of application.

More information about the finalists can be found on the BIGGA website, where you can also find information about the incredible prizes on offer for the awards winners and their endorsers and the runners-up in each category, including a 10-week placement on one of the industry’s most influential training courses.

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)

Barry lands exciting new role

Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finals line-up

Barry lands exciting new role

Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finals line-up

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Barry lands exciting new role

Barry lands exciting new role: When people say the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, Barry Browne is among those who scan the landscape and honestly say that for him and his team it absolutely is.

Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finals line-up

Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year finals line-up: A former IT recruiter, a hotel doorman, a county cricketer and a heavy metal guitarist are just some of the finalists of the most prestigious awards event in the student greenkeeping calendar.

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