Tag Archive for: Academy

Bernhard Academy appoints Craig Haldane

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Bernhard Academy appoints Craig Haldane: Industry-leader in sports turf technologies, Bernhard and Company, has announced the appointment of a new Director of Education for the Bernhard Academy.

The company’s latest senior acquisition, Craig Haldane, will take up his new role with immediate effect, taking the lead in developing the Bernhard Academy. Over the coming months, he will play an important role in developing the training programmes that will form key elements of the Academy.

Bernhard Academy appoints Craig Haldane

Bernhard Academy appoints Craig Haldane

Speaking on Haldane’s appointment, Bernhard and Company Managing Director, Steven Nixon, said: “We’re thrilled to unveil Craig as Director of Education for the Bernhard Academy. Craig has had an outstanding career as Golf Courses Manager at Gleneagles and at some of the best venues in the Middle East. He’s undoubtedly one of the most well-respected and knowledgeable members of the industry and brings with him a passion and drive to help others.”

Discussing his new role, Haldane added: “I’m delighted to be following my passion, which is developing both the industry and its people. My career has allowed me to understand the need for education to continue to move forward, and the Bernhard Academy has a wonderful opportunity to provide that. To be given the chance to lead that process and develop these educational programmes for the future is really exciting.”

Haldane starts his new position at Bernhard and Company with 26 years of experience in the golf and turf industries behind him. After spending many years in the Middle East, working in both Bahrain and Dubai at venues such as the Emirates Golf Club, he took on the role of Golf Courses Manager at Gleneagles in 2018. During his time there, he oversaw the playing of the Solheim Cup and more recently the Senior Open Championship.

The Bernhard Academy is located at the company’s factory in Haverhill, with further satellite training facilities at Moortown Golf Club and Royal Norwich. Haldane and his team will be refining existing training modules in addition to creating entirely new programmes designed to help greenkeepers and turf professionals take their performance to the next level.

To find out more about Bernhard and Company, and the Bernhard Academy, head online to: www.bernhard.co.uk

To contact Craig Haldane, Bernhard and Company Director of Education, please email: craig.haldane@bernhard.co.uk

Find Bernhard and Company on their official social media channels:

  • Twitter – @BernhardCompany
  • Facebook – Bernhard Company
  • Instagram – @BernhardCompany

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ISEKI an academy all-rounder

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ISEKI an academy all-rounder: Mark Pinfold, Head Groundsman at the Thomas Deacon Academy, was looking for a multi-tasking compact tractor – and after a lengthy search he found what he was looking for in the ISEKI TXGS24.

The Thomas Deacon Academy is an independent state school located in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, and comprises the Thomas Deacon Academy Secondary School and sixth form and The Junior Academy.

ISEKI an academy all-rounder

ISEKI an academy all-rounder

Mark and his team are responsible for maintaining the sports facilities and the grounds across all three of the Academy’s sites. It is safe to say that they have their work cut out with such a vast area, so anything that makes life easier is a must-have according to Mark. When it came to choosing a new multi-tasking tractor, it wasn’t a decision to be taken lightly.

“We were looking for a tractor that had more than one use,” said Mark. “It needed to be mobile and compact enough to be put on a trailer to be moved from site to site; and we also needed to be able to use various attachments with it.

“Obviously we had a budget to work with and so we went round many different dealers and looked at lots of options but the one we decided on was the ISEKI TXGS24.”

The TXGS24 is an easy to use, versatile tractor with all the features and benefits of a much larger tractor. With a flat easy-access platform it is simple to operate and easy to master. Clear automotive style dashboard and controls, fully auto style hydrostatic transmission with switchable 4WD traction drive make the ISEKI TXGS24 very user-friendly. Individual forward and reverse pedals give the operator precise control.

Its compact dimensions and powerful 23 hp diesel engine make the ISEKI TXGS24 an excellent multi-purpose ground care tractor. Robust enough to take a front loader or backhoe and countless other implements via a Cat 1 3-point hitch including collectors and centre mounted mowing deck, rear mowers, rotavators, levellers and harrows; this is a very versatile machine for any application.

Mark purchased the tractor through ISEKI dealer Fentons of Bourne and he hasn’t looked back since.

“It really is a great piece of kit,” said Mark. “The wide width of the cutting deck makes our life easier, and it has lots of other nice little perks such as a cup holder, a comfortable seat, and a little storage compartment where I can put my phone or other items.

“We Also purchased the front loader, and we use this for moving soil and bark around, sand and cement, salt bags in winter and for carrying various hand tools. On the back we have the option of putting a roller on, which is ideal for our cricket and football pitches. I also like the fact it is road legal.

“I would absolutely recommend this tractor because it is such a great all-rounder.”

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Green-tech takes advantage of Rain Bird academy

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Green-tech takes advantage of Rain Bird academy: Green-tech is the UK’s largest landscape supplier and key members of the company’s team have participated in a Rain Bird Academy training programme for irrigation professionals. The course was held at Green-tech’s headquarters in Arkendale near Harrogate in Spring 2022 and led by Eric Hendrickx, Rain Bird’s Contractor and Public Agency Specialist for Benelux and UK.

In 2021 Green-tech joined forces with its parent company Origin Amenity and Rain Bird to provide its customers with access to the world’s leading irrigation product portfolio for the landscape sector. As part of the on-going relationship between the organisations, the two day training programme covered Concepts and Techniques For Designing A State of the Art Irrigation System and The Selection and Adjustment of Irrigation Equipment.

Green-tech takes advantage of Rain Bird academy

Green-tech takes advantage of Rain Bird academy

With the emphasis on both theoretical and practical training, the course was tailored to Green-tech’s requirements and covered many topics including irrigation system design, sprinkler selection and installation, calculation of flow rates and watering schedules, maintenance of nozzles and the creation of irrigation programs to suit the characteristics of a landscaping project.
Richard Wexham, Green-tech’s Specification Manager, comments: “ We feel it is important to keep abreast of the latest technology in irrigation and offer our customer base the best solutions available. We found the Rain Bird A1 and A2 training courses informative and useful, packed with practical advice. Green-tech is delighted to be able to offer this world leading irrigation product portfolioto the landscape sector.”

Rain Bird Academy’s training programmes are designed for irrigation professionals with all levels of experience and there are over 40 courses or workshops available. They are all taught by certified trainers and undergo regular updates to ensure classes contain the most current and relevant information. Contact: Peter Longman, Rain Bird Europe, plongman@rainbird.eu

www.rainbird.eu

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The Agrovista Amenity Academy

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The Agrovista Amenity Academy: The Agrovista Amenity Academy, which is free to sign-up to, is an online learning resource providing in-depth Knowledge courses on subjects such as turf disease, chemicals, product application, turf pests, managing moss, frost, weeds, and thatch as well as courses for all products sold by Agrovista Amenity. 

The Product courses have been designed so that the individual can fully understand and get maximum benefits from the products they purchase. With knowledge and product courses being added on a regular basis, Academy students are guaranteed to have a wide variety to choose from.

The Agrovista Amenity Academy

The Agrovista Amenity Academy

The Academy has already shown significant growth with over 11,000 CPD points awarded so far. Furthermore, many greenkeepers and course managers are benefitting from a CPD partnership with BIGGA, which enables BIGGA’s members to embark on any course they choose without having to go through an employer. BIGGA allocates up to 4 points for all successfully completed courses and can vary depending on content and length.

The Academy website also boasts a highly sophisticated weather system which helps people make better decisions for the week ahead. Understanding the effects of weather when managing sports turf surfaces is a key skill required by all turf managers and CPD points are awarded for studying the weather report and passing a short test.

“It has grown bigger than we ever expected it to,” said Karl Parry, the founder of the education platform. “The amount of CPD points we have awarded really is quite phenomenal.

“I think that the product and knowledge portfolios that we can build is endless. Agrovista has an incredible number of resources combined with highly knowledgeable and experienced professionals. Both sections will continue to expand and will push the amenity standard forward.”

As the Agrovista Academy continues to grow, so too does the number of positive reviews.

“I spent some time to refresh the mind on the subject of thatch in sports turf. Very useful knowledge.” – Michael Williams, Whitgift School.

“Thank you so much for the Agrovista Academy. I have found it to be a great saviour during lockdown times to keep me occupied whilst learning and gaining CPD credits at the same time.” – John Milne, Dufftown Golf Club.

“I am finding them very informative. Having recently got back into the industry they are great for extra education.” – Andy Burrell, Garmouth and Kingston Golf Club.

“Please keep the Academy running – it is a great learning tool.” – Andrew Hatcher, Coed-Y-Mwstwr Golf Club.

You can visit the new Amenity academy here: www.amenityacademy.co.uk

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British Sugar TOPSOIL celebrates launch of TOPSOIL Academy

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British Sugar TOPSOIL celebrates launch of TOPSOIL Academy: The wealth of technical, scientific, regulatory and storage/handling information on soils that British Sugar TOPSOIL has developed and made freely available via its website has now been ordered and consolidated under the new TOPSOIL Academy tab.

And to celebrate the launch of this comprehensive learning resource, TOPSOIL will award a training bursary of £500 to one successful applicant working in any of the following areas:

  • Groundworks/Construction
  • Landscape contracting
  • Greenkeeping
  • Groundsmanship
  • Garden design
British Sugar TOPSOIL celebrates launch of TOPSOIL Academy

British Sugar TOPSOIL celebrates launch of TOPSOIL Academy

National TOPSOIL Manager Andy Spetch has long been an advocate of giving those working in the land-based sector as much independently verified information on soils as possible:

“British Sugar TOPSOIL has always made its product testing and analysis data freely available and has encouraged customers to get acquainted with what that data is telling them about our products. We soon found that there was a thirst for independent, objective information on soils in general and so we made all our trials reports from the STRI and other respected organisations available for scrutiny.

“Our TOPSOIL Academy brings together all that technical and scientific information, plus more practical help and guidance, in one place where pdf documents can be easily and freely downloaded by anyone working with soils or studying to enter the land-based sector.

“We hope the training bursary will help someone working in the land-based sector to develop their career where financial constraints may have previously been a barrier to them moving forward.”

The 2022 British Sugar TOPSOIL Training Bursary terms and conditions, eligibility criteria and application form can be accessed by visiting www.bstopsoil.co.uk and clicking on the TOPSOIL Academy tab, where you can also find everything you need to know about soils.

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