Tag Archive for: Awards

GMA Industry Awards Shortlist Announced

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GMA Industry Awards Shortlist Announced: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) is pleased to reveal the shortlist for the 2026 GMA Industry Awards, taking place at the iconic Edgbaston Stadium on 12 March 2026.

Each year, the awards shine a spotlight on the individuals, teams and organisations who are raising standards across the industry. And this year, there’s an exciting new addition: the GMA Conference, taking place earlier in the day and setting the stage for an evening of celebration.

GMA Industry Awards Shortlist Announced

GMA Industry Awards Shortlist Announced

From grassroots volunteers to elite-level grounds teams, this year’s shortlist highlights the depth of talent and expertise that continues to elevate the grounds management industry across the UK and beyond.

The finalists were selected following a thorough judging process, undertaken by a panel of sector experts who reviewed entries across sixteen categories.

Jason Booth, GMA Chief Operating Officer said: “It has been inspiring to once again see the dedication shown by so many teams and individuals submitting entries for the GMA Industry Awards.

“This year we received a record number of submissions, and the calibre of work on display has been outstanding. It’s been particularly encouraging to welcome fresh faces into the mix. I would also like to thank our independent judging panel for their expertise and considered evaluation of each submission.”

The 2026 Industry Awards Shortlist:

Young Grounds Person of the Year (Sponsored by Origin Amenity Solutions)

  • Adam Hooper – Tottenham Hotspur F.C
  • Daniel Birrell – National Cricket Centre Jersey
  • Flynn Good – Leicester City F.C
  • Ged Newman – Manchester City F.C

Newcomer of the Year (Sponsored by ICL)

  • Jack Churchman – Cutcrew Ltd
  • George Legg – Stanley Park Sports Ground
  • Samuel Knowles – Nottingham Forest F.C

Volunteer Groundsperson/Team of the Year

  • Trubshaw Cross
  • Eddie Mills – Northfield Town F.C
  • Tom Banks – Kirkoswald F.C
  • Craig Dinsdale – Settle United AFC

Community Groundsperson/Team of the Year (Sponsored by the National Governing Bodies of Sport)

  • Yeovil Recreation Centre
  • AELTC Wimbledon Qualifying & Community Sports Centre
  • Stanley Park Sports Ground
  • Stoneham Lane Football Complex

Bowls & Croquet Groundsperson/Team of the Year

  • Dean Gibbons – Wantage Bowling Club
  • Port Sunlight Village Trust

Best Managed Artificial Surface of the Year

  • Stanley Park Sports Ground
  • Stoneham Lane Football Complex
  • University of Warwick

Environmental and Sustainability Impact Award

  • Liverpool F.C
  • University of Warwick

Professional Horse Racing Grounds Team of the Year

  • Newbury Racecourse
  • Warwick Racecourse

Professional Tennis Courts Grounds Team of the Year

  • Edgbaston Priory Club
  • Lexus Nottingham Tennis Centre
  • The Queens Club
  • The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club

Professional Cricket Grounds Team of the Year

  • Marylebone Cricket Club
  • Warwickshire County Cricket Club

Professional Rugby Union Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by MJ Abbott / Premier Pitches)

  • Bristol Bears
  • Northampton Saints
  • Twickenham Stoop
  • Twickenham Stadium

Professional Rugby League Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by Agronomic Services Ltd)

  • Wigan Warriors
  • Castleford Tigers
  • Leeds Rhinos

Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by Reesink UK)

  • Lincoln City F.C
  • Tranmere Rovers F.C
  • Stockport County F.C
  • MK Dons F.C

Professional Football Grounds Team (Elite) of the Year (Sponsored by SGL)

  • Liverpool F.C
  • Leicester City F.C
  • London Stadium
  • Manchester City F.C

University/College Grounds Team of the Year

  • University of Warwick
  • University of Nottingham
  • University of Leeds

Independent School Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by ISEKI UK & Ireland)

  • Culford School
  • Eton College
  • Whitgift School

Join us at the GMA Conference 2026
Designed for grounds professionals, the GMA Conference offers curated opportunities for advanced learning and development. Shape your own agenda and explore solutions to workplace-specific challenges, empowering you to make a tangible impact.

It provides a focused environment to tackle complex industry issues while earning recognised CPD points.

Registration of interest is now open for those who want to secure early access. To learn more about the GMA Conference & Industry Awards or to register your interest for the conference, visit gmaindustryawards.uk/conference.

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Ben Muschamp at bmushcamp@thegma.org.uk.

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The Outdoor Room claim top honour at BALI awards

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The Outdoor Room claim top honour at BALI awards: The British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) announced the Grand, Special and Principal winners of the National Landscape Awards 2025, in a spectacular event held at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House London on Friday 5 December.

Just over 1,000 BALI members and their guests saw Surrey-based The Outdoor Room capture the prestigious Grand Award for their standout project Hawthorn House, a scheme celebrated for its ambition, technical mastery, and exceptional craftsmanship.

The Outdoor Room claim top honour at BALI awards

The Outdoor Room claim top honour at BALI awards

The winning project impressed the judging panel with its elegant and expansive design, delivered despite stringent access restrictions, challenging weather conditions and frequent expansion of the project scope. Coordinating with multiple third-party contractors, The Outdoor Room produced a landscape described by judges as “full of visual beauty that belies the complex nature of the work that went into it.”

Presented by Headline Sponsor Origin Enterprises, via their Living Landscapes Division, the Grand Award recognises the company’s ability to balance high-level problem-solving with meticulous execution. The project team resolved significant drainage issues, delivered intricate hard-landscaping features, and installed a refined planting scheme, all while maintaining seamless workmanship throughout. The team brought to life a landscape the judges deemed exemplary in every respect.

“We’re incredibly proud to receive the Grand Award at the BALI National Landscape Awards,” said Mark Britton, Managing Director of The Outdoor Room. “These awards represent the highest level of recognition in our industry. To be acknowledged by such experienced and knowledgeable judges is an honour, and achievements like this inspire and motivate our whole team, especially our younger members.”

BALI Chief Executive Wayne Grills praised the achievement, noting the exceptional standard of entries: “The standard this year was one of the best we’ve ever seen, so this is a hugely deserved win for Mark and his team. Every year I continue to be amazed by the creativity, innovation and expertise demonstrated by our members. The Awards remain the pinnacle of landscaping excellence because of their dedication and skill.”

It was double delight for The Outdoor Room, as Senior Foreman and Director James Sponder bagged a Special Award for individual professional achievement.

Alongside the announcement of the Grand Award winner and Principal winners, Water Gems (Alba) received a Special Award for their project “Maggie’s Forth Valley”, while John O’Conner Grounds Maintenance was presented with the Environmental Awareness Award for “Biodiversity Boost”.

Next year, the 2026 Awards will mark a milestone 50th Anniversary celebration, with Origin Enterprises confirmed to reprise their role as headline sponsor.

For the full list of winners, event photographs, and future entry information, visit baliawards.co.uk

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Reesink celebrates excellence with dealer awards

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Reesink celebrates excellence with dealer awards: Reesink UK has once again recognised its outstanding dealer network with the 2024 Aftermarket Dealer Awards, celebrating exceptional standards in customer support, service, skills, and parts.

Alastair Black, Technical Support and Training Manager at Reesink UK, explains how the relationship between Reesink and its dealers is central to everything it does and how the awards are essential in recognising that: “Dealers are often the first and most regular point of contact for customers, so their service reflects directly on us as a distributor.

Reesink celebrates excellence with dealer awards

Reesink celebrates excellence with dealer awards

“The Aftermarket Dealer Awards highlight the importance of that role and recognise the hard work, commitment and customer-first mentality that keeps our standards high across the UK.”

The awards cover five categories: Excellence in Service, Parts and Skills, alongside overall Aftermarket Dealer of Excellence and Improved Performance recognitions.

This year, Reesink Scotland took home the Gold Award for both Aftermarket Dealer of Excellence and Excellence in Skills. Mike Turnbull, Branch Manager at Reesink Scotland, commented: “These two awards reflect all the changes and hard work done by the whole service team in Scotland over the last year.

“Since taking over as branch manager we have set out to implement several changes to elevate the standards of the aftersales service for customers at our Livingston branch, which has resulted in helping reduce downtime and running costs on their Toro equipment and improving the overall customer experience.”

The Excellence in Parts Gold Award went to the Ted Hopkins dealership, and Robert Skipp, Aftersales Manager at Ted Hopkins Ltd said: “This is a fantastic recognition of the whole team’s dedication to delivering the highest standard of service and support. It reflects our proactive approach to ensuring customers receive the parts they need, when they need them, and our commitment to supporting the wider industry with the reliability and expertise of the Toro brand.”

Reesink East Anglia confirmed its outstanding support capabilities by securing the Excellence in Service Gold Award, while the Keys Brothers from Northern Ireland were named the 2024 Improved Performance winner. Andy Keys, Company Director at Keys Brothers, said:

“We’re delighted to have won the Improved Performance Award – it honours the hard work and commitment from everyone at Keys Brothers, as well as our focus on building strong relationships with customers, always striving to provide the best service and support, and continuing to contribute positively to the wider industry.”

Keys Brothers also secured the Silver Award for Excellence in Parts, while Cheshire Turf Machinery won the Silver Awards for Aftermarket Dealer of Excellence and Excellence in Service. Finally, the Silver Award for Excellence in Skills went to Reesink South East.

Another way Reesink helps raise the level of excellence and expertise in the industry is through its wide offering of training programmes. Special recognition goes to Darrell Richards from Reesink Southeast and Norann Chambers from Ted Hopkins, who recently completed the prestigious Master Service Technician Award (MST).

By completing Reesink’s MST programme – developed in collaboration with Toro’s factory experts – both technicians have proven their expertise in the latest hybrid and electric technology, as well as their ability to stay at the forefront of new product developments, warranty processes and best practice service techniques.

Their success ensures that their dealerships can continue to offer customers the highest level of service, keeping fleets running efficiently and helping turf professionals get the very best from their Toro machinery.

For more information on Reesink’s aftermarket support or becoming a Master Service Technician, call 01480 226800 or visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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Redexim’s double victory at GroundsFest Innovation Awards

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Redexim’s double victory at GroundsFest Innovation Awards: Redexim is celebrating a double success after being named winners in two categories at the first ever GroundsFest and HortWeek Innovation Awards, held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on 9–10 September.

The new awards programme celebrates excellence and innovation across landscaping, amenity management, turf care and related industries. With more than 100 entries received, competition was fierce, and winners were chosen by an expert judging panel led by HortWeek technical editor Sally Drury, alongside Howard Drury, Marcus Forster and Martin Towsey.

Redexim's double victory at GroundsFest Innovation Awards

Redexim’s double victory at GroundsFest Innovation Awards

Redexim scooped two accolades in the Turf Maintenance Equipment category:

New Product – The Redexim Scarivator

Stood the Test of Time – The Redexim Verti-Drain

The Scarivator – Innovation for Hybrid Surfaces

The Scarivator has been developed to meet the growing demand for hybrid field renovation. Featuring adjustable tines for precise depth control, it ensures minimal damage to synthetic fibres while delivering effective soil loosening. Its horizontal beams with angled spring tines reduce the risk of fibre wrapping around a rotor and provide exceptional performance when breaking up compacted soil on hybrid, synthetic, and natural surfaces.

The Scarivator is also ideal for creating the perfect seedbed for new rootzone application and works seamlessly alongside Redexim’s Turf-Stripper during the renovation process.

The Verti-Drain – A Proven Classic

Winning in the Stood the Test of Time category, the world-renowned Verti-Drain has become an essential tool for turf professionals across the globe. Known for its deep tine aeration technology, Verti-Drain machines penetrate the soil with a unique lifting action, breaking up compaction and creating vital space in the soil profile for air, water, and roots.

Available in a wide range of models and working widths, the Verti-Drain offers a solution for every aeration challenge – from heavily compacted sports pitches to delicate turf in confined areas. Its enduring popularity is a testament to its reliability, performance, and ongoing contribution to healthier, more resilient turf.

Speaking after receiving the awards, Paul Langford, Director of Commercial Operations at Redexim UK, said:

“To be a double award winner of the first ever GroundsFest Innovation Awards is amazing. What makes it even more special is that the judging panel is made up of highly respected industry professionals – our peers – who understand the challenges we face and the work that goes into developing solutions. To have both a new innovation like the Scarivator and a proven icon like the Verti-Drain recognised side by side really highlights the breadth of Redexim’s commitment to turf care. It’s fantastic recognition for the whole team.”

Redexim’s double success at the GroundsFest Innovation Awards underlines the company’s reputation as a leader in turf maintenance technology – combining fresh innovation with proven, long-lasting solutions that continue to shape the industry.

For more information, visit https://www.redexim.com/uk/

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Nomination deadline extended for national education awards

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Nomination deadline extended for national education awards: Earlier this year, the national Land-Based & Environment Learner (LBEL) Awards, an annual celebration of exceptional achievements in the lands-based and environment sector, opened for nominations.

So far, the Awards organisers are on course to receive a record number of inspirational nominations from tutors, lecturers, assessors, and employers.  All whilst delivering high quality education at a peak time for the Land Based Education Sector.

Nomination deadline extended for national education awards

Nomination deadline extended for national education awards

Due to popular demand, Lantra and Landex are extending the nomination deadline to 11:59pm on Sunday 22nd June 2025

Therefore, they are urging employers, colleges, private training providers and universities to nominate outstanding candidates for a prestigious award.

This exciting Awards programme will announce the winners at a ceremony to be held on 27th November 2025, at the National Conference Centre in Solihull. The event will spotlight talent from a variety of categories including agriculture, horticulture, greenkeeping and sports turf, animal care, floristry, environmental conservation, and many more.

The LBEL Awards not only recognises individual success and achievements but also aims to attract new talent to the land-based and environment industries, addressing the ongoing skills shortages being experienced.

As a reminder, the annual awards are open to individuals on a full-time or part-time Land-Based and Environment course or Apprenticeship in England between September 2024 and September 2025. The award categories include Agriculture; Aquaculture and Fisheries, Arboriculture; Forestry and Woodland Management; Equine and Farriery; Floristry; Landscape and Horticulture; Land-Based Engineering; Animal Care and Management; Veterinary Nursing; Environmental Conservation, Game and Wildlife; and Sports Turf and Greenkeeping.

Awards for the above categories apply across Private Training providers, Further Education (FE), Apprenticeships Awards (Level 2-3), Higher Education (HE) and Higher Apprenticeship Awards (Level 4-7). We will also have the Research Student of the Year category, where supervisors are encouraged to nominate a student studying a post-graduate level either for a Master’s Degree or a Doctoral Degree.

There are overall awards for: Research Student of the Year; Apprentice of the Year; Overall Winner; and Runners Up.

Submit your nominations here.

Online entries are being encouraged, as the quicker and more sustainable option. However, paper copies of the nomination form are available on request, by emailing lbels@lantra.co.uk.

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