Tag Archive for: City

City of Espoo Opt For Ransomes

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City of Espoo Opt For Ransomes: Espoo, the second largest city in Finland after Helsinki, has chosen Ransomes to maintain its extensive parkland areas as well as school and nursery green spaces. Local dealer J Trading supplied the new range of machinery.

The city chose the Ransomes MP653 XC and Jacobsen HR600 to maintain the 173-acres of land in Tapiola, a suburb of Espoo. The Ransomes MP653 XC is the world’s first and only wide area rotary mower with a 4.27m cutting width, increasing productivity by up to 25% (up to 2.5 acres/hr more) over traditional 3.4m mowers.

City of Espoo Opt For Ransomes

Merja Myyry, Head of Green Areas for the City of Espoo said:

“There are many green spaces in Espoo, and Tapiola in particular. It has become increasingly important to invest in machinery that can help us become more productive whilst still leaving a clean finish. Our new machines are perfect for the job.

“There are many trees in and around our parks, so being able to lift each cutting unit independently to navigate obstacles is ideal. We can adjust the machine with a click of a button to either have a wide or narrow cutting width. We have been very impressed with the durability and productivity of the new machines, and the operators find them easy to use and very comfortable.”

City of Espoo Opt For Ransomes

Espoo is exceptionally green for a city spanning 312km2. Forests occupy nearly 60 per cent, or 46,210 acres, of its land mass and are enlivened with bare cliffs and marshes. The City of Espoo employs 70 permanent employees in its green spaces department, with 10 of these in charge of maintaining the land in Tapiola during the summer months.

Commenting on the relationship with their local dealer, Merja said:

“The City of Espoo has had a strong relationship with our dealer J Trading since the mid-1980’s. We are confident that we are being supplied with the best machinery at the best price and have peace of mind that the back-up support is available whenever we need it.”

To find out your local Ransomes Jacobsen dealer, visit: www.ransomesjacobsen.com

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Education City GC Partners John Deere

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Education City GC Partners John Deere: A major investment in John Deere golf course maintenance equipment has been made by the brand new Education City Golf Club in Doha, Qatar, which is due to open at the end of October 2018. The machinery will be used on three courses, with a total of 33 holes spread across 120ha.

Education City Golf Club is a landmark project for Qatar and the world of golf, offering a revolutionary and holistic approach to growing the game of golf. The facility features three golf courses including an 18-hole championship course, a floodlit 6-hole championship course and a floodlit 9-hole par 3 course, all designed by two-time US Masters winner and 2012 Ryder Cup winning captain Jose Maria Olazabal. It also comprises a range of short game formats, a state-of-the-art learning and practice facility housed in the Centre of Excellence and a TrackMan driving range.

Education City GC Partners John Deere

Uniquely the 6-hole championship course has seven tee options per hole for quick and multi-generational golf, as part of the club’s role in supporting the game’s development and encouraging its growth in the region. The golf courses are serviced by a clubhouse and academy building, which will both offer all-day dining options. Surrounding the clubhouse are large gardens where a number of lawn sports will also be available, including footgolf, frisbee golf and croquet.

The facility will be maintained by Golf Course Superintendent Darren Smith and Deputy Superintendent Andrew Ikstrums. An initial fleet of 93 John Deere machines including tractors, greens, fairway & rough mowers and Gator utility vehicles has been delivered by Qatar dealer Progressive, along with other ancillary equipment including sprayers, top dressers and aerators. The choice of John Deere as preferred supplier to Education City Golf Club was made on Darren Smith’s recommendation, following an intensive examination of the equipment’s technical and environmental features.

In line with the club’s sustainability vision, John Deere was considered a perfect match due to the hybrid electric technology used on over 90 per cent of the mowing fleet. These mowers feature proven E-Cut Quick Adjust (QA) cutting units driven by electric reel motors that support energy efficiency, reduced fuel consumption and lower sound levels. In addition, 102 potential hydraulic leak points are removed from the equation due to the use of electric drives in the reel circuits. Precision and quality were also key considerations in the decision making process, as Education City aims to present a premium experience to its members and guests.

Seif Al Ghaly, Managing Director of Progressive, John Deere’s official supplier in Qatar, said: “As the exclusive dealer for John Deere agriculture & turf equipment in the region, Progressive Trading is proud and honoured to supply Education City Golf Club for the first time with our largest ever fleet of golf and utility equipment, to cater for the maintenance of this prestigious project.

“We are committed to providing first class products and service from our well trained and dedicated team of employees, with the full support, back-up and experience of the international John Deere business.”

Education City Golf Club’s General Manager Michael Braidwood added: “Our core product is the golf course and therefore it must be presented in immaculate condition. The equipment has been carefully selected to ensure an excellent guest and member experience. John Deere products are aligned to our vision in sustainability and to supporting our environmental initiatives in reducing fuel and waste. Furthermore, John Deere invests worldwide in education and training, which is another of our core values, and we look forward to a successful long-term partnership with the company.”

For more information, visit: www.JohnDeere.co.uk

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Dundee City Council’s Second Reform

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Dundee City Council’s Second Reform: Through Cupar based Double A Trading, Dundee City Council have taken delivery of a Reform Hydrostatic, 4 wheel drive, 70hp H7X bank tractor.

For the council Fraser Crichton says, ‘’we have had a Reform for fifteen years and it has proved to be a real workhorse across our grassed areas, including large areas of sloping terrain. Based on that performance we had no hesitation in adding the Metrac H7X model to our fleet’’

Dundee City Council's Second Reform

Simon Richard UK Agent for the Reform range adds, “the 4 cylinder H7X covers all eventualities for the amenity, utility, contractor and golf sectors. A range of optional implements, combined with  Metrac’s light footprint and ‘crab-steer’ mode for working on sloping terrain at up to 45 degrees, give a multitude of work options from the one machine, while also addressing operator health and safety issues”

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Apprenticeships At Leicester City

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Apprenticeships At Leicester City: Leicester City Football Club has become the latest in a length list of Premier League Football Clubs to choose Myerscough College as their apprenticeships delivery partner. 

 The implementation of the Apprenticeships Levy has seen the club invest heavily in the recruitment of new apprentices and also taken the chance to upskill existing staff to a higher level of competency. 

Apprenticeships At Leicester City

As part of National Apprenticeship Week, we caught up with the team as they prepared the stadium pitch for an FA Cup fixture. As part of the day we also allowed Leah, Josh and Ryan the chance to explain why they chose an apprenticeship and what skills they are developing. 

As part of their apprenticeship Josh, Leah and Ryan will learn a wide range of skills, and rotate across sites also working at the Belvoir Drive training complex. This ensures their experiences are as varied as possible as they learn the complexities of the job. They’re supported with regular college tutor visits, technical workshops and access to a sophisticated e-portfolio and virtual learning environment, where they can log their training and complete any associated knowledge assignments. Myerscough has a proven track record in apprenticeship delivery and this blended approach has delivered significant success over the past decade. 

Grounds Manager at Leicester City, John Ledwidge, shares his vision for the award winning team, and the need to be at the forefront of learning, innovation and technology: “For us it’s always about a team effort. It’s vital that we maintain our playing surfaces to the highest standards possible and we embrace any innovation technologies that allow is to achieve this. Apprenticeships allow us the chance to recruit new workers into our team and to shape their training to our model of excellence. The Apprenticeships Levy has allowed us to now enroll seven members of our team onto apprenticeship programmes at level 2 and level 3. 

 ‘’We have also recently recruited three new team members straight onto apprenticeships. This is a significant investment from the club and allows us for succession planning and internal team development. Myerscough College come highly recommended and we look forward to seeing our apprentices develop. We have exciting plans for the future and hope our new apprentices play a big part in our future success.” 

 Employer Services Manager at Myerscough College shares his thoughts on recruiting apprentices: “We assist employers across the country to recruit and train apprentices. It’s fantastic that Leicester City have chosen us as their sportsturf apprenticeships provider and I am looking forward to seeing the journey the apprentices make as they develop in their new roles.  

 ‘’If any employers are unsure about Apprenticeships, or the recruitment process, then they can get in touch with our expert Employer Services Team who will support them every step of the way. This service is completely free of charge to all businesses choosing Myerscough College as their Apprenticeships provider.” 

For more information, visit: www.myerscough.ac.uk

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FA Take Advice From City Groundsmen

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FA Take Advice From City Groundsmen: Sports bodies across the UK are taking advice from Gloucester.

More than 18 months after the city council agreed to commit to improve pitches across Gloucester, council bosses say there has been a major improvement.

And there has been input from some of the nation’s greatest groundsmen at the most high-profile grounds.

The RFU, FA, and England and Wales Cricket Board have held pitch improvement workshops with clubs and groundsmen here in Gloucester, including an event at Kingsholm Stadium, which was led by the head groundsman of Twickenham stadium, Keith Kent.

In January 2016, the council agreed to undertake a new playing pitch strategy to turn their pitches around.

Since then they claim they have seen a 40 per cent improvement.

The report added that with commitment from city council officers, and representation with sporting interest groups such as Sport England, Active Gloucestershire and Aspire Sport and Cultural Trust, now the Football Association is developing a national case study based on Gloucester’s approach.

Gloucester City Council’s cabinet recently approved a report which stated that more people in the county are getting involved in playing sport.

Councillor Lise Noakes (C, Barnwood) said: “It’s exciting the progress that we’re making.”

Adam Gooch, principal planning officer at Gloucester City Council, said in a report: “The delivery of the playing pitch strategy is having a positive effect on sustainability in Gloucester, providing a framework for the protection, enhancement and provision on playing pitches and ancillary facilities in the city over the next 10 years.

“It will also set a good foundation for the ongoing consideration of playing pitches through future updates to the strategies.”

Terry Haines is a member of the Gloucestershire Playing Fields Association.

He said: “My impression is that things have improved but there’s a challenge to maintain them when the [council’s] resources have been reduced to almost nothing.”

He added the future of the pitches depends on “people doing something” to make sure the pitches are suitable for playing on.

But Martin Townsend, who is director of rugby for Old Centralians RFC at Saintbridge Road – which is maintained by White Horse Federation on behalf of Gloucestershire County Council – said his pitch needs improvement.

He said the pitch gets flooded when it rains, and if the team is playing when that happens, the pitch is out of use for four weeks.

“The standard of the pitch is terrible. When the school got moved here the White Horse Federation were supposed to have provided us with a decent playing facility,” he said.

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