Tag Archive for: Connect

GMA Connect Returns With Six UK-Wide Regional Events

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GMA Connect Returns With Six UK-Wide Regional Events: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) will expand GMA Connect in 2026, rolling out six UK-wide events designed to bring practical, accessible learning directly to grounds staff and volunteers.

Following two successful pilot events in 2025, the 2026 GMA Connect programme will take place in Oxford, Cardiff, Manchester, Leeds, Southampton and Ipswich, ensuring grounds people can access hands-on learning closer to home.

GMA Connect Returns With Six UK-Wide Regional Events

GMA Connect Returns With Six UK-Wide Regional Events

As a core GMA member benefit, GMA Connect brings the Association’s learning experience into regional hubs whilst also welcoming the wider grounds management industry. Each one‑day event offers a mix of targeted seminar sessions and live demonstrations from leading suppliers, giving attendees the chance to see products, equipment and techniques in action.

Designed around real‑world challenges faced by local grounds teams, GMA Connect focuses on practical solutions and takeaways that can be put to use immediately on site.

2026 Schedule:

  • Abingdon School (Oxford) – Thursday 16 April
  • Cardiff City Stadium (Cardiff) – Wednesday 22 April
  • Joie Stadium, Manchester City (Manchester) – Thursday 14 May
  • Headingley Stadium (Leeds) – Tuesday 19 May
  • Stoneham Lane Football Complex (Southampton) – Thursday 21 May
  • Ipswich Rugby Club (Ipswich) – Thursday 4 June

What Attendees Say:

Sean Smith, Groundsperson at Croke Park, said: “Events like this are important because they’re accessible and give you the chance to see things outside your everyday routine. You can chat with different people, see what they do differently and share what you do differently. I would definitely recommend it to anyone thinking about attending.”

Ticket Information:

  • Joie Stadium, Manchester City: £10 for GMA members | £50 for non-members
  • All other events: Free for GMA members | £35 for non-members

“The two pilot events in 2025 were a huge success, so we’re delighted to be rolling out six events across the UK in 2026,” said Sarah Hunter, Head of Events at the GMA. “It’s all about delivering high-quality learning closer to home and making it more accessible and easier to fit around the busy lives of grounds people. GMA Connect is a core member benefit and these events allow us to bring the GMA learning experience directly into the regions.”

GMA Connect is open to grounds professionals and volunteers working across all levels of the sector, from grassroots to elite sport. The programme is supported by GMA Platinum Supporters MJ Abbott, Kubota, Howardson Group, ISEKI, Cramer and GKB, working in partnership with the GMA.

For more information and to secure your place, visit thegma.org.uk/connect.

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GMA Connect heads to Durham

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GMA Connect heads to Durham: Following the successful launch of GMA Connect in Bristol last month, the Grounds Management Association’s new regional event series continues in the North East on Wednesday 18 June at Durham County Cricket Club.

Designed to bring the grounds industry together in key regions across the country, GMA Connect is a hands-on, one-day event offering a unique mix of expert seminars and live demonstrations from leading manufacturers.

GMA Connect heads to Durham

GMA Connect heads to Durham

Some of the industry’s top brands will be on show in Durham, including headline sponsor Cramer, ISEKI UK & Ireland, Campey Turf Care Systems, Fleet Line Markers, GKB Machines, Abundigro, The Aquatrols Company, AriensCo, Redexim, and Dennis & SISIS.

Throughout the day, attendees will have the opportunity to see the latest machinery and solutions from the likes of Cramer, who will present a full battery-powered range, including robot mowers, a zero-turn model and all-terrain pedestrian mowers. ISEKI and GKB Machines will jointly demonstrate a compact tractor fitted with a Combi Tool and Deep Tine Aerator, whilst Campey Turf Care will demonstrate their UniRake and display smaller machines pitch side, including the Vredo Turf Buddy and Electric Sarel Roller.

Line marking solutions will be available from Fleet and, new to Durham, Dennis & SISIS will bring the FT mower and Auto Rotorake Mk5, whilst Ariens will display zero-turn and high-grass mulching mowers.

Redexim, The Aquatrols Company and Abundigro and will all be on hand to share practical advice and showcase turf maintenance essentials.

A packed seminar programme features weather expert Mark Hunt’s ‘Turf Management in the Current Climate’, a popular practical soil session led by Alex Vickers, and guidance on using a Playing Surface Assessment to upgrade your facility from the GMA’s Ian Mather-Brewster and Chris Hunter.

The day will close with a panel discussion on climate change at top sporting venues, featuring Vic Demain (Head Groundsman, Durham CCC), Alex Vickers (Turf Consultant), Aaron Tong (Head Groundsman, Hull City MKM Stadium) and James Wright (Senior Maintenance Manager, University of Leeds).

Sarah Hunter, Head of Events at the GMA, said: “Bristol was a huge success for everyone involved, and we’re now really excited to bring GMA Connect to Durham. This event series has been designed to serve the needs of the industry, giving grounds staff at every level access to expert advice and practical solutions within their region.”

Jordan Watson, Area Sales Manager for Cramer UK, said: “We want to support events like GMA Connect because it’s a great networking opportunity and it’s a great way to show the industry everything that we do and the technology that Cramer UK can offer to help them in the future.”

Tickets are free for GMA members, while non-members can attend for £15. Membership provides additional value, including exclusive resources, discounted training, access to the Member Assistance Programme and more.

For more information or to register, visit thegma.org.uk/events.

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

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Speaker line-up confirmed for GMA Connect

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Speaker line-up confirmed for GMA Connect: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) has announced the expert speaker line-up for its upcoming regional event, GMA Connect, taking place at Durham County Cricket Club on Wednesday 18 June.

Building on the success of GMA Connect in Bristol earlier this month, the Durham event promises another engaging and informative day for grounds professionals. The Bristol event received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with attendees praising the quality and relevance of the seminar programme.

Speaker line-up confirmed for GMA Connect

Speaker line-up confirmed for GMA Connect

One attendee said: “Alex Vickers was superb and had great presentation and interaction skills.” Many cited the seminars as their primary reason for attending, reinforcing the value of these regional gatherings.

GMA Connect is designed to bring the grounds management community together at a local level, offering a full day of expert-led seminars, live demonstrations and networking opportunities.

The Durham programme features a strong line-up of speakers and sessions, including:

  • Mark Hunt, renowned weather expert, presenting Turf Management in the Current Climate, with practical advice on interpreting forecasts and managing the effects of changing weather patterns.
  • Alex Vickers, returning by popular demand, leading Reading Your Soil, an interactive workshop on soil profiles and compaction identification.
  • Vic Demain, Head Groundsman at Durham CCC, hosting What’s in Your Shed?, a behind-the-scenes look at the professional equipment used to maintain elite playing surfaces.
  • A panel discussion on Dealing with Climate Change Challenges at Professional Venues, featuring Vic Demain, Alex Vickers and Aaron Tong from Hull City’s MKM Stadium.
  • Ian Mather-Brewster from the GMA, delivering Carrying Out a Surface Assessment, followed by a joint session with Chris Hunter on Using a Playing Surface Assessment to Upgrade Your Facility.

Commenting at GMA Connect Bristol earlier in May, Victoria Jones, Facilities and Investment Manager at Cricket Wales, said: “GMA Connect has been a great success – there’s been such an opportunity to network across the industry from grounds managers to professionals from the GMA – but also experts from the commercial sector, it’s been great to network with these people. Through networking and educational opportunities, it’s how we improve ground quality and performance.”

GMA Connect Durham is set to be another must-attend event for the grounds management community.

Tickets are free for GMA members, while non-members can attend for £15. Membership provides additional value, including exclusive resources, discounted training, access to the Member Assistance Programme and more.

For more information or to register, visit thegma.org.uk/events

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

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Industry-Leading Brands Back GMA Connect

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Industry-Leading Brands Back GMA Connect: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) is excited to announce the support of leading industry brands for its new regional event series, GMA Connect – a dedicated hub for grounds professionals.

Taking place in Bristol and Durham, these one-day events bring grounds professionals together at a regional level, providing hands-on insights through seminars, live demonstrations and practical workshops.

Industry-Leading Brands Back GMA Connect

Industry-Leading Brands Back GMA Connect

The 2025 events will focus on “Turf Management in the Current Climate” addressing the key issues facing the industry today.

GMA Connect is backed by headline sponsor Cramer, alongside ISEKI UK & Ireland, Campey Turf Care Systems, Fleet Line Markers, GKB Machines, Abundigro, Turfix and The Aquatrols Company, with more to be announced.

Some of the sector’s most recognisable names will be on hand to share new equipment and ideas to tackle common challenges – with attendees able to see a range of them in action through live demonstrations. Headline sponsor Cramer will be showcasing a selection of their battery-powered range, including robotic mowers, a zero-turn mower and pedestrian mowers designed for all-terrain use.

ISEKI and GKB will deliver a joint demonstration, featuring a 25hp tractor fitted with a GKB Combi Tool and a 40/50hp tractor paired with a GKB deep aerator – highlighting practical solutions for improving ground conditions and operational efficiency.

Confirmed 2025 events:

  • Tuesday 13 May 2025 – Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol
  • Wednesday 18 June 2025 – Durham County Cricket Club, Durham

John McGrady, National Sales Manager at headline sponsor Cramer, said: “We are delighted to support the launch of GMA Connect and be part of these brand-new regional events. For us, it’s a fantastic opportunity to engage directly with professional users and understand their challenges so that we can help them succeed. We look forward to seeing the impact GMA Connect will have in bringing the industry together and supporting the future of grounds management.”

Sarah Hunter, Head of Events at the GMA, said: “It’s great to have the support of industry-leading brands for our first two GMA Connect events. Their backing reinforces the value these events will bring to the sector, providing a unique opportunity for grounds professionals to connect and explore the latest innovations. GMA Connect ensures that expertise and solutions are more accessible than ever.”

GMA Connect is free for GMA members, while non-members can attend for £15. Membership also provides year-round access to exclusive resources, training discounts and the Member Assistance Programme.

For more information or to register, visit thegma.org.uk/events

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

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