Tag Archive for: encouraging

Oxford GC encouraging Covid vaccine

Oxford GC encouraging Covid vaccine: An Oxfordshire golf club is doing its bit to encourage young people to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations by offering free membership for a year to one lucky player.

Oxford Golf Club will include all student and Colt members who can prove they have been double vaccinated by Christmas Day in the one-off draw which will entitle the winner to a year of free golf.

Oxford GC encouraging Covid vaccine

Oxford GC encouraging Covid vaccine

The historic course, located on Hill Top Road in Cowley, Oxford, is running the competition after NHS England data revealed only 70% of all 18 to 29-year-old’s living in the UK had received their first jab by August 12.

It hopes the prize, worth up to £1,225, will encourage its Student and Colt members, aged up to 35 to get vaccinated. On top of a year’s worth of free golf membership includes free function room hire, reciprocal golf at selected UK courses, up to 15% bar discount and the chance to win Oxford United tickets.

Steve Greenwood, General Manager at Oxford Golf Club, said: “Oxford has been at the heart of the UK’s vaccine rollout, which is responsible for the freedoms we are so privileged to currently have. Being vaccinated means you are not only protecting yourself, but also those around you.

“We appreciate it is a personal choice and some people have concerns, but as a community-based club we felt it was our duty to help raise awareness of the benefits of getting vaccinated and encourage youngsters to do so.

“The team were talking about what we can do, and we decided to be bold and do something to really help make a difference. It should appeal to our younger members, but at the same time also help spread this important message.”

Oxford Golf Club Professional Joe Pepperell backed the club’s giveaway and said getting the jab is quick, simple and stress-free.

He said: “My experience of receiving the COVID-19 vaccination was excellent. In minutes, I booked my jab online and, on the day, I was in and out within half-an-hour.

“The pandemic has truly underlined the importance of taking care of our own physical and mental health. Right now, there is no better way to protect your physical health by getting the jab.

“Golf has been a lifeline to many people in the last year with participation levels reaching a new peak as players of all abilities enjoy our great sport in a fun, outdoor, environment.

“Being outdoors and enjoying exercise is proven to be one of the biggest contributors to boosting our mental wellbeing. We’re lucky to be located so close to the city centre yet provide our community with 18 quality holes set in picturesque green surroundings.

“Our location means we have a lot of student members from the city’s universities and colleges, which is another factor in why we felt it was important we played our part in the vaccination education campaign.

“It’s a fantastic prize and I would like to wish everyone who is eligible to enter the best of luck.”

Founded in 1873 Oxford Golf Club was the original club of Oxford University and to this day features an 18-hole course designed by legendary golf architect Harry Colt.

Further information about the club’s free membership draw to student and colt members is available via admin@oxfordgolfclub.net.

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SALTEX surveys offer encouraging feedback

SALTEX surveys offer encouraging feedback: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) has revealed its feedback from both the recent visitor and exhibitor surveys that influenced the decision to move SALTEX to November 2021.

Last month the GMA issued two surveys; one to every exhibitor that had signed-up to the 2020 event and one to every visitor – past and present. The aim was to gather industry feedback which could help plan for and shape the future of SALTEX.

SALTEX surveys offer encouraging feedback

SALTEX surveys offer encouraging feedback

When asked which type of show visitors would like to attend, respondents confirmed that, despite the rise in virtual events, nothing can quite replace human interaction as an indoor show proved to be the most popular choice for both 2021 and 2022.

Preferences for 2021

  • Indoor show – 86%
  • Outdoor show – 27%
  • Virtual show -18%

Preferences for 2022

  • Indoor – 91%
  • Outdoor – 33%
  • Virtual – 9%

A key question in the survey asked the best time of year to attend a trade show; November was the first option – followed by October.

  • November – 47%
  • October – 32%
  • February – 30%
  • September – 25%

Despite the pandemic it is clear that there remains an appetite for trade shows. Respondents were asked how confident they were on a scale of 0-10 (0 not likely at all, 10 extremely likely) in attending trade shows in the future. An overwhelming 73% voted 7 or above.

Commenting on the results of the survey, Geoff Webb, CEO of the GMA said: “Crucially, we wanted to listen to the industry and give them an opportunity to shape a show that is totally about them, and their needs. It also hugely supported our motivation to reschedule.

“We felt really encouraged by the research which pointed to a continuing demand for an indoor trade exhibition and it was also promising to see November as the preferred date.

There was a reason that we went from an outdoor Summer show to an indoor show, and I think these survey results underline the fact that SALTEX, in its current format, works for the sector.”

In addition to a core audience of regular visitors, SALTEX continues to attract new first-time visitors. An encouraging 34% visited SALTEX for the first time in 2019 compared to 28% in 2018, 27% in 2017, 26% in 2016 and 23% in 2015.

SALTEX is appealing more to the younger generation in the industry too, which is further supported by the GMA’s wider range of activities. There was an increase of 6% in visitors aged between 16-30 at SALTEX 2019.

Other notable increases have seen a rise in landscapers, local authorities and those working in junior, assistant and deputy positions.

For more information visit www.gmasaltex.co.uk

Follow SALTEX on Twitter @GMA_SALTEX and Facebook – www.facebook.com/GMASALTEX

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