Tag Archive for: Event

PSD Groundscare celebrate exclusive dealer event

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PSD Groundscare celebrate exclusive dealer event: PSD Groundscare are celebrating a highly successful Exclusive Dealer Training Event at Meriden, Birmingham. The two-day event (18th & 19th March) saw PSD presenting, to their dealer network, new innovations to complement their existing portfolio.

The event was led by the PSD team and included a mix of supplier presentations featuring company histories and product training, which was followed by a hands-on opportunity to try the machinery for themselves.

PSD Groundscare celebrate exclusive dealer event

PSD Groundscare celebrate exclusive dealer event

The dealer partners had the ability to see PSD’s extensive professional product range, plus new innovations, including the expanded range of SABO Equipment, the all-new Hornet RC Flail Mower from EcoTech, Eliet’s new Ecocure Pedestrian Top-dresser, Honda engine Options for Grin Mowers, Koeppl’s unique range of Battery Two Wheeled Tractors and much more.

PSD specialise in various market sectors including long grass and steep slope mowing, turf renovation, green waste shredding and weed removal. The extensive product range includes various petrol engine and battery products.

Training was a key focus of the event, in keeping with PSD’s philosophy that through such training, partners obtain the knowledge and confidence to discuss the equipment in detail with their customers and to offer the best solutions for their individual requirements.

The event was supported in attendance by manufacturers including SABO, represented by Managing Director, Lars Daniel & Pierre Janotta, ELIET, represented by CEO Frederic Lietaer & Gracienne Geenens, EcoTech, represented by Giacomo Facaccia & Michela Tranquillo and GRIN, represented by Stefano Corti.

The day took place at the Forest of Arden Hotel, with sessions both indoors and outdoors with some fantastic weather, making for a highly successful event with an impressive turnout.

Stuart Mercer, Sales Director for PSD said:

“The aim of the event was to bring our dealers partners fully up to speed with what’s new and to ensure that they are well prepared for the season and to provide them with the opportunity to interact directly with our suppliers.”

“At PSD, we always pride ourselves on offering our customers a wide range of events and we were excited again to be able to showcase our range of equipment.”

“We’re absolutely delighted with how well the dealer event went. We not only had a great turn out from Dealers who were very keen to see what’s new, we had some amazing feedback, and it was wonderful to catch up with everyone.”

PSD offers BAGMA dealer staff training, and LANTRA training for their end user customers.

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Future Workforce Inspired At Schools Into Stadia Event

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Future Workforce Inspired At Schools Into Stadia Event: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) NextGen group inspired the next generation of groundspeople at its Schools Into Stadia event at the prestigious All England Club.

As part of #GroundsWeek 2025, the event provided local secondary school students with a hands-on experience of life as a grounds professional at one of the world’s most renowned sporting venues.

Future Workforce Inspired At Schools Into Stadia Event

Future Workforce Inspired At Schools Into Stadia Event

With workforce development a priority for the industry, this initiative continues to play a crucial role in engaging young people and encouraging them to consider careers in grounds management.

The students had the opportunity to meet and learn from All England Club’s experienced grounds team, including Will Brierley, Senior Groundsman. Through practical sessions and insights from experts, students also gained an understanding of the essential work that goes into maintaining elite sports surfaces.

Meg Lay, GMA NextGen Co-Chair, said: “It was fantastic to see so many young people engaging with the profession and getting hands-on experience at such an iconic venue. Events like Schools Into Stadia are instrumental in introducing young people to the opportunities within the industry, and we are really pleased with the interest that was shown by all who attended.”

Neil Stubley, Head of Courts and Horticulture at The All England Lawn Tennis Club, and GMA Board Member, said: “Schools Into Stadia provided a fantastic opportunity to spark the interest of the next generation of Grounds Managers. The technical skills required in this industry are often overlooked, so teaching local students about the year-round maintenance of our grass courts was a great way to showcase the pivotal work that goes on behind the scenes to host The Championships, and most of all, inspire future careers in the profession.”

Fiona Harb, Head of Year 12 at Southfields Academy, said: “Educationally it was really good for our students. They were able to experience talks and hands on experience. For the students at our school, most of them have never been anywhere like this (All England Club) so it’s a real eye opener for them. It’s an industry that makes our students realise what goes on behind the scenes at these sporting venues.”

The proportion of under-35s in the grounds management sector has risen significantly in recent years, and the positive trend highlights the importance of continued engagement with events such as Schools Into Stadia, ensuring that young people are aware of the rewarding career paths available.

#GroundsWeek, running until Sunday 23 March 2025, continues to celebrate and recognise the crucial role of grounds staff across the UK. For more information on how to support the initiative, visit thegma.org.uk/groundsweek.

For more information about the GMA NextGen, please visit thegma.org.uk/who/ambassadors.

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Toro U.K. Limited Hosts Exclusive Dealer Event

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Toro U.K. Limited Hosts Exclusive Dealer Event: Toro U.K. Limited proudly welcomed ten of its Pro Dealers to the Toro Headquarters in Minneapolis for an exclusive event aimed at strengthening partnerships and showcasing the company’s latest innovations.

During their visit, dealers explored Toro’s advanced test facilities, where they witnessed rigorous product testing and development. The group also toured the Toro factory in Windom, gaining firsthand insights into the manufacturing processes that ensure Toro products meet the highest standards of quality and performance.

Toro U.K. Limited Hosts Exclusive Dealer Event

Toro U.K. Limited Hosts Exclusive Dealer Event

“The opportunity to connect with our Pro Dealers and provide them with a behind-the-scenes look at our operations is invaluable,” said Craig Hoare, UK Sales & Marketing Manager at Toro U.K. Limited. “We are committed to our dealers’ success, and these interactions foster collaboration and innovation.”

In addition to the informative sessions, the dealers enjoyed an exciting outing to watch the Minnesota Twins take on the Milwaukee Brewers. Dealers witnessed Toro’s long-standing partnership with the Minnesota Twins seeing in action on the pitch a large range of Toro machinery. The visit culminated with a relaxing evening cruising on Lake Minnetonka, further enhancing relationships in a casual setting.

Toro U.K. Limited is dedicated to empowering its dealers with knowledge and resources to better serve their customers. This event not only reinforced existing partnerships but also showcased the commitment Toro has to its dealer network.

For more information about Toro U.K. Limited and its products, please visit www.toro.co.uk.

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John Deere military event shines light on machinery careers

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John Deere military event shines light on machinery careers: John Deere has seen an influx of applications to its Military Hiring Programme after hosting a bespoke event for service leavers involving dealers from across the UK.

Held at the company’s UK headquarters in Langar, Nottinghamshire, the event gave armed forces personnel the chance to have detailed discussions about what the next stage of their career could look like working with one the world’s biggest machinery manufacturers.

John Deere military event shines light on machinery careers

John Deere military event shines light on machinery careers

The ground-breaking resettlement programme for military service personnel offers new career opportunities working on some of the world’s most advanced agricultural and professional groundscare products.

Members of the armed forces have been identified as ideal candidates to bring their unique skill sets and experience to technician roles within UK and Ireland dealerships as many have already worked with systems and products similar to those used by John Deere.

Those who enrol onto the programme are put into contact with an individual from the John Deere network who have resettled themselves, who will guide them through the next steps which includes free training courses before finding employment with a John Deere dealer.

“What was really successful about the day was the amount of conversation between military personnel and dealers,” says Allan Cochran, Branch Training Manager for John Deere.

“Everybody wanted to talk, everybody wanted to engage with the event, and I think everyone that was there, both military and dealers, got something out of it.”

The event drew a positive number of applications to the Military Hiring Programme, with 23 ex-servicemen now waiting for the next step to start their new career with John Deere.

The Military Hiring Programme has drawn interest from across the country, with attendees travelling from not just the surrounding Midlands, but also from as far as Cornwall and Scotland.

“To have people coming from all the country is really great to see,” says Allan. “We have dealers in all corners of the nation, and with the largest proportion of people wanting to resettle wherever they are based now, we can make that happen.”

As well as dealers and staff, attendees also had the opportunity to listen to those who had been through the Military Hiring Programme themselves and were now a part of the dealership network. Ex-servicemen Martin Frodsham, Will Foster and Mike Rogers spoke about their journey and what their career has been like since leaving the armed forces and becoming technicians.

Attendees also heard from John Deere instructors who showed them the machines that they would be working on should they apply to join John Deere, with a focus on precision agriculture and what the future looks like for agricultural technology.

The event was supported by ten John Deere dealers, including Thomas Sheriff, Cornthwaite Group, Ripon Farm Services, Ben Burgess, Tuckwells, Farol, Tallis Amos Group, Hunt Forest Group, Smallridge Bros, and Masons Kings.

Interested service members and ex-service members can apply to the Military Hiring Programme at any time online by visiting www.deere.com/JDMHP, or contact John Deere for more information.

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Howardson Group hosts successful dealer training event

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Howardson Group hosts successful dealer training event: The Howardson Group recently brought together over 100 delegates from their dealership network across the UK, Europe and the Far East, over a three week period which proved to be an invaluable opportunity for all involved.

Held at the picturesque Morley Hayes Golf Club in the Derbyshire countryside and Derby County Football Club’s training ground, the events showcased the company’s extensive portfolio of product groups, including Dennis, Hunter Grinders, Lloyds SISIS and Syn-Pro.

Howardson Group hosts successful dealer training event

Howardson Group hosts successful dealer training event

The agenda for the event was packed with informative sessions, including sales and product training that delved deep into the benefits and features of the Howardson Group’s products for end-users. Attendees gained insight into future developments and had the chance to network and share experiences with other like-minded individuals.

One of the standout features of the event was its “hands-on” approach, allowing attendees to interact directly with the equipment. This approach, covering both new and existing key products, was aimed at enhancing their understanding of the Howardson Group product ranges.

Attendees were also invited for a behind-the-scenes factory tour, where all the products are manufactured, and gave them the chance to see first-hand some of the recent investments. The group were also given rare access to the All British Precision factory where components for the machines are meticulously produced on site in Kirk Langley.

Howardson Group hosts successful dealer training event

Howardson Group hosts successful dealer training event

Feedback from those who attended the event was overwhelmingly positive. Robert Snedden from Thomas Sherriff commented, “Brilliant, well-organised, and above all, slick. We have looked at 37 machines, spoke about them all and learnt a lot. The timing was perfect, the content was perfect, and I couldn’t fault it at all.”

Jim Clarke from Jim Clarke Fine Turf Machinery said, “I’ve really enjoyed the event and seen a lot of machinery that we wouldn’t have normally seen. It has been a great experience.”

Andy Melville, Commercial Director at GGM Groundscare, highlighted the value of hands-on training, stating, “The event has been very useful, very informative. It is great to physically see the machines in action. It gives you the opportunity to see what they can actually do, rather than just look at a brochure and read some specification.”

Overall, the event was a resounding success, providing attendees with valuable insights, networking opportunities, and a first-hand experience of the Howardson Group’s impressive range of products. With such positive feedback from attendees, the Howardson Group looks forward to hosting similar events in the future, continuing to support and empower their dealer network.

For further information visit www.howardsongroup.com

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