Tag Archive for: Greg

Greg Cain appointed Business Development Manager

Greg Cain appointed Business Development Manager: Redexim UK has strengthened its team with the appointment of Greg Cain as Business Development Manager – a newly created role that reflects the company’s continued growth and forward-thinking strategy.

Greg brings with him more than two decades of hands-on industry experience. Prior to moving into machinery sales, he spent 18 years working directly in grounds maintenance and landscaping, finishing his operational career as a senior manager for a housing association in the North West, where he led a large grounds maintenance team based around Manchester.

Greg Cain appointed Business Development Manager

Greg Cain appointed Business Development Manager

In 2018, Greg joined Cheshire Turf Machinery in Stockport, a Redexim dealer, where he first developed a close working knowledge of the brand and its product portfolio. After five and a half years there, he moved on to Kress UK as Commercial Business Manager for the North of the UK, before officially starting his new position at Redexim UK this month.

Reflecting on his move, Greg said: “It feels like a great fit for me. I’ve worked with the products before, I know the industry, and I’ve built up strong contacts across golf clubs, sports clubs and commercial sports settings.”

The Business Development Manager position has been introduced to sit alongside Redexim’s existing regional sales structure, with a clear focus on generating new opportunities and raising further awareness of the company’s extensive range.

“My role is going to be good old-fashioned knocking on doors,” Greg explained. “It’s about introducing myself, speaking to people who may have used Redexim in the past or are considering it, and getting the brand name out there. Once we’ve developed and qualified a lead, it will be passed into the dealer network to see the sales process through.”

With robotic mowing continuing to gain traction across golf and sports facilities, Greg believes this evolution presents further opportunity for Redexim’s specialist equipment.

“With the introduction of robotic mowing, greenkeepers potentially have more time to focus on key cultural practices,” he said. “That’s where Redexim’s range really comes into its own – whether it’s aeration, verti-draining, scarifying, brushing or sweeping. For me, the Redexim Verti-Drain has stood the test of time, and remains hugely important for maintaining high-quality playing surfaces.”

For Greg, the appeal of the new role lies in giving dedicated focus to the breadth of Redexim’s offering.

“I’m looking forward to speaking to customers specifically about the Redexim range in its own right,” he said. “Looking at the full portfolio of equipment available and highlighting how it can support their maintenance programmes.”

Away from work, Greg is a busy family man with four children and is actively involved with his local cricket club, where he also helps maintain the grounds. When time allows, he enjoys hiking and playing golf, a passion that keeps him closely connected to many of the customers he will now be supporting in his new role.

His appointment marks another positive step for Redexim UK, underlining the company’s commitment to investing in its people and positioning the business for continued expansion.

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

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Sea change for Greg Harris

Sea change for Greg Harris: Ex-Royal Navy weapons engineer Greg Harris from Fife in Scotland has won SRUC Elmwood’s annual John Deere HNC Golf Course Management Student of the Year Award, sponsored by John Deere and Scottish turf dealer Double A.

Greg was chosen particularly for the leadership and mentoring skills he displayed during the 2018/2019 academic year.

Sea change for Greg Harris

Born in Dundee and brought up in Kirkcaldy, Greg took up an apprenticeship with the Royal Navy at the age of 19 and spent 12 years with the service until he was medically discharged in 2016 with knee problems. However, this paved the way for his next career move into greenkeeping and golf club management, as he was still encouraged and able to play golf.

While deciding what to do next, Greg was playing regularly at The Duke’s Course at St Andrews as well as his father’s local club at Glenrothes, where the pro mentioned the SRUC course.

“I realised I was never going to be a good enough golfer to turn pro, but taking up the greenkeeping option meant I could still be active and involved in the industry,” he says. “I attended an open day at the college, where I spoke to course tutors Paul Miller and Ian Butcher who outlined the opportunities and were very supportive, so I put in my application and was accepted.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the course and the people I met. I think my Royal Navy background prepared me well for many aspects such as planning and teamwork, which are key skills for any greenkeeper. The academic side of things was never a problem, and I also enjoyed the hands-on time spent as part of the tournament support team at Kingsbarns Golf Links during the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

“Everyone there was really accepting of me, considering my relative lack of practical skills. They recognised that I was there to learn and it was a great experience, apart from my least favourite job, swishing the dew off the greens!

“The John Deere award was mentioned at the beginning of the course, but I never gave it another thought. When Ian told me towards the end of the academic year that they were going to nominate me and I then found out that I’d won, I was really surprised but also very proud of the achievement.

“Since graduating I’ve ended up away from greenkeeping, and moved more towards golf operations – I worked in the pro shop at The Duke’s Course for the season following the course, and currently I’m assistant store manager for American Golf in Dundee. I did plan to return to Elmwood and do the HND course, but as that isn’t running this year we’ll see what happens next. If it runs again it would be a really good opportunity to go back and see how I can progress in my second career.”

Course tutor Ian Butcher, who is based at the Elmwood campus in Cupar, Fife, adds: “Throughout his time at SRUC Greg was a positive influence on the student group. He was a natural leader, and many times supported both individuals and the HNC team as a whole to meet various challenges. He consistently showed initiative, enthusiasm and a capacity for mentoring which is rare. This is of real value to us as an organisation, as we seek to involve our students more in the development of the SRUC programmes.

“Greg is one of a new breed of graduates who are open-minded as to their career paths, and is enthusiastic about gaining experience beyond the golf course maintenance shed. Taking advantage of workplace experience in customer services at The Duke’s clubhouse within the Old Course Hotel Golf Resort at St Andrews is an example of Greg having a more varied role in golf operations during last summer.

“His passion for the game combined with a long-term career perspective opens more doors for Greg, and we trust he finds the right opportunity to progress in his chosen profession. We look forward to him being a great ambassador for us.”

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