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James Haskell to headline at SALTEX

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James Haskell to headline at SALTEX: SALTEX, the UK’s cutting-edge sports turf, grounds care and landscaping exhibition, is set to welcome one of the most recognisable sporting personalities, James Haskell, for an unmissable Learning LIVE and Clubhouse DJ session on day one of the show. 

Held at the NEC Birmingham on 12-13 November 2025, SALTEX promises a vibrant mix of industry insight and entertainment. Haskell, a former England international rugby player, will join the stellar Learning LIVE line up and deliver a keynote session. His talk will explore the parallels between elite sport and professional development, touching on leadership, resilience and the importance of adaptability in high-performance environments.

James Haskell to headline at SALTEX

James Haskell to headline at SALTEX

As a former professional athlete, James understands first-hand the critical role high-quality playing surfaces play in elite performance, and he brings a genuine appreciation for the work of grounds staff and turf professionals at all levels.

He is one of the best-known rugby players and sportspeople in the UK, having played 77 times for his country, as well as competing internationally and for the British and Irish Lions. He’s known as much for his ability on the field as for his personality off it.

James will also perform an exclusive live DJ set at the SALTEX Clubhouse to kick off Happy Hour on the afternoon of Wednesday 12 November. Known for his love for electronic music and high-energy performances, he set is said to bring ‘Café Mambo vibes’ to Birmingham – blending uplifting house beats with a relaxed, Ibiza-inspired atmosphere. The Clubhouse offers visitors a unique opportunity to unwind and network in a vibrant, informal setting.

The SALTEX Clubhouse has been revamped for 2025 to provide even more opportunities to unwind. Open throughout the show, it will host informal meetups and specially designed networking events to help visitors build meaningful relationships.

James Haskell said: “I’m really looking forward to joining everyone at SALTEX this year. I know first-hand the difference that world-class pitches make to performance, so it’ll be great to share my experiences from the professional game with the people who make it all possible.

“High performance isn’t just about elite sport and sportspeople, it’s about mindset and finding ways to bring out your best every day. I can’t wait to dive into that with the visitors, and then round things off with a DJ set in the Clubhouse.”

Since retiring from professional sport in 2019, James has embarked on a multi-faceted career as a podcaster, presenter and professional DJ.

He hosts several podcasts, including The Good, The Bad and The Rugby, one of the biggest sports podcasts in the world. He’s also appeared on hit shows such as I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, The Chase, A League of Their Own, Question of Sport, Fighting Talk, and many more household-name programmes.

“We’re absolutely delighted to have James Haskell joining us at SALTEX 2025,” said Sarah Hunter, Head of Events at the Grounds Management Association. “He is one of the UK’s most recognisable sporting personalities and brings a wealth of experience from the very highest levels of performance, both on and off the pitch. His session will offer valuable insight into resilience and mindset but also provide plenty of entertaining stories.

“Adding someone of James’ stature to an already fantastic Learning LIVE programme just shows the breadth of knowledge and inspiration visitors can expect at this year’s show. And of course, what better way to round off the day than with James swapping the microphone for the decks to kick-start Happy Hour in the Clubhouse Bar. It’s going to be a real highlight of the show.”

SALTEX 2025 is expected to welcome thousands of professionals and volunteers from across the sports turf, grounds care and landscaping sectors, with more than 400 brands and 65+ expert speakers confirmed.

Register for FREE at www.saltex.org.uk and be in with a chance of winning a Cramer Tools Lawn Mower, complete with charger and battery, worth £2,240!

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Headline speakers for Learning LIVE

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Headline speakers for Learning LIVE: Following a record-breaking 2024 edition that delivered over 19 hours of expert-led content to more than 1,000 attendees, the UK’s largest free educational programme in grounds management returns to the NEC Birmingham on 12-13 November 2025.

This year’s programme promises real-world insights for grounds professionals and volunteers at every level. With CPD-accredited sessions, brand new cutting-edge topics and industry legends sharing their expertise, Learning LIVE is a must-attend feature of SALTEX 2025.

Headline speakers for Learning LIVE

Headline speakers for Learning LIVE

The programme has been more precisely tailored than ever, with sessions designed to meet the genuine needs of groundspeople. In fact, many visitors cite Learning LIVE as a key reason for attending the show.

Meet the Headliners:

Alan Ferguson, FIFA Senior Pitch Management Manager, kicks off with a deep dive into ‘The preparation and delivery of FIFA 2026 World Cup’. With nearly 50 years of experience, having overseen 23 FIFA tournaments across all six confederations and more than 1,000 stadium games globally, Alan will share exclusive insights from pitch research at Tennessee and Michigan State Universities, plus a behind-the-scenes look at this year’s FIFA Club World Cup.

“I’m really looking forward to speaking at SALTEX and sharing some of the behind-the-scenes insights into the preparation and delivery of the FIFA 2026 World Cup,” said Alan.

“It’s a unique challenge working across three countries with different climates and pitch technologies, so I’ll be touching on everything from hybrid stitching innovations to learnings from recent tournaments like the FIFA Club World Cup.

“Events like SALTEX are so important because they make high-quality, real-world education accessible to everyone in the industry – and that’s something I’m proud to support.”

Making his SALTEX debut, Graeme Beatt, Course Manager at Royal Portrush Golf Club, will deliver ‘Course success at the 153rd Open Championship’. Discover how Dunluce Links’ was prepared for this year’s Open Championship and the changes and challenges experienced since the event was last hosted at Royal Portrush six years ago.

Sustainability in Focus:

A standout panel tackles ‘Future-proofing turf management: Water resilience in a changing climate’, featuring:

  • Tony Hanson, Managing Director – Environmental Solutions International
  • Roger Davey, Managing Director – Irritech Limited
  • Mark Hunt, Technical Specialist – Prodata Weather Systems

Visitors can expect practical strategies on irrigation innovation, alternative water sources and weather-driven planning – all designed to help you build a resilient water strategy.

Funding for the Future:

Jack Matthews, Director of Programmes at the Football Foundation, shares the latest on multi-sport facility funding in ‘The Football Foundation’s multi-sport funding strategy’. From grassroots to national initiatives, Jack’s session is essential for community clubs and volunteers seeking funding to transform local sports facilities.

UEFA Insights & Hybrid Innovation:

A firm favourite at SALTEX, Lee Guerriero, Stadium Operations and Pitch Expert at UEFA, returns with ‘UEFA Champions League, Nations League final & Women’s EURO 2025 pitch preparations’. Lee, who manages UEFA’s pitch support programmes for major club and national competitions, has contributed to global events including the Olympics, FIFA World Cups and UEFA’s VAR and goal-line technology programmes.

He says: “I’ll be sharing insights from some of UEFA’s biggest recent events, including the Champions League and the upcoming Women’s EURO 2025. SALTEX is a brilliant platform for sharing that knowledge with the wider industry, and the fact that it’s freely accessible makes it even more valuable for those working hard behind the scenes.”

Finally, Neil Rodger, Principal Project Manager at STRI Group, rounds off the programme with ‘The pros and cons of different hybrid pitch surfaces’. Neil is an experienced consultant whose portfolio includes designing Saudi Arabia’s first turf horse racetrack and advising on elite football surfaces in the UK and internationally.

“SALTEX creates a rare space where grounds professionals can access top-class, free education, and I’m pleased to be part of a programme that supports learning across all levels of the industry,” says Neil.

“Hybrid pitches have come a long way in recent years, but understanding the differences is still a challenge for many clubs. I’ll be breaking down the pros and cons of each, with a practical focus on what’s right for different budgets and usage levels.”

SALTEX’s Learning LIVE is the largest dedicated learning programme in the grounds sector – and it’s completely free! Join us at the NEC, Birmingham, on 12-13 November 2025.

Register now and power up your skills with expert-led sessions that shape the future of grounds management. Everyone who has registered will be entered into a prize draw to win a Cramer Tools All Terrain Lawn Mower ATM53A, complete with charger and battery, worth £2,240!

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

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Origin Enterprises Announced as Sponsor of BALI Awards

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Origin Enterprises Announced as Headline Sponsor of BALI Awards: Origin Enterprises plc (‘Origin’ or ‘the Group’), the international group shaping the future of sustainable land use solutions, is pleased to announce a new headline sponsorship agreement for the prestigious BALI National Landscape Awards.

The sponsorship will be led by the company’s Living Landscapes division, which offers future-ready products, services, and advice across the sports, environmental, and landscapes sectors. Running from 2025 to 2027, the agreement reinforces Origin Enterprises’ commitment to the nature economy and landscape excellence and highlights its role as a leader in delivering innovative and sustainable solutions for the amenity, urban and infrastructure development, and environmental markets.

Origin Enterprises Announced as Headline Sponsor of BALI Awards

Origin Enterprises Announced as Headline Sponsor of BALI Awards

BALI National Landscape Awards Reflect Origin’s Commitment to Sustainable Land Use

The BALI National Landscape Awards, organised by the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), are the industry’s most coveted accolades, celebrating outstanding achievements in landscaping. BALI supports and inspires landscape contractors, architects, garden designers and suppliers to be leaders of an environmentally, ethically and commercially sustainable landscape services industry.

As a leader in sustainable land use and agronomic solutions, Origin’s sponsorship reflects its mission to support the professionals shaping the future of urban and rural landscapes.

TJ Kelly, Divisional Managing Director of Living Landscapes at Origin Enterprises, commented: “At Origin, nurturing the environment is central to our strategy, and our focus on shaping the future of sustainable land use reflects our dedication to responsible land stewardship. We are immensely proud to be the headline sponsor of the BALI National Landscape Awards and to celebrate the achievements of professionals shaping the future of our landscapes.”

“Through our sponsorship, Origin aims to inspire professionals across the industry to implement higher sustainability standards, invest in greener solutions, and push for a more regenerative approach to land management.”

Welcoming the partnership, Wayne Grills, Chief Executive at BALI, added: “We are delighted to have Origin Enterprises as our headline sponsor. Their expertise in sustainability and land management makes them an ideal partner in celebrating the outstanding achievements of our industry.”

Living Landscapes

Origin’s Living Landscapes division unites expertise across its businesses in the Sports, Landscapes, and Environmental markets:

  • Sports – Delivering high-performance solutions in turf agronomy, seed, nutrition, irrigation, line marking, and plant protection, supporting world-class sports facilities and recreational spaces that contribute positively to their local environments.
  • Landscapes – Supporting urban and rural green infrastructure projects, creating biodiverse, vibrant, and sustainable environments that promote recreation, enhance well-being, and connect people with nature.
  • Environmental – Providing ecological consultancy, conservation advice, and habitat creation & management services, enabling businesses and government bodies to achieve their environmental goals while preserving natural beauty.

BALI Partnership

Through its expertise in urban greening, biodiversity enhancement, and turf and soil health management, Origin Enterprises will work with the BALI National Landscape Awards to promote future-ready solutions that improve climate resilience, enhance green infrastructure, and foster long-term sustainability in landscaping projects across the UK and beyond.

The 2025 Awards ceremony will take place on 5th December. To enter the awards or reserve seats at the ceremony, please visit www.baliawards.co.uk

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Headline sponsor revealed for BIGGA celebration

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Headline sponsor revealed for BIGGA celebration: The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) is delighted to reveal leading turf machinery manufacturer Jacobsen as headline sponsor of the BIGGA Celebration, taking place on the opening evening of the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME).

BIGGA’s free-to-attend welcome event is held in the Harrogate Convention Centre and is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of BIGGA members from throughout 2023. Hosted by a golfing celebrity, the BIGGA Celebration with Jacobsen is an opportunity to celebrate everything that’s great about the greenkeeping industry, which is key to growing a thriving sport for years to come.

Headline sponsor revealed for BIGGA celebration

Headline sponsor revealed for BIGGA celebration

BTME is the premier turf management exhibition in Europe and provides BIGGA members and the wider sports turf industry with an unmissable mix of exhibition, Continue to Learn education, conferences and legendary networking opportunities.

At the BIGGA Celebration, the association will reveal the winners of the BIGGA Awards 2024 as well as recognising the latest life members, Master Greenkeepers, the FTMI Class of 2023, BIGGA Photography Competition winner and others.

Jacobsen is the UK-based division of Textron Specialized Vehicles, a leading global manufacturer of machinery including golf cars, utility and personal transportation and professional turfcare equipment. Its vehicles are found in environments ranging from golf courses to factories, airports and theme parks.

BIGGA’s Head of Business Development, Lauren Frazer, said: “I am incredibly proud to welcome Jacobsen as headline sponsors of the BIGGA Celebration. BIGGA members do extraordinary things every day of their working lives and this event is an opportunity for the association to celebrate their achievements. The BIGGA Celebration is a wonderful event that is growing in popularity each year and I’m thankful to Jacobsen for their incredible support.”

Jacobsen’s International Marketing Manager Adam Underwood said: “The significance of BIGGA’s role within the greenkeeping industry and their vision of elevating the recognition of association members for their exceptional contributions as custodians of the game of golf, align seamlessly with our core values at Jacobsen Fine Turf Mowers. We take great pride in our longstanding sponsorship of the Future Turf Manager’s Initiative and we eagerly anticipate extending our support to the industry by sponsoring the BIGGA Celebration at BTME in Harrogate.”

For more information, visit the BTME website.

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R&A’s Agronomy Team to headline at BTME

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R&A’s Agronomy Team to headline at BTME: With the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME) and Continue to Learn taking place in a month, the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) has confirmed its headline speakers for the education conference.

BTME is the annual trade show and networking event for those working in the golf greenkeeping and wider sportsturf industry and takes place in Harrogate. Traditionally the event is held in January each year but was postponed in 2021 due to coronavirus and this year was delayed until March due to uncertainties relating to the pandemic.

R&A’s Agronomy Team to headline at BTME

R&A’s Agronomy Team to headline at BTME

Continue to Learn is BIGGA’s world-leading education programme and runs alongside the conference. Considered among the most influential events in the golf industry calendar, Continue to Learn features hundreds of hours of learning for sports turf professionals on a wide variety of topics.

The three-day Continue to Learn: Conference will be hosted by former BBC Sports editor Gareth Jones. Headlining that element of the programme will be The R&A’s Championship Agronomy team, which is responsible for presenting host venues each year for The R&A’s championships, including The Open.

Members of The R&A Agronomy team will reveal how they work, the preparation and data collection processes involved with championship preparation, the interactions with the host greenkeeping team and give an insight into the modern requirements for the delivery of golf’s greatest championship. Joining The R&A team of Alistair Beggs, Richard Windows and Adam Newton at Continue to Learn will be Paul Larsen, course manager at Royal St George’s Golf Club, host venue for The 149th Open in 2021.

Alistair Beggs, Head of Agronomy at The R&A, said: “It is a privilege for The R&A Agronomy Team to work with the host venue for The Open and its staff to help deliver the stage on which it is played each year. In 2021 Royal St George’s hosted The Open and despite the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it developed into a great championship.

“This session provides the opportunity to learn a little more about Royal St George’s journey to being a championship venue, both from the perspective of The R&A and Royal St George’s own links manager, Paul Larsen. This will include the years building up to 2021, playing surface and rough preparation, environmental management and delivery of the championship itself.

“We are incredibly excited to be attending BTME and are thankful to BIGGA for giving us the opportunity to share our experiences of The Open in this way.”

Also revealed to be taking part in the Continue to Learn: Conference schedule is Linda Moir, who led the Spectator Services team at the London Olympic and Paralympic Games, where 15,000 volunteer Games makers hosted 9 million spectators. Prior to that, Linda accepted the challenge from Sir Richard Branson to join Virgin Atlantic and ‘make flying fun’. As director of In Flight Services she was responsible for the airline’s award winning on-board service.

Continue to Learn is the sports turf industry’s largest single education event, providing hundreds of hours of education for greenkeepers and groundsmen everywhere. The programme runs alongside the BTME and will be held 20 to 23 March 2022 at the Harrogate Convention Centre.

Bookings are open and more information can be found at www.btme.org.uk

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