Tag Archive for: Learn

BIGGA announces ICL Continue to Learn Scholars 2026

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BIGGA announces ICL Continue to Learn Scholars 2026: Each year, Premium Partner ICL invites five BIGGA members to attend the education programme at BTME, with the latest cohort representing golf clubs across the UK – from the west of England to the east of Scotland. 

The two organisations recognise that the valuable career-development opportunities provided by the multi-day event are not available to every greenkeeper, with the cost of education, travel and accommodation proving an obstacle. The scholarship seeks to provide a level playing field for ambitious members who would otherwise miss out.

BIGGA announces ICL Continue to Learn Scholars 2026

BIGGA announces ICL Continue to Learn Scholars 2026

“We’re pleased to continue supporting greenkeepers with the Continue to Learn Scholarship,” said Ed Carter, Business Manager UK for ICL Turf & Landscape. “Access to education is key to raising standards across the industry, and we want to help more BIGGA members develop their skills and progress in their careers.”

Adam Mitchell, of Tehidy Park Golf Club, was delighted to be selected and is eager to make the most of the opportunity.

” I am looking to use the courses available to improve my management techniques of both turf and of staff, which in turn should allow me to perform my role as Course Manager with more efficiency.  I look forward to learning from some well respected industry figures and making new friendships and connections with like-minded people”.

The scholarship provides the five candidates with three nights in a hotel and a comprehensive education package worth approximately £500.

To earn an ICL Continue to Learn Scholarship, BIGGA members must demonstrate a commitment to developing their own professional abilities by engaging with BIGGA’s Continuing Professional Development scheme.

Whether through in-person learning, reading this magazine, or by accessing resources on the association’s website, BIGGA members can enjoy thousands of learning opportunities, all aimed at improving their professional abilities.

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BTME and Continue to Learn bookings surpass 2024 numbers

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BTME and Continue to Learn bookings surpass 2024 numbers: The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) is gearing up for a bumper edition of its annual trade show and education conference and with only a handful of exhibition stands available and education bookings at an all-time high, anticipation for the event is stronger than ever.

By early December, stand bookings had already exceeded the overall total achieved for the 2024 edition of the show, while the Continue to Learn education programme has achieved over 1,000 bookings at its earliest point ever. BIGGA is proud that BTME’s reputation as the official start of the sports turf calendar is growing, with all elements of the event increasing substantially year on year.

BTME and Continue to Learn bookings surpass 2024 numbers

BTME and Continue to Learn bookings surpass 2024 numbers

To date, 133 stands have been allocated across 4,105m2 of exhibition space at the Harrogate Convention Centre. In 2024, the total exhibition space was 4,086m2. To accommodate this demand, BIGGA has introduced innovative solutions including the debut of the Industry Launchpad attraction.

Key industry partners due to return to the event include The R&A, BAGMA, EIGCA, Grounds Management Association, England Golf and the GCMA, underscoring BTME’s influential role in the UK golf industry.

The trade show also supports BIGGA’s flagship education initiative, Continue to Learn. Open to anyone working withing golf greenkeeping and sports turf management, the programme has already seen exceptional demand with 80% of Continue to Learn: Classes already sold out. The Continue to Learn: Conference programme is also proving popular and during the first week in December, BIGGA reached its 1,000th Continue to Learn booking, a milestone achieved earlier than ever before.

Jim Croxton, BIGGA CEO, said: “I’m incredibly proud of the BIGGA team, whose dedication and innovation has propelled BTME and Continue to Learn to new heights. Their commitment to creating an exceptional experience for our members and the wider turf industry has established BTME as a cornerstone of the golfing calendar that is growing in size and reputation each year.

“The strong support for Continue to Learn also highlights a positive shift in attitudes towards greenkeeper education. The golf industry has a growing appetite for education and training and Continue to Learn and BTME are the ideal format for that to take place. This enthusiasm for professional development bodes well for the future of our sport and the industry as a whole.”

Robotic machinery manufacturer Kress will be exhibiting at BTME for the second time, having made its debut at BTME 2024. Kress was recently announced as headline sponsor of the BIGGA Celebration, which takes place on the opening evening of the event in the Harrogate Convention Centre’s Royal Hall.

Nicki Jones, Kress Head of Marketing, said: “At Kress, we are delighted to attend the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition and proud to host the BIGGA Celebration, including the highly regarded BIGGA Awards. We are well aware of BTME’s stellar reputation within the industry as a premier event for showcasing innovation and excellence in turf management. This makes it a particularly exciting and meaningful opportunity for us to actively participate. Kress is dedicated to driving innovation and sustainability in the sector and we look forward to connecting with the talented professionals who make this industry thrive.”

Registration for BTME is open now. For more information about the trade show and the Continue to Learn education programme, visit www.btme.org.uk.

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Learn how to renovate your lawn this autumn

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Learn how to renovate your lawn this autumn: Allett Mowers is inviting lawn enthusiasts from around the UK to gain the Allett Level 1 Lawn Academy Qualification.

The one-day course, to be held at the Old Fold Manor Golf Club on October 10th 2023, is aimed at the passionate lawn enthusiast or professional lawncare specialists wanting to take their lawns to the next level. It’s an opportunity to learn how to achieve a more impressive and healthy lawn all year round. In the course, attendees will learn the science behind renovating their lawn this autumn to ensure it is in tiptop shape come spring. The day will start at 9 a.m. with a bacon bap and a hot drink with the chance to network with other lawn enthusiasts.

Learn how to renovate your lawn this autumn

Learn how to renovate your lawn this autumn

The learning journey will begin with classroom training led by leading lawn expert Richard Salmon from Pro Lawncare UK. Richard is a well-known figure in the industry, with over 38 years of experience in agronomy and a successful career in lawn management. Subjects to be covered on the day will include the history of grass, the lifecycle and types of grass, grass/lawn maintenance, thatch, soil, nutrients, weeds, moss, and irrigation. A lawn care yearly calendar will be set out where you can learn exactly what you should be doing to your lawn each month of the calendar year.

The classroom will be followed by a hands-on workshop with Allett MD Austin Jarrett. He will talk about the Allett cartridge system, showing how each cartridge works and how to use them. There will be the opportunity to use a range of machines and learn the techniques of how to employ a number of lawn tools to get the best out of your lawn. The price of the course will include a soil analysis test of your own lawn from a sample you bring with you on the day. Results can be used to help develop a personalised lawncare plan. The day will run from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. approximately. The price of the course is £145.00 (including VAT) and also includes a buffet lunch. Attendees will each receive an Allett Level 1 Lawn Academy certificate and there will also be the opportunity to purchase Allett tools.

Booking for the event can be signed up via: https://allett.co.uk/products/allett-level-1-lawn-academy-qualification

There is a 30% student discount available by contacting: sales@allett.co.uk or laura.malkin@allett.co.uk

Allett Mowers Ltd.  01889 271503 www.allett.co.uk  

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Green-tech provide the products for children to play and learn

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Green-tech provide the products for children to play and learn: Ysgol Ffordd Dyffryn (YFD) is a primary school in Llandudno, Wales that is working hard to offer its young pupils a green space in which to play and learn.

In partnership with Conwy Borough County Council and Wild Elements, a not-for-profit social enterprise, the school wanted to create green spaces for the children of YFD to immerse themselves in natural materials and greenery. The site was selected due to its severely grey infrastructure and lack of green space.

Green-tech provide the products for children to play and learn

Green-tech provide the products for children to play and learn

Wild Elements is dedicated to getting people in North Wales outdoors and connecting them to nature, improving their lives, opportunities, and aspirations.

The school received a recommendation from another Local Nature Partnership Coordinator in Cardiff and after seeing the successes of their project they felt it was the best way forward to source the green infrastructure for the school site. Gareth Lloyd – head teacher of YFD comments “we felt the products offered by Green-tech were one of the few that we were satisfied to have green infrastructure installed on a Centre Based Child Care education estate.”

Green-tech supplied everything but the trees for this project which included 45 Hedera Helix Woerner Living Ivy Green Screens and 45 bespoke Planters in 3 different colours.

The living Green Screens provide instant and effective screening and are perfect for projects where an instant privacy green fence is required. They provide rigid, secure, and evergreen barriers which are low maintenance and easy to install. As well as being much more attractive than traditional fencing, they are an environmentally conscious choice that support an array of wildlife and help absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to provide cleaner air.

To ensure the green screens stay hydrated a Mona irrigation watering system was supplied for each screen. The Mona System is a 100% water efficient, subterranean plant irrigation system and provides cost effective tree and planter irrigation.  The system acts as a reservoir to hold water and distribute to the plant’s roots as and when required to ensure they remain healthy and grow.

Gareth continues, “Following the success of the Cardiff project under the same Welsh Government grant, we hoped to replicate the work as it was a big hit with the Cardiff primary school children. One of the main concerns raised in the project’s infancy was the lack of shade in the school. During the warmer months, it can become overwhelmingly hot for the children. We intended for the Ivy Screens to provide an adequate source of natural material shading for the children. We also wanted the Ivy Screens to be a space for the children to play, hide and immerse themselves in their games. It has made a huge impact to the children’s well-being and is greatly appreciated.”

Green-tech supplied 12 bespoke planters for trees in 3 different colours and 12 containerised anchor systems to secure each tree discreetly without impacting on the overall design. In addition, 16 bulk bags of Green-tree topsoil which is manufactured using organic compost and overburdened sand from quarries and perfect for projects focused on environmental sustainability and green credentials, was supplied.

There was a lot of products to be delivered and it was important that the delivery schedule met the needs of the school, without interrupting them, as well as Wild Elements installation plan. “It was logistically impressive!” comments head teacher Gareth Lloyd.” “Thanks for sorting the delivery to run so smoothly, one wagon in, the next one to follow”, Tom from Wild Elements adds.

Julieanne Quinlan, Local Nature Partnership Coordinator for Conwy adds, “the experience with Green-tech has been a wonderful one. James, their Sales Advisor, has been incredibly helpful and patient throughout the entirety of the project. We cannot thank Green-tech enough for making this project come to fruition. It has been a big hit with the school and the children, and we have great hopes for the future pupils of Ysgol Ffordd Dyffryn. Diolch yn fawr (thank you very much).

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Continue to Learn Scholarship participants

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Continue to Learn Scholarship participants: The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and Premium Partner ICL have revealed the five participants of the seventh ICL Continue to Learn Scholarship. 

The five BIGGA members, drawn from golf clubs across the United Kingdom, have been invited to attend the Continue to Learn education programme, considered the largest learning experience for those in sports turf management outside the United States. Continue to Learn is held each January and coincides with the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME), hosted by BIGGA at the Harrogate Convention Centre in North Yorkshire.

Continue to Learn Scholarship participants

Continue to Learn Scholarship participants

The ICL Continue to Learn Scholars for 2023 are:

  • Patrick Brown, assistant greenkeeper, Wentworth Club
  • Jarno Ruscoe, greenkeeper, Ingestre Park Golf Club
  • Allan Spalding, assistant greenkeeper, Lundin Golf Club
  • Michael Sparke, deputy course manager, Kings Hill Golf Club
  • Nicholas Thorley, deputy head greenkeeper, Saunton Golf Club

To earn an ICL Continue to Learn Scholarship, BIGGA members must demonstrate a commitment to developing their own professional abilities by engaging with BIGGA’s Continuing Professional Development scheme. Whether through in-person learning, reading the association’s magazine, Greenkeeper International, or by accessing resources on the association’s website, BIGGA members have access to thousands of learning opportunities, all aimed at helping improve their professional abilities.

The ICL Continue to Learn Scholars will receive three nights’ hotel accommodation and a comprehensive education package offering an array of personal development opportunities.

BIGGA Chief Operating Officer Sami Strutt said: “BIGGA appreciates that budgets are tight at the moment and that’s why we are providing more opportunities than ever before to access the learning we provide for our members in new and more cost-effective ways. That includes the latest Continue to Learn timetable, to be published early in October and featuring more free education opportunities than ever before.

“Thanks to ICL, five BIGGA members will also enjoy the countless hours of personal and professional development that come with attending BTME and Continue to Learn. Our sincere thanks are extended to ICL for their continued support of BIGGA and its members, particularly through the tough economic climate we are all currently navigating.”

Continue to Learn at BTME 2023 will take place in various venues including the Harrogate Convention Centre from 22 to 25 January 2023. For further information about BTME and Continue to Learn, visit www.btme.org.uk

Through the Turf Rewards loyalty scheme from ICL and Syngenta, BIGGA members are able to claim Continue to Learn education vouchers. Points are gained by purchasing products for use on the golf course. For further information visit www.turfrewards.com

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