Tag Archive for: Management

Bernhard Academy’s Spring online management programme

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Bernhard Academy’s Spring online management programme: Bernhard Academy has announced the launch of its Spring 2026 online leadership and management programme, giving industry professionals around the world the opportunity to develop essential skills from anywhere.

Following the strong success of its education seminars and packed trade show sessions earlier this year at BTME and the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, the Academy’s latest programme continues its commitment to delivering accessible, high-impact learning to the sector.

Bernhard Academy's Spring online management programme

Bernhard Academy’s Spring online management programme

The Spring 2026 series features two development pathways – Aspiring Manager and Confident Manager – while also offering the flexibility to attend individual courses or mix and match topics to suit personal development goals.

The Aspiring Manager pathway is designed for future leaders preparing to take the next step in their careers, focusing on self-awareness, communication, stakeholder understanding and personal leadership development.

The Confident Manager pathway supports those stepping into or operating within supervisory roles, covering key areas such as budgeting, risk assessment, project management, handling difficult conversations, managing stress and delivering impactful presentations.

Courses begin on 9 March 2026, with sessions running through to 18 May 2026, all delivered online and accessible globally.

Sami Strutt, Education Director at Bernhard Academy, said: “The response to our education sessions at this year’s trade shows demonstrated just how strong the appetite is for high-quality, accessible learning across our industry.

“Our Spring 2026 online programme has been designed to give professionals, wherever they are in the world, the confidence and practical skills to progress in their careers. Whether they’re aspiring to step into management or looking to strengthen their impact as established leaders” she added.

In addition, the Bernhard Academy has confirmed dates for its specialist Technical and Equipment Management training:

  • 9 April 2026: Cutting Unit Set Up and Sharpening Techniques @ Loch Lomond Golf Club
  • 13-15 April 2026: Fundamentals of Turf Care Mechanics – Level 1 @ Moortown Golf Club

With demand expected to remain high following recent industry engagement, early booking is encouraged. For more information or to register, visit: https://bernhardacademy.co.uk/

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Integrated Weed Management takes centre stage

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Integrated Weed Management takes centre stage: GroundsFest Academy kicked off its 2026 programme in style with a fully booked Integrated Weed Management (IWM) event, bringing together contractors, local authorities, educators and suppliers for a free day of learning, discussion and hands-on demonstrations.

Held at the Wiltshire FA headquarters, the event focused on the latest guidance, funding opportunities and practical solutions surrounding integrated weed management, with a particular emphasis on reducing reliance on chemicals and exploring effective alternative methods. Delivered in partnership with Kersten UK, Terrazza MC, Parks for London and Lantra, the day combined expert-led presentations with interactive outdoor sessions and live equipment demonstrations.

Integrated Weed Management takes centre stage

Integrated Weed Management takes centre stage

The programme introduced delegates to the core principles of integrated weed management, alongside the latest industry guidance, legislative developments and funding information. Attendees were also able to explore chemical-free and alternative weed control methods in action, helping to bridge the gap between theory and real-world application.

Sean Faulkner of Kersten UK highlighted the growing momentum behind IWM and the importance of education.

“We’re trying to educate as many people as possible on the benefits of integrated weed management. We’ve been helping to develop the guidance and training around it, and it’s slowly building up steam. This was a great way of getting that information out to more people. It’s been a really good group today, with a big mix of attendees who have all been really engaged.”

Hands-on learning was a key theme throughout the day. Luca Smith from Terrazza MC explained why practical demonstrations are so important.

“Weed control is really traditional, most people think of spraying or strimming. There are so many alternative methods out there, especially with the environmental impact of traditional approaches. Everyone today was really hands-on, asking loads of questions, and it’s great to be able to let people actually use the equipment and see how it works.”

Education providers were also keen to stay aligned with the latest developments. Richard Goldsmith, who attended from Warwickshire College Group, said:

“Today was about making sure I’m delivering the most up-to-date information to my apprentices. Integrated weed management is a great step towards the future. The technology around heat treatments has really moved on, and it’s getting to the point where we can see it as a real alternative to chemical control. Events like this are a brilliant way to keep CPD up to date.”

Other delegates also echoed the value of the event. Jason Lee from Countrywide Grounds Maintenance said:

“We want to understand what’s around the corner and how we can move towards more environmentally friendly solutions. Seeing how the training is structured around integrated weed management has been really interesting.”

Matt Jones of Sipcam Home and Garden added:

“It’s been a brilliant day for understanding the challenges around integrated weed management and how it all fits together for councils and contractors. Offering this event for free is superb.”

David Fisher from Lantra, a partner of the GroundsFest Academy, summed up the wider impact:

“It’s about sharing best practice, upskilling the industry and making people more aware of the training and resources available. It’s really raising the profile of integrated weed management.”

Ed Stannard from Parks for London said:

“We’re hoping delegates leave feeling more confident to consider non-chemical-first approaches, while understanding there are still situations where chemicals are necessary. We’re delighted with the turnout.”

Bradley Tennant, Director of Education at GroundsFest Academy, said the event set the tone for a busy year ahead. “We’re really happy to have our best turnout so far, and we’ve got a lot planned for the future.”

With strong attendance, positive feedback and a packed programme of future events, GroundsFest Academy continues to play a vital role in supporting education, innovation and best practice across the industry.

For more information, visit www.groundsfestacademy.com

For more information, please visit www.groundsfestacademy.com 

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STRI launches Racecourse Water Management guide

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STRI launches Racecourse Water Management guide: STRI Group has launched a new Racecourse Water Management: Best Practice Guide, providing practical, evidence-led guidance to support consistent, high-quality racing surfaces in an increasingly unpredictable climate.

The guidance was officially launched at the RCA Vets Medical Turf Management Conference on 28th January and has been developed by STRI in partnership with the Racecourse Association (RCA) and the Horse Welfare Board (HWB), with support from the RCA Ground and Going Group and funding from The Racing Foundation.

STRI launches Racecourse Water Management guide

STRI launches Racecourse Water Management guide

As historic climate trends become less reliable, racecourses face growing challenges from drought, intense rainfall and drainage pressures. The new guide supports a proactive, data-driven approach to water management, helping racecourses make informed decisions that protect surface performance and welfare.

Primarily aimed at Clerks of Course and grounds teams, the guide is also relevant for racecourse executives and decision-makers responsible for planning, investment and risk management. Designed to be accessible to both technical and non-technical audiences, it also serves as a valuable training resource for staff new to racecourse operations.

The guidance builds on STRI’s Performance Quality Standard (PQS) framework for turf horse racing, translating improved data measurement and understanding of the relationship between soil moisture and Going into clear, practical advice. It covers soil–water interaction, irrigation demand, calculating water requirements and the importance of measuring soil moisture.

Dr Christian Spring, Principal Scientist at STRI Group commented, “In sport, we can no longer rely on historic climate trends alone to guide how natural turf courses are managed. The impacts of prolonged drought, intense rainfall and poor drainage can be significant, affecting both surface performance and welfare. To meet these challenges, racecourses must be adaptive, flexible and prepared, with the right infrastructure in place and teams who can make informed, confident decisions about their tracks. The document also provides a valuable training resource for staff who are new to racing or racecourse management and at its core, the guide prioritises the welfare of horses and jockeys.”

The guide can be downloaded on STRI’s website here: https://strigroup.com/racecourse-water-management-best-practice-guide-launched-download-here/

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STIHL launches innovative charging management system

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STIHL launches innovative charging management system: STIHL has introduced a new charging management system designed to make charging multiple batteries more efficient, reliable and user-friendly.

The STIHL CM 8 Charging Management System allows up to 8 chargers to be powered via a standard GB 230 V Socket. This enables twice as many chargers to run on a single fuse, providing a simple solution to maximise charging capacity and manage batteries more productively.

STIHL launches innovative charging management system

STIHL launches innovative charging management system

With no electrical expertise required for set-up, the CM 8 has been designed with intelligent overload protection, ensuring safe and reliable charging without the risk of fuse tripping when used with the correct STIHL charger combination. .

The innovative system can run twice the number of chargers compared to a standard socket, thanks to smart electronics developed by STIHL experts. Built with an intelligent automatic switch, the CM 8 enables two charging banks to run one after another. This means that once the system’s ‘bank one’ has fully charged all of the batteries in its connected chargers, ‘bank two’ will automatically begin its charging process.

A light on the CM 8 clearly indicates which bank is active for instant visibility and peace of mind.

To avoid overloading a circuit, the CM 8’s maximum power consumption of 1840 W must not be exceeded. With this, STIHL’s wide range of chargers have a label to indicate wattage, with this information also available to access on the STIHL website. The wattage combination of all chargers plugged into the CM 8 must not exceed the 1840 W maximum limit. Utilising the CM 8 with 8 x AL 301-4 multi chargers, 32 batteries can be charged overnight via one plug socket.

To find out more about STIHL charging solutions, visit your nearest STIHL Approved Dealer, or www.stihl.co.uk.

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Power the future of grounds management

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Power the future of grounds management: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) is proud to reaffirm what truly sets SALTEX apart: every penny generated by the show is reinvested directly into the grounds management industry, supporting the people that keep sport and community spaces thriving across the nation.

For nearly nine decades, SALTEX has existed with a singular purpose: to elevate and advance the profession of grounds management. As a not-for-profit, mission-led event, SALTEX reinvests every pound it generates back into the industry – supporting everyone from grassroots volunteers maintaining local pitches to elite professionals delivering world-class playing surfaces around the globe.

Power the future of grounds management

Power the future of grounds management

Revenue from SALTEX 2024 has enabled the GMA to subsidise approximately 63% of its membership base, delivering essential support to both professional and volunteer grounds staff. Community and the brand-new free student memberships have benefited most, strengthening the GMA’s promise to nurture new talent and ensuring the highest standards of grounds care are applied across the country.

SALTEX profits also support the funding of the industry’s gold-standard training. In the last financial year, income from the show subsidised over 2,000 GMA training courses and qualifications, helping more groundspeople to upskill and grow. The subsidised fees have attracted an extra 7% of learners this year, widening access and upskilling even more people across the sector. The GMA remains the only sector body accredited under the Department for Education’s matrix Standard – a testament to the quality of the association’s training and support.

The GMA’s work to champion the sector wouldn’t be possible without SALTEX. The exhibition enables key initiatives like the annual Industry Awards, recognising excellence at all levels, and #GroundsWeek, the GMA’s national campaign shining a spotlight on the vital work of grounds teams. This year’s #GroundsWeek reached more than 20 million people, the biggest audience to date, inspiring future recruits and building recognition for the profession.

For over ten years, SALTEX has served as a vital meeting ground for the UK’s leading sports governing bodies (NGBs) including The FA, Football Foundation, ECB, RFU and RFL, who consistently choose the show as a trusted platform to engage with the industry. Their presence enables a shared focus on improving facilities at every level. By aligning with the GMA and SALTEX, the NGBs are investing in the long-term sustainability and success of the spaces where sport happens.

Sarah Cunningham, Director of Commercial, Membership and Events at the GMA, said: “SALTEX is the engine room of our industry. Every exhibitor and every visitor helps us reinvest in the people who make sport possible, from the volunteers who keep local pitches playable to the professionals preparing world-class surfaces and green spaces.

“And the impact is far-reaching in helping fund the training, resources, initiatives and recognition our sector needs to thrive. When people choose to be part of SALTEX either as an exhibitor or a visitor, they’re directly supporting the future of grounds management, and that’s something we’re incredibly proud of.”

As the only event of its kind that gives back to the industry, SALTEX remains the professional choice for those committed to the future of grounds management.

SALTEX takes place at Birmingham NEC on 12-13 November 2025. Exhibitors wishing to secure their place at Europe’s cutting-edge grounds management show should contact saltexsales@thegma.org.uk.

For more information and to register for your FREE ticket, visit www.saltex.org.uk.

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