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Head groundsperson calls for more apprenticeship opportunities

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Head groundsperson calls for more apprenticeship opportunities: This National Apprenticeship Week, Leeds Rhinos Head Groundsperson Ryan Golding is urging employers, including sports clubs and organisations, to invest in apprenticeships and help secure the future of the grounds management industry.

Data from the Grounds Management Association (GMA) shows the industry will face an employment crisis if more isn’t done to attract and train the next generation of grounds care professionals.

Head groundsperson calls for more apprenticeship opportunities

Head groundsperson calls for more apprenticeship opportunities

National Apprenticeship Week

National Apprenticeship Week, which takes place from 10th – 16th February, is an annual event that raises awareness about apprenticeships and the long-term recruitment solutions they can offer employers.

Ryan began his career at Leeds Rhinos as an apprentice, initially working under former Head Groundsperson Jason Booth, who had also started as an apprentice at the club.

Data from the GMA shows around 40% of the current grounds management workforce are over 50 and up to 15% of those employed in the industry are planning to retire in the next 3 years.

The GMA is the not-for-profit organisation that supports volunteer and professional groundspeople, including those looking to get started in the industry. The GMA’s NextGen programme aims to inspire more young people to get involved in grounds management. As a former member of the GMA’s NextGen, Ryan was recently awarded a Pioneer Mark by the GMA, recognising his work to help young professionals build their careers in grounds management.

Ryan says: “I’m delighted to have received a Pioneer Mark from the GMA, bringing through the next generation is a huge passion of mine – and apprenticeships are central to this.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without an apprenticeship. Grounds management is a brilliant career, and we need more young people coming through to fill the gaps that are opening up. Apprenticeships can help clubs and organisations find and develop ambitious young professionals.”

“If you don’t have an apprenticeship scheme in place, there’s support available, including from the government. You can also check out the GMA website for more information on training and career pathways.”

For more information about hiring an apprentice, go to www.apprenticeships.gov.uk

To learn more about career and training in grounds management, go to: www.thegma.org.uk

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GKB Leaf-Blower promises more airflow with less load

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GKB Leaf-Blower promises more airflow with less load: Visitors to BTME 2025 were the first to see a brand new addition to the GKB machinery portfolio, as the Leaf-Blower (LB100) made its global debut. Delivering more airflow with less power demand on your tractor, the LB100 promises greater efficiency and fast, effective clearance of leaves and other debris.

In development for a number of years, the GKB Leaf-Blower has been designed to meet the exacting requirements of modern golf course and sports turf management. With low power requirements of under 40hp and a PTO-driven fan, the blower offers powerful performance with limited load on your tractor.

GKB Leaf-Blower promises more airflow with less load

GKB Leaf-Blower promises more airflow with less load

As is now expected with GKB, the new machine incorporates the very best of robust, precision engineering for durable, long-lasting reliability. It features solid tyres, an anti-scalp roller and a lightweight, yet study, 875mm diameter metal fan. With an air capacity of 380 m³/min, the Leaf-Blower provides outstanding productivity for the fast and effective clearance of leaves, pine needles and other debris.

The hydraulically operated rear chute allows you to swiftly change speed or direction of airflow, saving time on the job. The freewheel PTO and gearbox transmission ensure smooth operation and long ma­chine life, while attaching the unit and setting the working height is quick and simple.

Its compact dimensions, weight of 360kg and a noise level of only 97 decibels make the GKB Leaf-Blower suitable for daily use on golf courses and other amenity spaces in close proximity to the public.

Commenting on its introduction, UK Operations Manager Tom Shinkins said, “It was great to finally be able to introduce the Leaf-Blower into the GKB range, and what better place to get it in front of thousands of turf professionals than at BTME! We had an incredibly positive reaction from visitor and dealers alike, all excited to get out and get hands-on with the machine in the field ahead of the busy autumn season. Sitting alongside sustainable solutions like the GKB Leaf Reducer, we now offer the full complement of machinery for leaf clearance to suit all sports, situations and settings.”

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Ventrac – more than a mower

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Ventrac – more than a mower: Price Turfcare, the UK and Ireland distributor of the Ventrac multi-implement, all-terrain compact tractor, returns to BTME with the Ventrac 4520 compact tractor unit and a selection of attachments.

Since its launch in 2017, this combination of highly manoeuvrable compact tractor and multiple attachments has quickly established a recognised place in UK turfcare industry. There are now 450 tractor units and in excess of 1,200 attachments being used across the UK turf sector.

Ventrac - more than a mower

Ventrac – more than a mower

With the capability to work on 30-degree slopes combined with incredibly low ground pressure and over 30 attachments, it’s the most versatile equipment combination for the busy course manager. This is a machine that can mow in multiple formats, blow leaves, move snow, reinvigorate pathways, aerate, cut turf, dig trenches, grind stumps and prepare seedbeds … everything a golf course of any size, can utilise all-year round.

Allan Patterson, the Director of Golf Courses and Estates at Trump Turnberry says,

“Our Ventracs have alleviated a lot of issues associated with working on steep banks. It can climb 30-degree slopes safely and with ease, cutting the number of hours the team previously spent strimming and frees them up for other tasks. I like the fact that it’s a multi-tool, which means it can undertake several tasks and can be out on the courses or around the estate, virtually every day. It’s an extremely versatile piece of equipment.”

To understand why Allan and the rest of the industry have embraced the Ventrac product, come along and visit stand 122 in Hall 1.

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GroundsFest 2024: More Exhibitors, More Visitors, More Excitement

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GroundsFest 2024: More Exhibitors, More Visitors, More Excitement: The second edition of GroundsFest, held on 10 and 11 September at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, has firmly established itself as the UK’s largest grounds management and landscaping event. Following a strong debut in 2023, this year’s show exceeded all expectations, marking a significant milestone in its young history.

With 8,014 visitors across two days—4,738 on day one and 3,276 on day two—GroundsFest 2024 saw an impressive increase in attendance, a remarkable feat for an event that only launched last year. The expanded event layout immediately immersed visitors in the action, creating an engaging and dynamic atmosphere from the moment they arrived.

One of the standout features of this year’s GroundsFest was the introduction of Machinery Nation LIVE, which captivated large crowds with thrilling machinery face-offs. Visitors watched top brands go head-to-head in a series of entertaining and rigorous trials, comparing performance across categories such as petrol vs. battery, agility, power, and more. Machinery Nation LIVE also provided interactive equipment challenges where attendees could compete for prizes, adding to the excitement and engagement throughout the show.

And speaking of prizes, GroundsFest 2024 was a treasure trove for lucky visitors. Attendees had the chance to win a wide range of impressive prizes, including a Toro ProStripe 560, a CyberTank portable power station and up to £20,000 worth of Kress tools, an award-winning battery pruner SC 100e and a SWIFT 372e battery garden ride-on mower from STIGA, an EGO Pro X battery-powered pedestrian mower, a Union Jack Turf Tank robot, and much more.

Innovation took centre stage at GroundsFest 2024 as over 60 new products were launched, providing visitors with a firsthand look at the latest in grounds management and landscaping technology. The mix of indoor and outdoor areas also struck a perfect balance. Indoors, a vibrant show floor offered a diverse range of exhibitors showcasing products and services, while the seminar theatres hosted a wealth of educational sessions, all free to attend.

The Landscape Zone, an entire hall dedicated to professionals in the design, planning, and construction of outdoor spaces in the landscaping sector proved to be popular, adding another dimension to the show’s offering.

Grounds Training practical sessions were another highlight, attracting large crowds eager to learn from experienced instructors on the use and maintenance of pedestrian mowers, ride-on mowers, handheld machinery, and sprayers.

Hands-on experience is one of GroundsFest’s key strengths, and attendees once again relished the opportunity to test out equipment before making purchasing decisions. The Avant National Pro Challenge was also a hit, with participants showcasing their skills in an exciting competition that involved slaloms, material handling, and tool changes in an Avant Loader.

Beyond the business of grounds management and landscaping, the festival atmosphere of GroundsFest offered a fun way for exhibitors and visitors alike to unwind. The popular happy hour, live bands, and free bumper cars added to the entertainment, ensuring that GroundsFest was not just about work but also about building relationships and enjoying the industry’s camaraderie.

Event Director Christopher Bassett summed up the event’s success, saying: “It’s incredible to see how much support GroundsFest has received from every corner of the industry. The growth from last year has been phenomenal, and we’re so grateful to all the exhibitors, visitors, and partners who made this year’s show such a success. As we look to the future, we want to continue growing and evolving the show—and the only way to do that is by listening to the industry. That’s why we encourage everyone to take the time to fill out the surveys we’ve sent out. Your feedback is invaluable.”

GroundsFest 2025 is already on the horizon, set to take place on 9 and 10 September at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. After this year’s monumental success, anticipation is already building for what promises to be an even bigger and better event next year.

For more information, please visit www.groundsfest.com

You can also follow GroundsFest on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @GroundsFest for much more news, reviews and insightful views.

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

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Even more choice from Makita

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Even more choice from Makita: Leading power tool manufacturer, Makita has expanded its range of 18V LXT cordless garden maintenance machines further with new product launches. The new additions include an 18V LXT blower, a range of 18V LXT hedge trimmers and an 18V LXT 350mm rear handle chainsaw.

The versatile DUB187 Brushless LXT Blower, which features both blower and vacuum functions, has a variable speed trigger control plus a cruise control for ease of operation. In blower mode the DUB187 produces a maximum air volume of 4.2 m3 /min with an air velocity of up to 64m/sec. As a vacuum to pick up leaves and garden debris, the DUB187 has a maximum air volume of 6.1 m3 /min, benefits from a 25 litre collection bag and features a metal shredder blade on the fan for mulching. For easy and comfortable use, the DUB187 also features top and rear handles as well as a shoulder strap and two casters on the blower/vacuum nozzle for ease of movement.

Even more choice from Makita

Even more choice from Makita

Makita has also launched four new 18V LXT hedge trimmers. The DUH507 and DUH607 LXT hedge trimmers have 500mm and 600mm blade lengths respectively. The machines deliver an output of 250 watts, a blade speed of 2700 strokes per minute and have a 15mm maximum cutting capacity.

Also added to the range is the DUH506 and DUH606 Brushless LXT hedge trimmers that similarly have 500mm and 600mm blade lengths. These machines have an output of 320 watts with a blade speed of 4000 strokes per minute and a 20mm maximum cutting capacity. The brushless motors in the DUH506 and DUH606 deliver improved performance and runtimes compared with equivalent machines with conventional brushed motors.

All the new hedge trimmers are designed to be lightweight, including an aluminium guide bar, to reduce user fatigue as well as a redesigned front switch for easier operation. The new machines also all have optional chip receivers, and safety features such an electric brake, whilst the DUH506 and DUH606 also feature an anti-restart function.

In addition, to help professionals achieve maximum productivity, the DUB187 blower and the new hedge trimmers are all compatible with the Makita PDC01 portable power supply. This backpack battery unit can be fitted with up to four LXT batteries to provide extended run times for a wide range of Makita 18V and Twin 18V (36V) LXT machines via a connection adaptor.

Finally, Makita has also added a new rear handle chainsaw to its line-up. The DUC357 Brushless LXT 350mm Chainsaw achieves a high level of torque using a gear reduction mechanism making it ideal for more demanding applications.

Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita commented: “We are continually developing our range of cordless garden and grounds maintenance machines to provide professionals with a choice of products to suit their needs. This latest wave of new product launches broadens these options further with lightweight and easy to handle, but highly effective solutions.”

To find out more about Makita and its range of products visit: www.makitauk.com.

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

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