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Finalists of GEA awards announced

Finalists of GEA awards announced: Since STRI Group launched the Golf Environment Awards (GEAs) in 1995, the aim has been to recognise, reward and promote outstanding individuals and golf courses, no matter how big or small, for the time and effort they put into protecting and preserving their unique surroundings.

With the ever-increasing spotlight on environmental matters, it is fundamentally important for golf courses worldwide to assess what they can do to achieve environmental sustainability, protecting and encouraging habitats and biodiversity, while continuing to maximise the enjoyment of golf.

Finalists of GEA awards announced

Finalists of GEA awards announced

Following a recent judging day, the finalists and winners for the GEAs were decided. The judging panel were given a list of anonymous applications and an accompanying list of positive environmental practices from the clubs, which were then given a numerical score across a range of categories. The judges were representatives from STRI Ltd, The R&A, Aquatrols, BIGGA, Syngenta, Tillers Turf, and Textron.

The categories, criteria and finalists are as follows:

Operation Pollinator Award

Golf clubs who consistently deliver outstanding ecological habitat creation and management for pollinators.

  • Huntercombe
  • Goring and Streatley
  • Corhampton
  • Bamburgh Castle

Ecological Project of the Year

Golf clubs who have implemented a successful ecological project, with clear objectives and targets that contribute to a better environment, and are making sound progress in fulfilling the goals of the project.

  • Cirencester
  • Clitheroe
  • Pannal
  • Andrews

Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year

Outstanding individuals who make significant contributions to the success of environmental and ecological management making a positive impact on the surrounding landscape and biodiversity.

  • Garmouth and Kingston
  • Newquay
  • Sleaford
  • Warren (Devon)

Sustainable Project of the Year

Golf clubs who have implemented a successful sustainable project with clear objectives and targets that contribute to a more sustainable environment.

  • Hever Castle
  • Pannal
  • Royal Mid-Surrey
  • Andrews

International Environmental Golf Course

Golf clubs outside of the UK that brilliantly demonstrate efficient management across nature conservation, turfgrass, waste and water.

  • AFRIYEA (Uganda)
  • Al Mouj (Oman)
  • Finca Cortesin (Spain)
  • Sentosa (Singapore)

UK Environmental Golf Course of the Year

Golf clubs in the UK that are leading the way in sustainability across nature conservation, turfgrass, waste and water.

  • Anne’s Old Links
  • Nairn Dunbar
  • Gog Magog
  • Elmwood

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Harrogate on 25 January 2023. All winners are rewarded with a grant to help fund further ecological and environmental projects at their clubs and entry to the Foundation Award in Amenity Horticulture Course.

Entry to the awards is completely free with the aim of encouraging every eco-conscious golf club to have their efforts rewarded, and also to educate the industry on simple practices that can have a hugely positive impact.

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Master Greenkeeper dedicates success to memory of his mother

Master Greenkeeper dedicates success to memory of his mother: The latest member of the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) to attain Master Greenkeeper status has dedicated his success to the memory of his mother, who passed away just weeks before he achieved the certification.

David Perdisatt, course manager at Mullingar Golf Club in Ireland, said his mother, Marion, was a “massive supporter” of his career, making it bittersweet that he wasn’t able to tell her when he discovered he had achieved the highest accolade available to BIGGA members.

Master Greenkeeper dedicates success to memory of his mother

Master Greenkeeper dedicates success to memory of his mother

David, 41, said: “Becoming a Master Greenkeeper is a massive milestone in my career and the first person I would have told would have been my mother. She has been so supportive in my career but she passed away last month very unexpectedly, so it was a bittersweet moment.”

David has become just the second Master Greenkeeper based in Ireland and is the 88th to achieve the certification since 1991. The Master Greenkeeper Certificate is awarded to those members of BIGGA who have reached the highest standards of greenkeeping and golf course management.

An R&A Scholar, David has previously worked at Beechpark and Naas golf clubs and in 2016 was a finalist in the Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards. He was also the first Irish greenkeeper to participate in the John Deere TPC Sawgrass Volunteer Programme.

Married to Fiona and a father of three, throughout his career David has gained plenty of tournament experience, having volunteered at the Singapore, Dutch and Irish Opens.

David said: “Opportunities to progress never present themselves, you have to go after them yourself and Master Greenkeeper is a process that validates everything you have done in your career. It’s a tough process but in any industry, if you are recognised as a master of your trade, that’s something to aspire to. I have lots of hopes and ambitions for the future and I think being a Master Greenkeeper might be pivotal for my career in the years to come.

“I want to thank BIGGA for everything they’ve done for my career. I lean on them, particularly through the education side. I’m always accessing the website and the resources on there and I just want to say a massive thank you for the opportunity to help progress my career with the Master Greenkeeper certificate.”

David will be presented with his Master Greenkeeper certification at the BIGGA Welcome Celebration, taking place on the opening evening of the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition in January 2023. Registration for the event is free and for more information head to www.btme.org.uk

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Sustainability at the heart of SAGE 2023

Sustainability at the heart of SAGE 2023: Planning for SAGE 2023 is well underway, and this year sustainability is at its core. After a heatwave and drought sweeping the UK this summer, and with the ongoing energy crisis causing increasing uncertainty, it has never been more important for the groundscare industry to take conscious steps to combat climate change.

SAGE is returning for its third year in 2023 and realises the importance of reducing its impact on the environment, so this year is taking extra measures to ensure SAGE 2023 is as genuinely sustainable as possible.

Sustainability at the heart of SAGE 2023

Sustainability at the heart of SAGE 2023

Rather than vague promises of sustainability, SAGE is backing up claims of sustainability with actions that are tangibly good for the environment. Event Manager at SAGE, Vicky Panniers, said: “The deadline for becoming sustainable in the world of sports is now looming and our industry must now start to think of the steps we all need to take to become carbon neutral and comply with the new legislation.”

From using sustainable cleaning products to reducing single-use plastic, SAGE is implementing a wide range of sustainable practices all in line with Eventex’s suggested green practices, as highlighted in its ‘We are Green’ initiative. This initiative aims to inspire sustainability across the event industry, raise environmental awareness, and build a community of green-thinking organisers – something that is central to SAGE’s ethos.

Carbon footprint

What is a trade show without suppliers? In building next year’s exhibition show, SAGE has consciously chosen goods and services from responsible suppliers that share the same sustainability aims. Where possible, SAGE is sourcing local suppliers to reduce the carbon footprint as well as supporting local businesses. Plus, with a large number of expected visitors, SAGE is encouraging guests to travel by public transport to reduce the number of cars on the roads. For those who cannot travel by public transport, there will be free parking available on-site for increased accessibility.

Waste

With every event of this scale, waste can quickly build up. To reduce the impact, all on-site catering will be using fully compostable packaging, and all waste that does amass will be removed from the site, sorted, and then recycled or composted where possible. The remaining waste will be incinerated or turned into eco-friendly refuse-derived fuel.

Single-use plastic

SAGE is taking a stand against single-use plastic. Unlike other trade shows where disposable lanyards are the norm, SAGE is removing plastic badge covers and replacing them with sustainable lanyards.

Instead of plastic cups serving drinks at the bar, hireable glasses will be used at the networking event, where a variety of beers will be served on tap from barrels rather than from bottles. In a bid to tackle the use of disposable water bottles, SAGE is also installing free water refill stations across the showground and encouraging visitors to bring their own reusable bottles.

Venue

Situated in the stunning Three Counties Showground, in the vale of the Malvern Hills, SAGE prides itself on being in a beautiful bio-diverse area, where woodland and wildflower zones are left uncut, encouraging nature and wildlife to flourish. Setting aside these protected nature areas on site helps to preserve the natural habitats of the grounds and reduce the impact of the event on local wildlife.

SAGE is known for its unique outdoor setting, where exhibitors get the opportunity to display machinery in action. For demonstrations, all-natural materials will be sourced locally, such as brush for chippers and feature gardens. The green energy tariff will also be applied to this event.

Partners

SAGE has announced Bio Circle and GRASS as official partners. With the philosophy of “Making Green Work”, environmental surface technology specialist Bio-Circle has over 35 years of expertise in sustainable parts cleaning. Partnering with SAGE, Bio-Circle demonstrates how business can lower their environmental impact by offering environmental solutions for cleaning and maintenance of groundscare equipment. Bio-Circle will also appear on the live panel event at SAGE’s improved ‘Sustainable Solutions for Grounds Specialists Summit’.

SAGE has also partnered with the Groundscare Resources and Sustainability Solutions experts GRASS, who work across the groundscare and sports industry to implement sustainable changes, and will be offering advice on tailor-made sustainability practices. Chairman of GRASS, Mark Tomlinson, highlights their mission: “Through our work together, we will be working with progressive sports sector leaders to implement sustainable changes now and as new opportunities arise.”

Discover. Demo. Network.

With sustainable practices at the heart of the SAGE 2023 event, this exhibition is set to send waves through the industry and set the precedent for years to come.

With the renowned outdoor setting, convenient try before you buy set up, and free demo plot, SAGE is a great way to demonstrate your machinery to visitors. With unbeatable prices from as low as £14 per m2, secure your place now at SAGE 2023 with the early bird offer, which gives you. 10% off any stand until 31/01/22.

For more information, or to book exhibition space, please visit sportsandgrounds.events or contact Vicky Panniers vp@sportsandgrounds.co.uk. To learn more about how SAGE is implementing sustainable practices, read more on their newest blog post.

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George Davies, founder of George Davies Turf

George Davies, founder of George Davies Turf: George Davies started his ‘side venture’ in 2001 and has since reached new heights to become the largest independent supplier of turf in the UK, spending more than two decades perfecting his knowledge to become an expert voice on all things relating to turf, soil, crops and landscape materials. 

Pursuing a dream – turf experts

Driven by his own self-belief, George Davies has gone from a struggling student to university graduate, to successful business owner – sharing his flawless work ethic and inspiring passion for helping others, while he set out to achieve his longstanding dream to become the UK’s largest independent supplier of turf.

George Davies, founder of George Davies Turf

George Davies, founder of George Davies Turf

George’s forward-thinking approach and experience as a Farm Business Consultant always kept him one step ahead, and it was this energy and determination that he applied to his father’s family-run farm where his company was, and still is, based.

When he realised the farm wasn’t suitable for growing additional crops, George spotted the lucrative potential to sell landscaping products to nearby developing towns in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Hertfordshire.

In 2001 George invested every penny he had into a Scenic Blue Turf franchise and, having devoted so much time, energy and money into the venture, knew he had no choice but to throw everything into making it work.

By 2003 he had carved out his own unique selling point – his exceptional customer service – and felt it was time to go it alone. He changed the name and became a business owner in his own right – George Davies Turf was born.

From ‘one-man-band’ to multi-million-pound business

Based in Olney, George worked solo to sell, load, and deliver rolls of turf across the Midlands and London, while an honesty box in the farmyard portacabin collected payment for those who preferred to collect – that box alone took around £1 million over the first 10 years.

By 2010, George knew the secret to growing the business was to invest in state-of-the-art machinery, a new premises in St Albans, and to bring in drivers and support staff. He did this with a strong approach to recruitment, actively seeking people he could trust, and only those who would encompass the same values: honesty, reliability and quality.

Celebrating their 21st birthday in September 2021, George and his team of 19 now proudly refer to themselves as ‘The Landscaper’s Choice’, providing high-quality turf and landscaping products along with impeccable customer service. The striking fleet of six red 32-tonne lorries and a 44-tonne artic – all with forklift trucks – are used to transport 1.4 million rolls of turf to 35,000 gardens a year within a 40-mile radius of the two bases. George believes this is how the company maintains its identifiable two-hour delivery slots; a timeframe critical to maintaining the short shelf life of fresh turf.

With a reliable team in place, George now focuses on developing the business for his staff and customers: providing helpful information via blogs, social media, newsletters and events. The new George Davies Turf app is the first of its kind in the industry aimed at speeding up the buying process for busy landscapers – an innovation for the sector.

George is an advocate for supporting others too, not only sharing his insights with likeminded people, but encouraging his people to take time to further their own learning. Through various investments and activities, he continues to be involved with the local business community who helped him get where he is today, as well as funding new business owners on their journey.

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Role of grounds staff is key

Role of grounds staff is key: With ‘no pitch no play’ one of the biggest barriers to levelling the playing field between women and men’s football, the success of the women’s game depends largely on the involvement of the grounds industry.

Ahead of speaking at SALTEX, the leading turf management show being held on Birmingham NEC from 02-03 November, on increasing pitch capacity for the women’s game, Hannah Buckley, senior facilities and project manager for the women’s professional game at The FA, shares why the importance of the pitch and ensuring the groundswell of forward movement for the womens’ and girls’ sport is not lost because of poor playing conditions.

Role of grounds staff is key

Role of grounds staff is key

“When any new sport or technology comes along, some people will be reluctant to embrace it, others will do so wholeheartedly. We all saw this with those who hosted women’s matches and practise for the Euros and those who didn’t.

“It’s important to remember the men’s game is over 150 years old, women’s is 50 and the young girls’ pro game is only 11 years old. At the start of our journey, all the infrastructure was built around 150 years of the men’s game.

“What’s important going forward is to remove the unknown entities when it comes to additional female users of any pitch. Everything is the same with regards to the pitch and its set up, it’s only the players who are different. Accommodating women’s sport causes far less damage than the men’s: the players weigh less, are smaller and therefore it is important to acknowledge different impacts against different users. Understanding differences provides opportunities for example professional training environments don’t need as much space in a natural pitch training environment – and that reduces the initial budget outlay and ongoing maintenance costs.

“Several women’s professional clubs have secured investment from the Premier League in the last three and a half years to improve pitch quality delivering new stitched and carpet hybrid products.

“Women’s football is here to stay and we’ve got to focus on the pitches we’ve got. England has its infrastructure challenges. We’re an island with limited land availability, with predominantly urban stadiums and training grounds. We are not going to start by building new pitches, so we need to understand the playing surface and the game and work with what we’ve got and make them work for the future of the sport. And all sports groundspeople have a role to play in this. The process starts in education settings, local authorities and clubs, and in.

“My talk at SALTEX in fact considers this very subject and looks at the impact of Leigh Sports Village in Wigan. This example shows the impact a focus on grass roots can have at its finest. The venue had the biggest investment in public sports, recreational and educational facilities in Wigan borough for many years and has transformed Leigh into one of the finest hubs of activity in the North West. Its multi-surfaces serve the whole community providing a range of activities for local people as well as hosting international sporting events. It attracts the next generation of sporting stars in the community but is also home to professional rugby league team Leigh Centurions and Manchester United’s Women’s, U23s and U19s teams. It’s been a host stadium for the Rugby League World Cup 2022 and UEFA Women’s Euro 2022. The plethora of sports they host is down to the quality of surfaces and I’ll look at the how and why they’re able to do that in my Learning LIVE seminar at SALTEX.

“It’s something we can all work together on too. And by that I don’t just mean by looking at the way other sports are incorporating this requirement into their plans going forward or even other countries, but how grounds teams need more diversity – opportunities exist for women in helping prepare the surfaces for the women’s sport, we need diversity to be reflected in that sector, there’s a whole career pathway that could be incredibly rewarding for women.

“What really puts it into perspective is the moment when the Lionness’ won the Euros it was years in the making for those working in the womens’ game – it was the moment we’d all been waiting for, and it came on home turf. That feeling was indescribable and something we want more and more people in the industry to be a part of, experience and celebrate. We now have the world’s best sporting women’s league and everything to play for in terms of continuing the momentum. We need others to join in with those who supported us then, to support us in the next chapter as we work towards the next international event.”

Hannah joins Ted Mitchell of the Rugby Football Union, Iain James from the England and Wales Cricket Board and Ashleigh Seddon form the Rugby Football League at SALTEX on Thursday in theatre 1 at 1.45pm as they look at how groundspeople can increase pitch capacity for the women’s game. Register for a free ticket at saltex.org.uk / register here

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Lantra supporting CRRU in its efforts to safeguard birds of prey health

Lantra supporting CRRU in its efforts to safeguard birds of prey health

Lantra supporting CRRU in its efforts to safeguard birds of prey health: Lantra has taken major measures to support the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU) in its efforts to help safeguard the health of birds of prey, as worries continue over irresponsible rodenticide users.

As one of the leading awarding organisations for the land-based sector in the UK, Lantra is working closely with CRRU, industry partners and stakeholders to ensure birds of prey don’t fall foul of individuals not using rodenticides properly or safely.

Lantra supporting CRRU in its efforts to safeguard birds of prey health

Lantra supporting CRRU in its efforts to safeguard birds of prey health

CRRU has recently stated that concerns remain about rodenticides’ residues being found in birds of prey which is down to the actions of a small minority using the chemicals irresponsibly.

To support CRRU, Lantra, as a member of its training and certification group, has responded by upgrading its rodent management training courses.

Lantra Awards, has developed and launched the Ofqual-regulated ‘Lantra Awards Level 2 Award in Rodent Management’ to replace ‘Rodent Control on Farms’ and ‘Responsible and Effective Control of Commensal Rodents’ certifications.

This comprehensive course gives people the knowledge and tools to understand legislation governing rodent pest management, the importance of, and the reasons for, rodent management and the biology and behaviour of a specific range of rodent species.

It also stresses the importance of understanding integrated pest management and monitoring rodent activity.

The major move strengthens the existing stewardship regime by upgrading Lantra-assessed training courses into a Level 2 Award in Rodent Management.

David Fisher, Lantra’s Head of Industry Partnerships for the area, said: “As CRRU has recently reported, concerns remain with rodenticide residues found in birds of prey which is being linked to the actions of a minority of irresponsible rodenticide users.

“Lantra responded to calls from CRRU as a member of its training and certification group, to strengthen the existing stewardship regime. We have listened to industry concerns and have taken the relevant measures to respond.

“It is hoped that this and continued promotion of best practice and CPD will go some way to help reduce instances of poor practice to ensure that responsible users can continue to use professional rodenticide products as part of their integrated approach to rodent management.”

For farmers and pest control trainees, there are now seven courses in total, listed at www.thinkwildlife.org/training-certification/

In each case, passing the end of course exam yields a formal qualification/certification accepted at point-of-sale for professional use rodenticides under the UK Rodenticide Stewardship Regime, operated by CRRU.

Lantra will be exhibiting at PestTech, the Pest Control industry event on 9th November where the latest developments affecting the industry will be discussed. Details of the free to attend event can be found via the NPTA website, PestTech – NPTA

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ATT showcase abundance of new features

ATT showcase abundance of new features: ATT will be returning to SALTEX for 2022, showcasing their popular INFINICUT® and TMSystem™ ranges on stand H070. As the only professional sports turf mower that has been specifically designed with electric power and not a re-purposed petrol variant, it maintains best in class for both efficiency and quality of cut.

The continued recurring increase in global energy costs now makes the INFINICUT® a serious consideration when deliberating the move to electrically powered equipment. On their stand at the NEC, the ATT team will have a handy software programme which can help calculate payback on energy which could help to validate any decisions in making the transfer.

ATT showcase abundance of new features

ATT showcase abundance of new features

As has come to be expected with the quick-moving design team at ATT, visitors will also be able to see a wealth of new INFINICUT® features, including the extension of the range of battery’s they offer to include a new 105AH Lithium variant – allowing users to specify whatever duty cycle is required, with zero compromise. The full range of batteries available can be swapped between mowers in the INFINICUT® collection, resulting in even greater versatility and optimised fleet management.

Under the hood, ATT have continued to refine the electrical architecture of the INFINICUT® with design emphasis on simplification and fewer contact points. Firmware has also been upgraded, as has their popular InfiniApp which is now available for download direct from the iOS App Store. Through the App, every aspect of the mowing operation can be optimised to ensure the attainment of the perfect cut.

In response to the additional technical variations in the way pitches can now be reinforced, INFINICUT® mowers can now accommodate adjustable/removable weight kits for situations where increased down pressure is required. The weight kits can easily be removed when gravity readings are at optimal levels.

A trailing seat is also now offered on 34” variant mowers – extending the versatility of where and how the mowers operate.

Completing the abundance of new innovations, the recently introduced brush system used on the INFINICUT® SM34 Rotary mower will also be on display. This set-up is the only one that sees the brush sit behind the front roller, ensuring maximum grass agitation prior to cutting or vacuuming.

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ISEKI is part of the team at Bloxham

ISEKI is part of the team at Bloxham: An ISEKI compact tractor is proving to be an ‘extra member of staff’ for the grounds team at Bloxham School according to Head Groundsman Paul White.

Located in the heart of the beautiful Oxfordshire village of Bloxham, Bloxham School is an independent, co-educational boarding and day school for boys and girls aged 11 to 18.

ISEKI is part of the team at Bloxham

ISEKI is part of the team at Bloxham

On a single-site campus the school boasts state-of-the-art facilities for academic work, technology, arts, and sport – which is where Paul comes in. Bloxham has a superb sporting programme offering a wide range of sports and Paul and his grounds team work hard to prepare these surfaces to the highest standard.

To achieve this, Paul is somewhat of a perfectionist when it comes to grounds maintenance equipment.

“As soon as machinery becomes outdated and not fit for purpose it absolutely needs replacing,” he said. “Specifically, we wanted a tractor to cover all the implements we have in our workforce, and to be able to use them safely and correctly on different surfaces.

“The reason we bought into ISEKI was because we have used their machines regularly in the past and they have always been reliable.”

After a demonstration arranged by ISEKI dealer Turney Groundcare & Garden Machinery, Paul decided to purchase the ISEKI TG6495 – a 47 hp compact tractor with the innovative IQ dual-clutch 24-speed transmission.

Other benefits of the TG6495 include:

  • 1580 kg lift capacity at the ball ends and 1400 kg lift capacity @24″ behind
  • Category 2 cab with air-conditioning, heating, and a good view
  • Front loader joystick, up-stop PTO, linkage up in reverse and draft control all supplied as standard
  • Equipped with an electro-hydraulic power take-off shaft that saves the attachment and the engine while providing operator comfort

“We all been really impressed with the tractor,” said Paul. “The lifting of the PTO has been a massive benefit and the automatic clutch shut off is good for when we are turning on the sports fields.

“The weight and the size of it is much better on our fields for compaction. It has good traction for the wheels, the all-round visibility of the tractor is very much improved compared to our last tractor, and general use is a lot easier for the operator.

“It has performed exceptionally well in all weather conditions. Through the winter it has been fantastic with our vertidrainer and in summer it has helped with a number of different implements.

“Also, the IQ transmission makes it easier for our operators to use and change gear when there are implements on the back.

“We like to think of this tractor as an extra member of staff – it does everything we ask of it.”

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Development at the heart of GMA Strategy

Development at the heart of GMA Strategy: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) has, after the impact of the pandemic and following the impact of global events, combined with the cost-of-living crisis, focused on tackling the key issues highlighted by volunteers and professionals as priority areas to address in the grounds care industry. 

Published alongside the GMA’s 2022 Workforce Survey, the reset of the GMA’s Five-Year Strategy first launched in 2021, outlines six key priority areas that will inform and influence the association’s work to help achieve three long-term goals:

Development at the heart of GMA Strategy

Development at the heart of GMA Strategy

  • To attract new talent and accelerate the growth of a diverse workforce
  • To support sustainable business growth and protect the sector’s interests
  • To build industry reputation and promote the sector’s contribution to society and the economy

The six strategic priority areas are:

  • Workforce development
  • People and culture
  • Services and support
  • Industry representation
  • Data and digitisation
  • Funding and investment

GMA Chief Executive, Geoff Webb said: “We know the challenges that those working in the grounds care industry face and the findings from our Annual Workforce Survey echo those issues year after year. Whilst we have made progress since revealing the results of “Groundsmanship Sports Vital Profession” in 2019, the trends first identified remain.”

“The issues are far-reaching and to make a positive difference at pace, working together as a sector, we need a shift in mindset and outlook. Working collaboratively is key to success. Members and others working in grounds care, those employing grounds staff, industry partners and suppliers, national governing bodies, professional leagues, the media, local authorities, and the education sector all have a role to play. It’s a team effort.”

The GMA’s latest report estimates that over 3,200 professional grounds managers are due to retire in the next three years and over a third of all grounds professionals are over the age of 55. The lack of young people joining the profession is evident with only 3% being under 25. A clear indication that the industry is facing a recruitment crisis and must act now to attract the next generation.

A lack of diversity also continues to be an issue in grounds management with white men still being the most dominant demographic working in the industry. 96% of professional grounds staff are male and only 3% are non-white, which is far from representative of the communities across the UK.

The report also highlights an issue with underinvestment in grounds management, both in terms of procuring the necessary equipment, and the salary levels paid to grounds staff. The association believes that there is a widespread lack of understanding of what skills, technical expertise, and equipment are required to maintain sports grounds to a satisfactory standard. An issue that will be addressed by proactively promoting the work of grounds people and reiterating the message that with no ground, there’s no game.

GMA Chief Executive, Geoff Webb continues: “When Covid hit, like many, we focused resources on adapting to the ever-changing working environment, moving to remote working and facilitating longstanding face-to-face training and events online. Likewise, many worked with limited capacity and resources during this period, this impacted on many skilled ground staff and impacted on the ability of volunteers to spend the time attending to their clubs and facilities. We have to recognise that we are still in recovery and today are met with fresh challenges such as the cost of living, the impact on the supply chain and recruitment issues.

“We have reset having to contend with a delayed SALTEX which was a fantastic success last Autumn and have spent 2022 reviewing and resetting our strategy as well as building an expanded team. This year has been about getting the right people and resources in place and 2023 will see us move from capability building to implementation as we focus on the strategic priorities and long-term goals outlined in our Strategy.

“This reset of our Strategy puts us on a path to deliver and with the continued support of our Chair and Board, we will continue to invest in building on the six key priority areas identified to meet the needs of members and the wider grounds care sector.”

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John Deere celebrates 30 years of training

John Deere celebrates 30 years of training: John Deere is marking the 30th anniversary of its renowned apprenticeship programme with an open day to recruit the next generation of technicians to work across its agriculture, turf and parts business.

Well in excess of 1,000 apprentices have qualified since 1992, and the company is keen to showcase the exciting career path that lies ahead of those who complete the course.

John Deere celebrates 30 years of training

John Deere celebrates 30 years of training

On 6 October, John Deere and the scheme’s training provider, ProVQ, will open the doors of its new training centre in Upper Saxondale, Nottinghamshire, where candidates will be offered guided tours, practical demonstrations and driving experiences.

Classrooms and workshops will be staffed by instructors and apprentices, providing a unique opportunity to view the state-of-the-art learning facilities on offer and talk to those who know all about the programme.

John Deere’s apprenticeship programme sees technicians work within the company’s dealership network as a paid employee while completing either a two or three-year course comprising on-the-job practical learning and classroom studies.

Three courses make up the programme; Ag Tech – focusing on agricultural machinery, Turf Tech – focusing on professional turf equipment, and Parts Tech – focusing on parts service and support.

“It’s a hugely exciting time to be part of the agricultural and turfcare industries – they are evolving and becoming more technologically advanced than ever before,” John Deere Branch Training Manager Allan Cochran says.

“The job is so much more than just servicing and fixing things. The machines and parts our apprentices work on and with are some of the most advanced in the world, many capable of levels of automation or operating at capacities we could only dream of a few years ago.

“With exam results now known and young people planning their futures, we’re encouraging them to join us for our open day to find out how John Deere can ignite their careers.

“It’s not just for people who love tractors – if you want to earn while you learn and be part of a huge, global brand with a reputation for ground-breaking innovations, then a John Deere apprenticeship could be the perfect start to your career.”

The open day will be held on 6 October, with three sessions being run at 10am, 1pm, and 3pm. Refreshments will be provided throughout the day, and entry is free, although pre-booking is a requirement as places are limited.

Booking is live at https://JohnDeereApprentice.eventbrite.co.uk

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