Tag Archive for: Partnership

Somerset FA agrees partnership to improve county’s football facilities

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Somerset FA agrees partnership to improve county’s football facilities: Somerset FA has agreed a new partnership which will see Masons Kings become the organisation’s new trusted machinery partner.

Masons Kings is one of the south west’s leading suppliers of groundscare equipment and is renowned for its extensive experience and knowledge of professional turf maintenance.

Somerset FA agrees partnership to improve county’s football facilities

Somerset FA agrees partnership to improve county’s football facilities

The partnership will see the company support improvements to football facilities across the county. Alongside clubs being able to select the right equipment for their pitches, all machines will be security-protected by tagging, or by fitting Thatcham-approved devices.

Clubs will also benefit from site surveys and recommendations, as well as workshops and demonstrations from Masons Kings. Support will be provided for grant applications and aftercare services to get the most out of their machinery.

Dan Eustice, Marketing and Commercial Lead at Somerset FA, said: “We are excited about our new partnership with Masons Kings and are confident that it will deliver real value to clubs, ensuring their grounds are well-maintained, their investment protected, and their teams fully supported. Masons Kings is already working with several clubs, including Taunton Town.”

Jon Funnell, Area Sales Consultant for Masons Kings, said: “We are delighted to be part of this flourishing partnership. We are both committed to providing high-quality, safe, and sustainable playing surfaces across the county. We are excited for the future of this partnership and to work with more clubs across Somerset.”

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STIGA Hits the Ground Running with RFU Partnership

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STIGA Hits the Ground Running with RFU Partnership: The STIGA team have been hard at work delivering innovative ground-care solutions to rugby clubs across England, following its appointment as Official Groundskeeping Partner of England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU).

The multi-year partnership with the RFU underlines STIGA’s commitment to taking the pressure off volunteers and grounds teams, while helping to create world-class playing surfaces at every level of the game, from grassroots to the elite.

STIGA Hits the Ground Running with RFU Partnership

STIGA Hits the Ground Running with RFU Partnership

As part of the agreement, STIGA has already begun rolling out equipment to clubs and sports facilities nationwide. From England Rugby training centres to local community pitches, the garden care brand is supporting the upkeep of green spaces across the country.

Clubs have welcomed STIGA’s cutting-edge autonomous robot mowers and battery-powered equipment, designed to help deliver professional-quality results with minimal effort. Early feedback from clubs has been overwhelmingly positive:

“We are really excited to be part of this initiative.”

“Thank you for giving us the opportunity to use your robot mowers.”

“We’re looking forward to seeing what this super kit can do.”

Further demonstrating its commitment to the wider rugby community, STIGA has also launched an exclusive discount programme for all England Rugby clubs, players and members, available via stiga.com. A portion of proceeds from these purchases will be reinvested directly back into the RFU community, reinforcing STIGA’s mission to support rugby from the ground up.

This landmark partnership strengthens STIGA’s growing presence in the sports sector and builds on existing collaborations with leading clubs across Europe, including Stade Toulousain in France, Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Germany, Benetton Rugby in Italy and Lech Poznań in Poland. With more than 90 years of lawn-care expertise, STIGA continues to expand its footprint in the professional sports market, helping pitches perform at their very best, match after match.

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Grasstec UK & Ireland Announce Partnership with ISEKI

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Grasstec UK & Ireland Announce Partnership with ISEKI: Grasstec UK & Ireland with PTx Trimble is proud to announce that we are now officially Authorised Partners of ISEKI UK & Ireland. This exciting collaboration brings together two trusted brands in the agricultural and turf machinery sector, strengthening our ability to deliver innovative solutions to dealers and customers across the region.

Alex Thorneycroft-Taylor – Territory Manager, speaking on behalf of Grasstec UK & Ireland, stated:

Grasstec UK & Ireland Announce Partnership with ISEKI

Grasstec UK & Ireland Announce Partnership with ISEKI

“This partnership aligns the two brands, working alongside the dealer and customer base to offer the full range of PTx Trimble Guidance and Auto-Steer solutions across the range of ISEKI machines. By combining ISEKI’s renowned machinery with PTx Trimble’s advanced technology, we are setting a new standard for precision and efficiency in the industry.”

The partnership will officially launch at LAMMA on 14th–15th January 2026 and BTME on 20th–22nd January 2026, where visitors can experience firsthand the integration of ISEKI’s premium machinery with PTx Trimble’s cutting-edge guidance and auto-steer systems.

For more information about the partnership and the solutions available, please visit Grasstec Group – Iseki UK & Ireland

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Lantra and BIGGA forge new strategic partnership

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Lantra and BIGGA forge new strategic partnership: The British and International Golf Greenkeeping Association (BIGGA), Lantra and Land-Based Assessment Ltd (LBAL) have commenced a strategic partnership designed to boost skills development across the greenkeeping sector through high quality apprenticeships and robust assessment. The collaboration prioritises clear progression routes via the BIGGA Formal Education Pathway and sector wide Apprenticeship awareness.

The partnership commits to shared evidence and continuous improvement for greenkeeping apprenticeships, with Lantra working closely with BIGGA to support the apprenticeship routes at Level 2, Level 3, and Level 5.

Lantra and BIGGA forge new strategic partnership

Lantra and BIGGA forge new strategic partnership

Lantra will be at BIGGA’s annual flagship event, BTME in January 2026, joining GTC Approved Training Providers at a collaborative exhibition in the GTC Education Hub. Furthermore, to mark the strategic partnership, BIGGA have been announced as a sponsor of the Land-Based and Environment Learner of the Year Awards, which is set to take place later this month at the National Conference Centre, in Solihull.

Commenting on the partnership, Jo-Anne Bryan, Head of Apprenticeships and Standards at Lantra said: “We are really pleased to be partnering with BIGGA on championing apprenticeships within golf greenkeeping.

Apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity for new entrants starting out as a Golf Greenkeeper, to then progress to an Advanced Sports Turf Technician, at Level 3, and for those wanting to excel to a Golf Course Manager at Level 5. These apprenticeships provide a great career pathway within the industry.

Rob Phillips, Learning and Development Manager – Technical, at BIGGA also commented “This partnership marks an important step forward in uniting our efforts to deliver exceptional education and career development for greenkeepers. By aligning the BIGGA Formal Education Pathway, industry recognized apprenticeship standards, and Lantra’s ongoing commitment to robust assessment, we are creating a clear and credible route for progression that strengthens the future of the profession.”

Together, BIGGA, Lantra, and LBAL will deliver a coordinated programme of promotion and on the ground engagement to strengthen apprenticeship outcomes and professional standards in greenkeeping.

BTME 2026 will take place from 20 to 22 January at the Harrogate Convention Centre, when exhibitors can look forward to an optimised event experience supported by FFAIR’s award-winning technology.

For more information about BIGGA and its various activities including how to become a member, visit www.bigga.org.uk

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GroundTech robotics and renewables work in perfect partnership

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GroundTech robotics and renewables work in perfect partnership: Rushden Golf Club has introduced three Echo TM-2050 robotic mowers to maintain its newer back nine holes, in a partnership with autonomous specialists GroundTech.

The investment marks a major step forward in both sustainability and efficiency with the trio, powered by bespoke solar panels, alleviating the pressure on a busy greenkeeping team of four.

GroundTech robotics and renewables work in perfect partnership

GroundTech robotics and renewables work in perfect partnership

The historic Northamptonshire course has gone through a number of redevelopments and expansion since its formation in 1919. The back nine, opened in 2013, offers an interesting contrast to the original parkland front nine, with a flatter, more open layout. Ideal terrain for an autonomous mower, Director Paul Newell got in touch with GroundTech. “I’d been keeping an eye on the new technologies and identified how much time robots could save us, freeing up our skilled team to focus on improvements in other areas of the course” he explains.

“After a demonstration, the whole team were impressed with the outstanding quality of cut and presentation from the Echo mowers – arguably more accurate and consistent than traditional machines.”

There was just one more issue to overcome, the distance the mowers would be operating away from mains power. “GroundTech’s Marcus Glover quickly suggested a solution in the form of solar panels, which ensures the mowers can operate efficiently when not in close proximity to mains power. This was key to making the whole package work for us and, just a few months on from install, we couldn’t be happier with the whole set-up.”

The TM-2050’s – the largest of the Echo commercial range – can mow up 75,000m2 making them ideal for situations that require high performance and high productivity. At Rushden, the robots are responsible for cutting all areas except the tees and greens, and members have been quick to spot the improvements. “It’s clearly the future of course management, and as one of the first clubs in Northamptonshire to make the jump, we’re delighted the members can already see the difference in presentation and have been so willing to embrace innovation” he adds.

Paul was also quick to praise the club’s first collaboration with GroundTech. “They’ve been brilliant at guiding us through the transition, ensuring the team are all fully happy with the technology and working with us to find solutions such as the solar panels that really meet our needs. We are excited to explore extending the scope of the Echo units in other areas of the course over the coming months and years. “

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