Tag Archive for: shines

GMA shines a spotlight on skilled grounds staff

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GMA shines a spotlight on skilled grounds staff: The Grounds Management Association (GMA) has launched this year’s #GroundsWeek campaign with a striking new video created in partnership with Brighton & Hove Albion and the World Snooker Tour (WST).

The film brings together two expert teams whose work is essential yet often overlooked, showcasing the specialist skills required to prepare both elite football pitches and professional snooker tables.

GMA shines a spotlight on skilled grounds staff

GMA shines a spotlight on skilled grounds staff

For years, people have often compared high-quality sports surfaces to “snooker tables”. This video brings that comparison vividly to life by following the Brighton & Hove Albion grounds team and a WST table fitter, to reveal the precision and care that is essential in both roles.

But behind this celebration, lies a challenge for the grounds management industry.

New findings from the GMA’s latest Workforce Insight Report show that many grounds professionals feel their work is less recognised than it was five years ago. This is a concern for a highly skilled industry that underpins sport and supports communities across the country.

And this is exactly why #GroundsWeek exists.

Across the UK, grounds staff work in all weather and often behind the scenes, to keep pitches and public spaces safe and playable. Their work supports sport at every level of sport and improves the health and wellbeing of millions. #GroundsWeek gives these dedicated professionals and volunteers the recognition they deserve and shines a light on their knowhow.

The campaign celebrates the people who look after sports surfaces, school grounds, community fields, public spaces and more – places that host everything from elite fixtures to grassroots matches, school sport and everyday recreation.

This new video aims to raise awareness of this essential work and highlight the consistently high standards that both grounds staff and WST table fitters achieve every single day.

Geoff Webb, CEO of the GMA said: “#GroundsWeek is our chance to celebrate the fantastic people who make sport happen. Their expertise ensures pitches, parks and community spaces are in great condition all year round. This new video shows the pride and professionalism in our industry, and we’re delighted to work with the World Snooker Tour and Brighton & Hove Albion to highlight the brilliant work grounds staff do every day.”

Phil Fifield, Head of Sports Turf at Brighton and Hove Albion said: “#GroundsWeek is a brilliant initiative by the GMA to give welcomed acknowledgement to those who bring sport to life. To celebrate the staff up and down the country for their tireless commitment and professionalism to the sports turf industry. It’s been a tremendous honour to work with the GMA and World Snooker Tour to showcase the care and dedication that goes into producing elite surfaces. I thank my staff also for their expertise and support but also their dedicated to their craft and endeavours away from the spotlight.”

Chris Barnes, Head Table Fitter at World Snooker Tour said: “When people watch sport either live in the arena or on television, they don’t always realise the huge amount of work that goes into preparing the playing surfaces. In snooker I work with a team of incredibly skilled and dedicated table fitters, and we spent countless hours striving to provide the best possible conditions for the players. #GroundsWeek is a great opportunity for fans in every sport to reflect on the work that happens behind the scenes.”

The GMA hopes the partnership with the World Snooker Tour will help #GroundsWeek reach new audiences and inspire greater appreciation for the people who shape and protect the spaces we all rely on.

#GroundsWeek is proudly supported by GMA Platinum Corporate Supporters Kubota, Howardson Group, ICL, MJ Abbott, Premier Pitches, GKB Machines, ISEKI, Cramer and GMA Gold Corporate Supporters Rada Controls, Aquatrols, Redexim, RT Machinery, SGL, Husqvarna and Jenkins Garden Machinery.

Get involved in #GroundsWeek

Download the #GroundsWeek Engagement Pack, access free resources and find out how you can take part: thegma.org.uk/groundsweek

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GroundsFest Academy Shines a Light on Irrigation

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GroundsFest Academy Shines a Light on Irrigation: The latest free GroundsFest Academy event once again proved a huge success, this time focusing on Irrigation Maintenance in partnership with Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS).

Held at the impressive Throws Farm Research and Technology Centre in Great Dunmow, Essex – the heart of OAS’s research and development activity – attendees were treated to a day packed with hands-on learning, expert demonstrations, and practical advice. The facility, which boasts trial areas, greenhouses, and advanced turf analysis equipment, provided the perfect backdrop for a day dedicated to improving irrigation knowledge and techniques across the turf and amenity sectors.

GroundsFest Academy Shines a Light on Irrigation

GroundsFest Academy Shines a Light on Irrigation

The CPD-accredited event guided participants through the fundamentals of irrigation systems, installation best practices, troubleshooting, and the latest innovations in irrigation technology. Sessions were designed to be practical and interactive, allowing attendees to get hands-on experience and take away knowledge that could be directly applied at their own sites.

Peter Robin from Origin Amenity Solutions, who led several sessions, said: “My purpose today was to help people understand how to make their irrigation systems better. A lot of sites have old systems that aren’t performing as they should, leading to issues like dry patch and poor turf uniformity. With a better understanding of hydraulics, people can make small tweaks that make a big difference.”

The event attracted a wide range of attendees from across the UK — from schools and sports clubs to golf courses and local authorities — all eager to build their knowledge and share experiences.

Christian Bath, Grounds and Gardens Supervisor at Haileybury School, attended to build confidence in maintaining both new and ageing irrigation systems: “We’ve recently had a new system put in alongside an old one that’s not working so well. Today really helped me understand the troubleshooting side — how to identify problems at the source and resolve them without unnecessary disruption. These events are so valuable because they encourage networking and show that others are facing the same challenges.”

For Joshua Weir, Greenkeeper at Llantrisant & Pontyclun Golf Club, the accessibility of the

GroundsFest Academy stood out: “Being free opens it up to a much wider audience because not every club or individual can afford to travel or pay for events. I’ve got a book full of notes and once I explain how well the day went, I’m sure my boss will send me to more Academy events.”

The sentiment was echoed by Esteve Sanchez, Groundsperson at Fulham Football Club:

“Right now, at Fulham FC we have are having a massive extension of irrigation, and so it is good to enhance our irrigation knowledge. I think this is a brilliant initiative from GroundsFest – these Academy events help bring the industry together and build knowledge on several different topics.”

John Hall from Hertfordshire Bowls agreed: “Today was a fantastic learning curve. We’ve gained a much better understanding of the systems we use and how to eliminate problems. Networking with others has been educational in itself – it can even help you save money by understanding how to do things better.”

Reflecting on another successful event, Bradley Tennant, Director of Education at the GroundsFest Academy, said: “We’ve had a really good mix of people attend today, from football and golf clubs to bowls clubs and landscaping companies. It’s fantastic to see the diversity in the industry and the enthusiasm to keep learning. It’s been another brilliant day for the GroundsFest Academy – and we’ve got an exciting 12 months ahead, so watch this space!”

With each event continuing to attract strong numbers and positive feedback, the GroundsFest Academy is firmly establishing itself as one of the most valuable free learning resources in the grounds care and landscaping sectors — giving professionals and volunteers at every level the chance to expand their skills, share knowledge, and strengthen the future of the industry.

For more information, please visit www.groundsfestacademy.com

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

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GreenBest Shines at BTME 2025

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GreenBest Shines at BTME 2025: BTME 2025 provided the perfect platform to share the exciting news of GreenBest’s recent acquisition by ICL.

The GreenBest team recently attended the prestigious Bigga Turf Management Exhibition (BTME) 2025, held in Harrogate. The event turned out to be a fantastic opportunity to connect with the turf management community, showcase their range of products, and share exciting company news.

GreenBest Shines at BTME 2025

GreenBest Shines at BTME 2025

Positioned at Stand 100 in Hall 1, the GreenBest booth attracted significant attention from attendees, helping to generate new prospective leads while allowing the team to reconnect with existing distributors and customers. GreenBest’s Bespoke Fertiliser services alongside their popular Velvit Fertilisers and other stocked ranges were proudly showcased.

BTME also provided the perfect platform to share the exciting news of GreenBest’s recent acquisition by ICL. This transition signifies an exciting new chapter for both companies. GreenBest remains a British-owned, managed, and operated company, with products continuing to be manufactured in the UK.

The acquisition by ICL offers GreenBest access to the highest-quality ingredients and additional investment into their production facilities. With support from Cleveland Potash Ltd and ICL Growing Solutions, GreenBest is poised to enhance their production capabilities, further improving the quality of their products and enabling the delivery of innovative and reliable solutions.

The Bespoke Fertiliser services, along with the Velvit, SmartLawn, and Florifeed brands, remain at the core of GreenBest’s offerings. This acquisition reinforces the strengths of both GreenBest and ICL, allowing them both to better serve their customers’ needs.

Aimee Davey, Marketing Manager at GreenBest, reflected on the importance of BTME: “Industry shows such as BTME are important to GreenBest. They help to enhance our brand presence, liaise with new and prospective customers, and support our current distributors. We’re thrilled with the outcomes of BTME and look forward to being back at the Harrogate Convention Centre in 2026.”

A highlight of BTME 2025 was a seminar presented by Daisy Lacey BSc (Hons) MBPR (FACTS) during the Continue To Learn Programme. Her talk, titled “How Are Fertilisers Made and Where Do They Come From?”, captivated attendees by exploring the origins of fertiliser materials—Mined, Made, Grown, and Recycled. Attendees also had the chance to gain one CPD point from the seminar.

GreenBest confirmed that they will be exhibiting at BTME 2026, scheduled to take place from 20th-22nd January 2026. ICL and GreenBest’s plans to innovate, grow, and strengthen their relationships within the turf management industry continues throughout 2025 and beyond.

For more information, visit www.greenbest.co.uk

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John Deere military event shines light on machinery careers

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John Deere military event shines light on machinery careers: John Deere has seen an influx of applications to its Military Hiring Programme after hosting a bespoke event for service leavers involving dealers from across the UK.

Held at the company’s UK headquarters in Langar, Nottinghamshire, the event gave armed forces personnel the chance to have detailed discussions about what the next stage of their career could look like working with one the world’s biggest machinery manufacturers.

John Deere military event shines light on machinery careers

John Deere military event shines light on machinery careers

The ground-breaking resettlement programme for military service personnel offers new career opportunities working on some of the world’s most advanced agricultural and professional groundscare products.

Members of the armed forces have been identified as ideal candidates to bring their unique skill sets and experience to technician roles within UK and Ireland dealerships as many have already worked with systems and products similar to those used by John Deere.

Those who enrol onto the programme are put into contact with an individual from the John Deere network who have resettled themselves, who will guide them through the next steps which includes free training courses before finding employment with a John Deere dealer.

“What was really successful about the day was the amount of conversation between military personnel and dealers,” says Allan Cochran, Branch Training Manager for John Deere.

“Everybody wanted to talk, everybody wanted to engage with the event, and I think everyone that was there, both military and dealers, got something out of it.”

The event drew a positive number of applications to the Military Hiring Programme, with 23 ex-servicemen now waiting for the next step to start their new career with John Deere.

The Military Hiring Programme has drawn interest from across the country, with attendees travelling from not just the surrounding Midlands, but also from as far as Cornwall and Scotland.

“To have people coming from all the country is really great to see,” says Allan. “We have dealers in all corners of the nation, and with the largest proportion of people wanting to resettle wherever they are based now, we can make that happen.”

As well as dealers and staff, attendees also had the opportunity to listen to those who had been through the Military Hiring Programme themselves and were now a part of the dealership network. Ex-servicemen Martin Frodsham, Will Foster and Mike Rogers spoke about their journey and what their career has been like since leaving the armed forces and becoming technicians.

Attendees also heard from John Deere instructors who showed them the machines that they would be working on should they apply to join John Deere, with a focus on precision agriculture and what the future looks like for agricultural technology.

The event was supported by ten John Deere dealers, including Thomas Sheriff, Cornthwaite Group, Ripon Farm Services, Ben Burgess, Tuckwells, Farol, Tallis Amos Group, Hunt Forest Group, Smallridge Bros, and Masons Kings.

Interested service members and ex-service members can apply to the Military Hiring Programme at any time online by visiting www.deere.com/JDMHP, or contact John Deere for more information.

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Lantra Shines a Light on Land-based Careers

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Lantra Shines a Light on Land-based Careers: The spotlight is on land-based and environment careers during this year’s National Careers Week, showcasing the breadth and diversity of opportunities that exist in this exciting area.

Lantra, the leading awarding body for the land-based and environment sector, is highlighting that a career in this area is varied and open to all. From career seekers to career changers, there are entry-points and pathways for people from all backgrounds, and all walks of life, which are highlighted on the Lantra careers web resource.

Lantra Shines a Light on Land-based Careers

Lantra Shines a Light on Land-based Careers

Stephanie Stevens, Careers and Engagement Manager at Lantra commented: “There is a challenge in making young people, particularly, aware that the land-based and environment sector exists – never mind the range of jobs that fall under farming, looking after trees, landscaping and so much more!”.

“Lantra is delighted to be celebrating #NationalCareersWeek, following our recent attendance at What Career? Live. We want to support and empower individuals to take the next step in their career by finding out more about pathways like apprenticeships, further education, and the many vocations the sector has to offer”.

Lantra had a presence for the first time at the busy What Career? Live event which took place on the 1 and 2 March. The careers team were joined by Ollie Brisbourne, who works for a virtual fencing business and is an active member of the Newport Young Farmers Club in Shropshire, who also spoke at the event.

Ollie said: “Agriculture is modernising day by day, with technology becoming a more benefiting factor throughout. My job has allowed me to maximize the benefit of my understanding of the farming industry and farmers themselves, to offer support within the use of Nofence and the data provided.

This system enables fencing virtually, working with GPS and mobile signal to keep livestock within the virtual boundary, benefiting both animal welfare, habitat management, and a variety of other farming systems.”

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