Tag Archive for: Specialist

Agrovista Amenity Welcomes New Amenity Specialist

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Agrovista Amenity Welcomes New Amenity Specialist: Agrovista Amenity has strengthened its team with the appointment of Ben Simpson, who joins as Amenity Specialist supporting the Landscape and IVM division.

Ben brings a varied career background and a refreshed enthusiasm for the amenity sector.

Agrovista Amenity Welcomes New Amenity Specialist

Agrovista Amenity Welcomes New Amenity Specialist

Although a qualified plumber by trade, he previously spent three years with Green-Tech, where he first discovered his passion for the industry. After a period back “on the tools”, he found himself drawn once again to amenity – but this time in a role that better matched his strengths and ambitions.

“I enjoyed it the first-time round, but this role at Agrovista Amenity suited me a lot more,” he says. “I wanted to be out meeting customers face to face. This is a relationship-driven industry and that’s what gives me a buzz.”

Based centrally within his territory, Ben will support customers across a wide northern patch – from Leeds up to just above Newcastle, across to the East Coast, and as far west as the M6. His remit covers the full spectrum of amenity clients, including contractors, councils, landscaping businesses and maintenance teams.

Day to day, Ben will be out on the road meeting current and prospective customers, taking over an established base while also identifying new opportunities in the region. “I’m fortunate to be stepping into a well-looked-after area,” he explains. “But I’m also excited to grow it further. A typical week is a real mix: most days on the road and some from home planning and admin work – everything from cold leads through to ongoing account management.”

The appeal of Agrovista Amenity was immediate. Although the role was initially advertised via a recruiter, the company name quickly stood out once he reached the interview stage.

“I had obviously heard of Agrovista, but when I met Ed Smith – Landscape and IVM Manager, and learned more about the business, everything just seemed to fit. The interview was relaxed, the atmosphere was down to earth, and from day one I have felt part of the team. It feels like I’ve been here seven years, not seven days.”

Ben says the support network has been exceptional. After completing training in Nottingham and Warrington, he was introduced to the wider team and quickly found himself welcomed into a collaborative environment. “Even though you spend a lot of time on your own out on the road, I definitely feel part of a team. Every single person has offered help. It’s been brilliant.”

Looking ahead, Ben is eager to get stuck in and begin building long-term relationships across his territory.

“I’m competitive by nature – I used to play cricket to a decent standard before a shoulder injury stopped me – so I enjoy the challenge. But more than that, this industry is full of genuinely good people. Customers become friends. I’m really looking forward to growing those relationships and contributing to Agrovista’s continued success.”

Reflecting on his appointment, Ben admits the opportunity still feels a little surreal:

“I was over the moon when I got the job. Having been out of the industry for a little while, I honestly couldn’t believe it at first. But it’s been fantastic. I’ve settled in well, everyone has been so supportive, and I can’t wait to move forward with it.”

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit https://amenity.agrovista.co.uk/

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Agrovista Amenity welcomes new Amenity Specialist

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Agrovista Amenity welcomes new Amenity Specialist: Agrovista Amenity has announced the appointment of Paul Matthew as its newest Amenity Specialist, bringing with him decades of hands-on experience across golf, sports turf, and stadium management.

Paul’s role will primarily focus on stadia and sports facilities, an area in which he has extensive expertise. “My role is going to be primarily stadia, just due to my background as a groundsman,” he explained. “There are so many stadiums, sports grounds and pitches across the country, and it’s something I’m very familiar with and passionate about.”

Agrovista Amenity welcomes new Amenity Specialist

Agrovista Amenity welcomes new Amenity Specialist

Paul joins Agrovista Amenity following a distinguished career that began in greenkeeping before moving into high-level sports turf management. He started as an apprentice greenkeeper at Windyhill Golf Club in 1990, before progressing to Deputy Course Manager.

After a brief period as Deputy Head Greenkeeper at Hardgate Golf Club, Paul became a Golf Machinery Demonstrator for Scottish Grass Machinery – an experience that helped him gain valuable insight into turf equipment and product support.

He went on to spend over a decade working at some of the UK’s most recognised football clubs, including senior positions at Glasgow Rangers and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Head Groundsman at Motherwell FC. Paul also has experience in the sales sector, having served as Area Sales Manager at Nairn Brown, a leading machinery dealer, and most recently as Sales Advisor for North Grow Lighting.

Reflecting on his move to Agrovista Amenity, Paul said:

“I received a message from Sam Honeyborne, Agrovista UK’s Senior Amenity Manager, inviting me for a coffee in Edinburgh – and it turned out to be much more than a coffee! I was actually offered a position at Agrovista about four or five years ago, but I wasn’t ready to leave my role at Motherwell then. When the opportunity came around again, I met with Sam and John Marland (Head of Amenity), and after a really relaxed chat, I was delighted to be offered the job. I’m so thankful for that and want to repay the faith they’ve shown in me.”

Paul added that it already feels like a natural fit:

“You can tell straight away this is a company with a great support network – everyone’s been so welcoming. It’s a huge company with so much knowledge to tap into. I want to take all my experience from being a groundsman and combine it with the technical expertise that comes from being on this side of the industry. My goal is to be known as Paul from Agrovista, not just Paul the ex-groundsman – and to help customers get the best out of their surfaces with that blend of practical and technical knowledge.”

Paul will work closely alongside Ramsay MacGregor, Agrovista Amenity’s long-standing Amenity Specialist for Scotland. Speaking about the appointment, Ramsay said:

“We are delighted to have Paul starting with us. He brings a vast amount of industry experience, and his knowledge of stadia and golf is impressive. We’re really looking forward to working with him going forward.”

With his extensive practical background and passion for the turfcare industry, Paul’s appointment further strengthens Agrovista Amenity’s presence in Scotland and its continued commitment to providing expert support across all areas of the sports turf and amenity sector.

For more information about Agrovista UK, visit www.agrovista.co.uk/amenity

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

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New GeoLink and Digital Specialist for Reesink

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New GeoLink and Digital Specialist for Reesink: This is a new role developed by the company to reflect the importance Reesink places on the advanced technology expected, including GPS and digital, to drive the business in the future.

Jon Cole, Divisional Business Manager of Reesink Turfcare, says: “Lee will spearhead the introduction of further new products and technologies going forward and will work closely with our dealers and sales team to drive sales, support, and training on these product lines. This will be a vitally important role for Reesink moving forward as more and more GPS, digital and advanced technologies are brought to market.”

New GeoLink and Digital Specialist for Reesink

New GeoLink and Digital Specialist for Reesink

In his previous role as Service Manager, Lee has been delivering technical support and training to the Reesink dealer network since 2016. With a team including warranty experts and on-site training specialists, Lee provided aftermarket support, getting dealers and end users accustomed to the latest turfcare technologies.

Jon confirms: “Lee’s considerable experience heading up the service team coupled with his previous involvement and expertise bringing new technologies to the market make him the perfect fit for this new role.”

While GPS technology has been playing an instrumental role in advanced spraying for some time, Reesink’s launch of Toro’s new range of automated machinery in January encouraged the company to place a dedicated resource behind the industry wide rollout.

Lee comments: “The technology used in these products requires a dedicated specialist. I hope to bring my existing experience with GeoLink systems to these new products. The technology crosses over, which is beneficial for both our dealers and customers. This new role will complement the existing aftermarket team at Reesink and help to align these advanced products for our technical support team.”

Lee can be contacted at Reesink Turfcare HQ in St Neots on 01480 226800 or by emailing info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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Seattle University’s Field Specialist applauds SISIS sweeper

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Seattle University’s Field Specialist applauds SISIS sweeper: Seattle University’s commitment to maintaining first-class athletic and sporting facilities has received a significant boost with the introduction of the SISIS SSS1000 towed sweeper.

Peter Larson, the Athletic Field Specialist overseeing the university’s sports grounds, has praised the efficiency and versatility of this innovative machine, particularly in its ability to effectively pick up grass clippings on both synthetic and natural grass pitches.

Seattle University's Field Specialist applauds SISIS sweeper

Seattle University’s Field Specialist applauds SISIS sweeper

The SSS1000 sweeper serves as an indispensable tool for maintaining pristine playing surfaces. Featuring a spiral rotary brush, it efficiently sweeps debris into a mesh hopper, allowing for the preservation of pitch infill. This crucial functionality not only enhances the aesthetics of the field but also ensures the safety and performance standards demanded by athletes.

Regular cleaning of synthetic surfaces is vital to avoid contamination and remove potentially harmful debris before play. The SSS1000 has proven instrumental in achieving this goal for Seattle University, providing Peter and his team with a fast work rate that helps keep the surfaces in optimal condition.

One of the standout features of the SSS1000 is its adaptability to different surfaces. Whether it’s synthetic turf or natural grass, the sweeper’s adjustable brush height ensures thorough cleaning without causing damage. Furthermore, its unique spiral brush design minimises vibration, guaranteeing constant brush contact with the surface for consistent results.

Peter’s journey with the SISIS Sweeper began with its introduction at the Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) Trade Show in 2023. Drawn by the promise of a quieter and more efficient alternative to their previous equipment, Peter was impressed by the sweeper’s self-propelled technology.

“I was looking for a tow behind sweeper for our synthetic field to replace our previous machine,” says Peter. “The old machine was effective at sweeping however it was too loud. I was interested in the self-propelled technology and friends at the Seahawks Training Facility gave the SSS1000 a ringing endorsement. They provided us with a demo on their grass field to show how effective it is at picking up grass clippings.”

Reflecting on his experience with the sweeper, Peter notes its intuitive operation and quiet operation as standout qualities. “We have used the SISIS Sweeper on our synthetic field and recently we brought it over to our soccer pitch to sweep up grass clippings – it gets the job done,” he remarks. “In both cases, I appreciate the quiet nature of the machine. It is intuitive and easy to operate.”

“I highly recommend this product. It works well on synthetic and natural grass fields, which is difficult to find in a sweeper,” adds Peter.

As Seattle University continues to prioritise the maintenance and enhancement of its athletic facilities, the SISIS SSS1000 towed sweeper offers superior performance and versatility.

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact SISIS on 01332 824 777 or visit www.sisis.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow SISIS on Twitter or Instagram @SISISMachinery and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/SISISMachinery. You can also view the latest SISIS videos by visiting www.youtube.com/SISISMachinery

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

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GGM Group announce new specialist

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GGM Group announce new specialist: GGM Group, the leading specialist supplier of high quality professional groundscare equipment and after-sales support are pleased to announce the recent re-appointment of Rob Taylor as Area Sales Manager.

Rob is a well-known face throughout the area and has extensive experience in groundscare, most recently within the Golf sector. His role will see him working alongside the rest of the GGM team to develop the sales of the GGM product portfolio including Kubota, Baroness, Amazone, Dennis, SISIS and commercial robotic mowers throughout West Yorkshire and Lancashire.

GGM Group announce new specialist

GGM Group announce new specialist

Rob’s appointment demonstrates GGM’s ongoing commitment of building an ever-growing team capable of exceeding customer expectations and delivering first class sales, hire and service support across the North West of England and Yorkshire.

Rob is delighted to be re-joining the GGM team and says,

“I know from my time previously at GGM that the ‘GGM’ name holds a strong reputation across all groundscare sectors and this gives customers confidence to work with us. We offer an unrivalled level of customer service both in our sales and after sales offering. Our Parts team are on-hand with a large stock-holding offering if required as are our team of highly skilled engineers and technicians who are able to offer any required technical advice or assistance.

I’m really looking forward to getting out and about and seeing some old friends and meeting new customers.’

Chris Gibson, GGM Managing Director says,

“We’re delighted to welcome Rob back to the GGM Team. He has extensive industry experience including hands-on experience as a Greenkeeper and this knowledge of what is really required at ground level is incredibly valuable and his approach to customer service is outstanding and I’m sure he will hit the ground running.”

Rob can be contacted by Tel: 07960 024657 or email: rob@ggmgroup.com

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