Tag Archive for: Step

Future leaders step into the spotlight at SALTEX

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Future leaders step into the spotlight at SALTEX: The Grounds Management Association’s (GMA) future leaders and young professional ambassadors, GMA NextGen, are set to take centre stage at SALTEX 2025 with their first-ever takeover of the show’s renowned Learning LIVE programme. 

GMA NextGen is made up of talented young professionals dedicated to championing the grounds management industry and inspiring the next generation. Their mission is to attract and engage young people by showcasing the diverse, rewarding career opportunities available in the sector.

Future leaders step into the spotlight at SALTEX

Future leaders step into the spotlight at SALTEX

For 2025, Learning LIVE – the largest free educational event of its kind in the industry – will feature two dedicated NextGen sessions on the Spotlight Stage. Topics include Diversity in the Grounds Industry and a panel of NextGen alumni discussing youth engagement, change-making and their own journeys into the group and, most importantly, how the sector can continue to attract the next generation of grounds staff.

The takeover doesn’t stop there. The reimagined SALTEX Clubhouse will also play host to a confirmed under 35s meet-up for networking and Q&As. Afterwards, visitors should stick around for the 3pm Happy Hour, where a special sporting star will swap the pitch for the decks and DJ the afternoon away – more details coming soon!

Learning LIVE highlights

  • Wednesday 12 November, 1:00pm – 1:45pm

Youth Engagement: Hear from past members as they discuss the importance of bringing young talent into the sector, the changes they want to see and why they got involved. Hosted by GMA NextGen members Jack Langley, Jack Leather and Flynn Good.

  • Thursday 13 November, 12:00pm – 12:45pm

Diversity in the Grounds Industry: An open and candid conversation on inclusion and representation, exploring how the sector can continue to evolve.

Clubhouse Meet-up

  • Wednesday 12 November, 1:45pm – 2:45pm

Join the dedicated NextGen Meet-Up and Q&A in the reimagined SALTEX Clubhouse. The informal session is the perfect chance to network with peers and be part of their growing NextGen community.

“SALTEX is a fantastic platform to showcase what GMA NextGen is all about, and to highlight the real career opportunities available for young people looking to enter the industry,” said Jack Langley, Co-Chair of GMA NextGen and Deputy Head Groundsperson at Ashton Gate Stadium.

“Visitors will also get the chance to hear from NextGen alumni who are now thriving in established careers, which we hope will inspire others to follow in their footsteps. It’s no secret that this is an ageing industry, so being able to take over Learning LIVE is a real step forward in our mission to attract and retain new talent in grounds management.”

Sarah Cunningham, Director of Commercial, Membership and Events at the GMA, added: “We’re incredibly proud to be showcasing the GMA NextGen group at SALTEX. They’re already making waves within the industry and bringing fresh ideas to grounds management, so by providing them with a platform at Learning LIVE will allow them to highlight their achievements and show the important role young professionals will play in shaping the industry’s future.”

To find out more about GMA NextGen, visit thegma.org.uk/nextgen.

Register for FREE at www.saltex.org.uk and be in with a chance of winning a Cramer Tools Lawn Mower, complete with charger and battery, worth £2,240!

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Putting a spring in your aeration step

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Putting a spring in your aeration step: Always keen to support its customers, Reesink is not only maintaining 2024 parts prices in 2025 but offering customers a further 10 percent off genuine Toro tines this spring. The promotion is for all tines, including Titan, on orders placed up until 31 March.

A key part of spring maintenance, aerating is a practice that cannot be overlooked, and tines are the key ingredient to successful results.

Putting a spring in your aeration step

Putting a spring in your aeration step

Michael Hampton, Purchasing and Sales Process Manager at Reesink, says: “As the grass begins to wake up after winter, there are multiple things that can be done to ensure a good start to the growing season and desired standards are achieved. Arguably the most important is decompaction through aeration.

“There are however many different aeration practices and tines available depending on what the customer is looking to achieve.”

Deep tining is the preferred for this time of year as it decompacts the profile after the cold, often wet months of winter and helps promote drainage. In addition, there’s hollow tining to control organic matter and as an effective way of soil exchange when used alongside topdressing.

Solid tining, both shallow and deep, provides enhanced gas movement between the root zone and the atmosphere. Shallow (less than 150mm) is useful for aerating the upper level of the root zone and particularly good for sandy soil that doesn’t need much turf compaction relief.

With over 150 Toro tines to choose from, customers can be assured there is something in the range for all seasons, surfaces, purposes, and soil conditions. And with Toro genuine parts guaranteeing the best form, fit, and function on the market – and all included in the 10 percent off deal – now is the time to stock up ready for the all-important spring maintenance weeks.

All Toro tines are designed for performance, durability, and longevity, leaving pure holes for the best aeration techniques, but Toro Titan tines take things a step further and last four times longer than standard non-Toro tines meaning less replacements and change-outs for greater productivity.

Michael concludes: “The phrase we often apply to Toro parts is buy smarter and get much more for your money. With Reesink maintaining 2024 prices and offering promotions on genuine Toro parts not just now but throughout the year, the value is the best it’s been.”

Reesink is reminding customers that all Toro parts can be purchased through their local dealer or service centre, where they will receive help and advice getting the right part with the exact engineering specifications for their equipment at the best possible price.

To find your nearest Toro dealer, visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk or call 01480 226800.

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Green-tech’s Jordan Webster takes a step up

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Green-tech’s Jordan Webster takes a step up: Green-tech is delighted to announce that Jordan Webster has been promoted to a Sales Manager.

The former Key account manager has stepped up to manage a sales team of eight from a larger sales team of circa 30 people.  Jordan will be helping to maintain the key account relationship whilst mentoring other members of the team and developing other accounts.

Green-tech’s Jordan Webster takes a step up

Green-tech’s Jordan Webster takes a step up

Along with the two other Sales Managers in the business, Jordan will support the management team to set and achieve company budgets whilst managing the day-to-day running of his team.

Green-tech has ambitious sales targets and Jordan will be responsible for his team’s. He will have responsibility for signing off customer quotations and orders to meet this target, whilst keeping his team engaged and motivated, maintaining relationships with other departments, and delivering the exceptional service levels that the company is renowned for.

Well-known and respected in the industry, Jordan has recently celebrated his ten-year anniversary with Green-tech.  He is a former Pro Landscaper the next generation 30 under 30 winner and is a recognised face at industry events and exhibitions.

Jordan is heading up the newly refurbished Green-tech trade centre that is based in North Yorkshire.  He oversees the team who are tasked with identifying local growth opportunities and driving sales through new and existing customers.

Commenting on the appointment, Sales Director Richard Gill said, “I am thrilled for Jordan. He is a key person in our sales team and it’s great that he has stepped up to take a management role. Jordan has a wealth of experience and knowledge, and this coupled with his commitment and enthusiasm will stand him in good stead to lead his team and be successful in his new role. I am confident that he will make a great contribution to the future growth and development of Green-tech.”

Remarking on his new role, Jordan adds, “I am delighted to have received this promotion and I’m looking forward to developing this role. It’s a new challenge for me but I feel I have a lot to add and I’m excited about taking an active part in the management side of the business as well as being instrumental in growing sales.”

If you are interested in joining Green-tech and building a career within the landscaping industry, click the link below to check out their careers page with all current vacancies.

https://www.green-tech.co.uk/about-us/careers

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Ceremony marks next step for John Deere apprentices

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Ceremony marks next step for John Deere apprentices: A 39-strong group of John Deere apprentices are starting the next stage of their careers having qualified as service and parts technicians working in dealerships across the UK.

The talented cohort’s achievements were recognised at a graduation ceremony in Nottingham on Friday night (20 October) at a dinner attended by their friends, family and mentors who have been at their side throughout the course.

Ceremony marks next step for John Deere apprentices

Ceremony marks next step for John Deere apprentices

It was also an evening of celebration for 17 Master Technicians – individuals who have achieved the top-tier service technician qualification – who received their prizes at the event.

John Deere Branch Training Manager Allan Cochran said: “Our industry-leading apprenticeship programme has been running for more than 30 years and has trained well over 1,100 talented individuals who have gone on to have exciting careers across the John Deere dealership network.

“Graduation ceremonies are always special, and this was no exception. To be able to celebrate the fantastic achievements of those in the room was hugely rewarding for John Deere as a company, as well for the dealers who have helped nurture this talented group to reach its potential.

“We wish the graduates all the best as they embark on the next stage of their careers within the John Deere family, and look forward to working alongside them long into the future.”

It was an extra special night for two technicians who won overall awards. Samuel Crichton from Tuckwell’s Framfield depot in Sussex was named Technician Apprentice of the Year, while Kael Horton from Thomas Sherriff’s Hexham depot in Northumberland was presented with the Parts Apprentice of the Year award.

Oliver Coupland from the Retford Ripon Farm Services depot in South Yorkshire, and James Hancock from Smallridge Bros’ Barnstaple depot were both named as runners-up.

Among the Master Technician graduates, Craig Braithwaite was singled out for his outstanding effort in becoming the first person to complete an apprenticeship and Master Technician assessment in just four years.

The individual prizes were presented to the winners by Will Young – best known as Farmer Will on TikTok – who addressed the room on life as an influencer creating content on a farm.

During the evening, presenters acknowledged that many of the class of 2023 had taken on apprenticeships during one of the most challenging times in the programme’s history.

For many, the covid lockdown took effect just six months into their studies, meaning distanced learning replaced what had been intended as classroom sessions.

“The apprentices coped admirably with the challenge laid down to them,” Allan said. “Being able to adapt to new and changing surroundings and issues is part of being a technician, but this group of young people did themselves proud in the face of adversity.”

It was also the first graduation for apprentices from the Wirtgen Group; a construction machinery manufacturer which was purchased by John Deere in 2017.

John Deere’s apprenticeship programme is provided by ProVQ and involves students being trained in engineering, electronics, hydraulics, diagnostics, communication skills, computing, sales, and marketing.

Ag Tech and Turf Tech candidates study towards the land-based service engineering technician qualification (level 3), while in Parts Tech individuals complete a retailer apprenticeship standard (level 2).

New students are enrolled each year, and the standard programmes include on-the-job training and assessment as well as up to eight weeks each year at the John Deere Apprentice Training Centre.

To find out more about starting a John Deere apprenticeship, or to apply for open positions, go to dealerjobs.deere.com.

2023 Apprentice Graduates:

Ben Burgess: Benjamin Cox, Honor Miles, Callum Clarke, Ethan Langley.

Cornthwaite Group: Benjamin Glover, Kyle Wells, Graeme Riddick, Alfie Thompson, Thomas Howard.

Farol: William Duggins, Daniel O’Donohue, Makayla Wench, Andrew Gray, Luke Hand, Joseph Scott.

Geary’s Garage: Patrick Cremin.

John Deere Forestry: Sean Cochrane, Jamie Duncan.

MacGregor Industrial Supplies: Duncan Fraser-Anderson.

Masons Kings: William Chaffe.

Ripon Farm Services: Liam Dunn, Oliver Coupland.

Smallridge Bros: James Hancock.

Stephen W Moore: Reuben Bingham, Dominic O’Kane.

Tallis Amos: Michael Cock, Ellis Morris, Ben Vose, Lewis Gutteridge,

Thomas Sherriff: Cameron Marshall, Fraser Robertson, Conall Fairbairn, Jamie Clyne, Kael Horton.

Tuckwells: William Coleman, Sam Crichton.

Wirtgen Group: Thomas Holt, Jack Anderson, Stan Smith.

2023 Master Technician Graduates:

Ben Burgess: Cameron Smith, Lewis Jaggard, Callum Luker, Jonathan Smith.

Cornthwaite Group: Craig Braithwaite, James Sudell, Ed Crocker, Matthew Higgins.

Farol: Iain MacKinnon, James O’Neill, Jamie Speir, Lawrence Thompson, Matthew Welbourne, Alistair Donaldson.

Ripon Farm Services: Andrew Smith.

Tuckwells: Oscar Mayhew, Oliver Rumsey.

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GPS sprayer leads step change in philosophy

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GPS sprayer leads step change in philosophy: A major overhaul of equipment and the adoption of cutting-edge technology is driving a new, long-term strategy at The Leicestershire Golf Club (TLGC).

Led by Course Manager, Steve Hardy, and backed up by the club’s management committee, the grounds team is now able to perform their roles to a higher level while also making significant efficiency gains.

Steve only took over the role in July 2021, joining TLGC from The Warwickshire where he was Assistant Course Manager.

It took him just a few months to oversee a transformation of the club’s machinery shed which he says is already having a significant impact on how the course plays, and how the club is run.

Out has gone the aging machinery which was costing the club tens of thousands of pounds every year in repairs and maintenance.

In its place has come a fleet of new John Deere kit which Steve says is saving time and money while also giving the team the tools to do the best job possible.

“When I came in, I wanted to make improvements but there were lots of issues that needed resolving so it was a case of prioritising,” Steve said.

“The machinery fleet was old and inefficient – breakdowns were happening all the time and it was taking days to get the parts to be back up and running.

“The team was spending hours cutting the course and it still wasn’t looking the best it could because the tools they were using were letting them down.”

Steve proposed sweeping changes. Within weeks he had organised demonstrations with major brands of the mowers, sprayers and utility vehicles he felt the club needed.

“The club was moving from purchasing machinery and hoping it would last for 20 years to a five to seven-year strategy so, financially, it’s been a big ask for them,” he said.

“But the communication between us and the members was good. The old budget meant the money we had wasn’t enough to do some basic maintenance or buy the necessary amount of fertiliser we need.

“We brought the committee down to the shed and showed them the old machinery next to the new stuff and it was a no-brainer. The club wanted a plan with no surprises and this is what they now have.”

Working with Jacob Shellis from John Deere dealer Farol, Steve ordered four 2750 Precision Cut greens mowers, two 7500A fairway mowers, a 9009 Terrain Cut for roughs and surrounds, and a HPX Gator for picking up on the driving range and general course transport.

But the stand-out purchase for Steve is the HD200 GPS precision sprayer which has revolutionised the way the team applies herbicides, fungicides and fertilisers.

The 757-litre capacity PrecisionSprayer is based on Deere’s ProGator heavy-duty utility vehicle chassis and is packed full of technology such as AutoTrac, which guides the machine for the operator, and automatic section control to turn on and shut off individual nozzles.

This means spraying greens becomes far more accurate as there is no overlap or non-target areas sprayed with expensive chemicals.

Steve estimates that he is now spraying at least 30% less chemical, purely due to the accuracy of the machine – his chemical budget for disease control has already been reduced to reflect the change.

“The sprayer is getting a huge amount of use. Just on greens, we’re spraying once a week with a wetting agent, a fertiliser, or a growth regulator,” he said. “In peak season it will be out working most days.

“Previously the job was contracted out so we were bound by the weather and the availability of someone to come and do the job. Now, if we get a gap, we can go out whenever the conditions are right.

“This is our first year using the sprayer and compared to other clubs in the area we came out pretty clean. A lot of that will be down to good planning but the chemical going down at exactly the right rate in exactly the right place has to have had an effect too.”

Alongside accuracy and convenience, Steve says he appreciates the time saving.

“Using automated spraying records is great,” he said. “They are generated as soon as a task has been completed.

“With the option of downloading them immediately from your iPhone, this takes a lot of time away from the admin side of things and ensures complete compliance.”

All the new machines are fitted with Modular Telematics Gateways (MTG) receivers, allowing Steve to track the status and performance of each model. The fully connected fleet is also remotely monitored by Farol so, when scheduled maintenance is required, TLGC is contacted without needing to act.

The information is fed to the John Deere Operations Center and so far, shows a great step forward in efficiency.

Steve said: “By allocating tasks from a computer or phone to each operator on a machine, they just go from job to job which has cut idle time down to below 6%.

“We are able to share all this information with the club, so they know exactly what’s going on among the greenkeeping team.”

The six-strong team of greenkeepers are happy with their new tools, and the two trained sprayer operators have adopted the technology quickly.

Steve said: “There is plenty more to be getting on with here but the new machinery is a huge step forward. The committee is very proud of it and my team is very happy.

“This has solved the problems we faced in the main season and now we can move on to our next priority, which is irrigation.”

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