Tag Archive for: Support

Horticulture specialist pledges armed forces support

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Horticulture specialist pledges armed forces support: The Nurture Group signs Armed Forces Covenant as part of the nation’s promise to support current and former service personnel and their families. 

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise from the nation to those who serve. It says we will do all we can to ensure they are treated fairly and not disadvantaged in their day-to-day lives. This includes offering injured servicemen and women and bereaved families extra support where appropriate.

Horticulture specialist pledges armed forces support

Horticulture specialist pledges armed forces support

Gavin Jones, part of The Nurture Group, has a longstanding history of maintaining a wide variety of MOD sites and recently commenced a seven-year working relationship with the VIVO Defence partnership at the start of the year.

Consequently, the Group has cemented its commitment to its ongoing support of veterans and their loved ones, alongside existing team members who give their time voluntary to cadet operations as part of the Reserve Forces, and actively championing awareness activities such as Remembrance Day and Armed Forces Day.

Already a Real Living Wage Employer, The Nurture Group is now eligible for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Bronze Award, recognising employers that are aligned with the Covenant’s own core values. The ERS also encourages employers to support defence and inspire other organisations to do the same.

Simon Harrison, Head of People at Nurture Group, commented: “As an ex-serviceman, signing the Armed Forces Covenant is something I personally am very passionate about, and I am delighted and proud to be driving initiatives and pledging our wider support to those who give so much to our country. We are currently planning activities to further our work with the armed forces community, with ex- service personnel within our organisation keen to take a leading role and support.”

Further information about Gavin Jones and The Nurture Group can be accessed at www.nurture-group.co.uk.

For more about the Armed Forces Covenant, visit www.gov.uk/government/policies/armed-forces-covenant.

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Toro to Support The R&A Women

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Toro to Support The R&A Women: The Toro Company announces its support of The R&A Women in Golf Charter by becoming a signatory of the industry-wide initiative. According to The R&A, the Women in Golf Charter aims to create a more inclusive golf culture by enabling more women and girls to realise their potential at all levels of the sport.

To achieve this, the Charter requires the support and participation of other national golf federations, businesses and organisations, like Toro — who is a trusted leader in golf grounds maintenance equipment and irrigation solutions with a global presence in more than 125 countries.

Toro to Support The R&A Women

Toro to Support The R&A Women

As a proud supporter of the Women in Golf Charter and also a founding partner of The R&A’s new community golf facility at Lethamhill in Glasgow, Scotland, Toro will be providing annual apprenticeships to women and minorities to encourage further career development and diversity in the golf industry.

“We have built a legacy of giving back by actively leveraging our expertise, resources and business partnerships to increase interest and engagement in the golf industry, specifically among women and girls,” stated Judson McNeil, President, The Toro Company Foundation. “Furthering our efforts through official support of The R&A Women in Golf Charter reinforces the ongoing commitment to bringing more diversity to the game of golf.”

Toro’s commitment to the Women in Golf Charter isn’t its only inclusion initiative. Toro has served as preferred supplier and partner to First Tee since 1998. During the 24-year partnership, Toro has supported girls’ access to careers in the golf industry, STEM educational programs and Grow the Game Grants focused on expanding diversity in the game of golf by the inclusion of more girls. And as the official partner of the ANNIKA Foundation’s “Share My Passion” golf clinic, Toro is helping to introduce young girls to the game of golf and support the Foundation’s goal of developing women’s golf around the world.

Additionally, the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year Award — hosted in partnership with Reesink Turfcare, sole Toro distributor in the UK for golf and sports fields equipment, and the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) — celebrates the next generation of talented and dedicated greenskeepers. In 2021, Toro was excited to recognise Rhian Barton of The Wisley Golf Club. She was the first woman to win the prestigious award.

Beyond external initiatives, Toro has also established the Women’s Initiative Network to create, promote and support a culture of equality and inclusiveness for women across all business functions within the company.

For more information on Toro equipment and irrigation products for the golf industry worldwide, please visit toro.com/golf.

About The Toro Company

With roots dating back to 1914, Toro is a leading worldwide provider of innovative solutions for the outdoor environment, including turf and landscape maintenance, snow management, rental and construction equipment, and irrigation solutions. Through a strong network of distributors, dealers, retailers and rental stores in more than 125 countries, Toro helps customers care for golf courses, sports fields, public green spaces, commercial and residential properties, construction sites and agricultural operations. More at: www.toro.com.

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Kress dealers support in Ireland

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Kress dealers support in Ireland: Positec UK & Ireland has taken the decision to streamline the route to market for its desirable range of Kress products, by working directly with its dealer network across the island of Ireland.

Newly appointed Kress Brand and Business Manager, Gary Tully says; “We have an excellent, established dealer network across Ireland and this new and more efficient structure will help us all to fully maximise the distribution of the exciting range of Kress mowers and power tools”.

Kress dealers support in Ireland

Kress dealers support in Ireland

Tully adds, “Demand for Kress products has outstripped supply over the last 2 years and we are keen to ensure that stock availability in Ireland meets demand in the future. During April we will make contact with each dealer to communicate our plans in detail”.

Kress’s advanced battery technology provides the most powerful and durable range of outdoor green power tools available on the market, extending from the Mission range of robotic mowers, to 20V and 60V grass and hedge trimmers, blowers, chainsaws and more.

Kress batteries are high quality lithium-ion, designed for demanding jobs and with a range of functions that offer seamless, high-power operation for as long as it is needed.

The Kress 60V range is therefore also particularly ideal for Landscapers, Commercial contractors, Sports Clubs and Landowners looking to reduce emissions, fuel and the operating costs to manage sports pitches, lawns and large grounds.

With annual growth that has reached tenfold, robotic mowers are becoming ever more popular with businesses and homeowners. However, their basic design had not changed significantly since they were invented in 1995, until now. Kress believes robotic mowers should do more than relieve users of the burden of pushing a mower each week and the Kress robot mower range has been designed from the ground up, featuring a raft of innovative technologies, that will set the industry standards for the coming years. This exciting new Kress Mission range of lawn management products, is packed with innovative technology to take robotic mowing to the next level.

As well as saving both time and cost, Kress Mission robotic mowers are also enabled to take autonomous decisions to protect and enhance the health of turf through innovative technology:

  • Intelligent Navigation Technology Inbound Variable Angle. Kress Mission’s INTIVA enabled mowers optimize their mowing, getting the job done faster and more efficiently, with less wear. Conversely, other robotic mowers stop, reverse, stop, and eventually turn, without being aware of which direction is best. Not only does this waste time, it wears the lawn along the borders and especially the corners.
  • Kress’ ultrasonic Obstacle Avoidance System, is years ahead of the competition. Not only does the OAS avoid collisions, it tells the mower how to best navigate complex paths, such as through a group of trees in the lawn.
  • Climate intelligence. Temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation all affect grass growth. Connected to a network of local weather stations, Mission robots autonomously customize their work schedule accordingly.
  • Climate friendly. Kress REGEN (regenerative brake system) technology recharges the battery when the mower is running downhill, increasing the runtime and reducing charging time and costs.
  • Blade design. Designing a robotic lawn mower around the grass does not mean neglecting users’ needs. The biggest complaint robotic lawnmower owners have is still manually trimming borders. The Kress Mission blade design is offset to mow the perimeter of the lawn as closely as possible.
  • The charging station has also been re-thought from scratch. Unlike conventional charging stations which sit on large plastic pads, both unpleasant to the eye and killing the grass underneath, the pad of Mission’s base is the grass.

Not to mention an App to control the mower remotely, multi-Zone programming, a rain sensor and grass-friendly charging, the Mission family ranges from the mini Nano to the Kress Mega Mower, offering powerful mowing capacity from 1 square metre up to an incredible 6,500 square metres.

Tony Macer National Sales Manager for Kress says: “In order to provide a better and more efficient service to both dealers and consumers, we have streamlined the supply chain to improve dealer support and get closer to our customers. With exciting new Kress products streaming onto the market, we want our valued dealers across the island of Ireland to enjoy the same benefits and margins as the rest of the UK & Europe”.

Tony adds: “With industry leading mowing power, all of our lawnmowers perform exceptionally in Irish grass conditions, wet or dry. The power tools in the 60v range are comparable to petrol. Kress and its products offer a real opportunity for dealers in Ireland to futureproof their business and evolve into the sustainable robotic and battery sectors, supported by a new, efficient and profitable structure”.

Established over 50 years ago, Positec owned brand, Kress, is World number 2 in robotic mower sales, with a culture of innovation, high quality engineering and patented technology, all at a very competitive price point, supported by a 3 year warranty, excellent aftersales service and dealer support. Accentuated through the latest Kress range of zero emission, high power battery products, Kress is proud to hold the WWF platinum award for sustainability.

Please contact Gary Tully today to see how you can evolve and grow with Kress.

Contact details:

Gary Tully, Kress Brand & Business Manager – ROI and NI

Positec UK & Ireland Ltd

Mobile: +44 (0) 7432 202 872

Email:    gary.tully@positecgroup.com

For all other UK enquiries or to become a Kress Dealer, please contact: Tony.Macer@positecgroup.com

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BIGGA CEO appeals for greater support

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BIGGA CEO appeals for greater support: As the UK golfing industry prepares itself for another bumper summer, the chief executive of the UK’s greenkeepers’ association has issued a rallying cry for the game to reinvest in golf club staff who make the game possible.

Speaking following the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME), BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton said that with golf participation and membership booming, the time has come for the leading bodies in the game to make a priority of the workforce in golf clubs that facilitate our great sport.

BIGGA CEO appeals for greater support

BIGGA CEO appeals for greater support

BTME is the annual education conference and exhibition for golf greenkeepers and is held in Harrogate each year. With hundreds of hours of educational opportunities for greenkeepers and groundspeople, it is considered among the most influential events in the golfing calendar, particularly at a grassroots level.

BTME was unable to take place in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but saw a successful return this year, albeit delayed due to concerns regarding the Omicron variant last winter. BTME 2022 saw 2,577 unique visitors attend the trade show, which represents a drop of around 40% on 2020. Over 70% of the visitors to the show were in senior ‘decision making’ roles, such as course managers and head greenkeepers.

Although numbers were down, the event was enjoyed by those in attendance with many exhibitors reporting valuable business done as the Harrogate Convention Centre’s exhibition halls buzzed with the greenkeeping industry reconvening properly for the first time in over two years. A common topic of discussion in the halls, conferences and social interactions was the challenges currently facing the industry.

Jim said: “When the pandemic hit, the industry came together to form a ‘wartime cabinet’ that supported the game through extremis. With fewer high-profile crises facing the sport, the emergency footing has abated. However, there remain a number of serious challenges, such as the supply chain issues for machinery and equipment and the cost and availability of water, fuel and raw materials such as fertilisers and sands. The labour crisis is another major issue that we simply must address to keep the sport healthy.

“For many years the main focus of the game has been growing the number of people playing golf. The pandemic effectively gave us 2 million extra golfers in the UK and that has brought significant additional revenue into the game. It’s now time for clubs to focus on the importance of their workforce, without whom the sport would wither on the vine.

“The success of this year’s Continue to Learn education programme at BTME has proved once again that BIGGA members continue to rise to the challenge that managing a golf course in the 21st Century brings. Today’s greenkeepers are better educated than ever before, overcoming the challenges they face each day to present stunning golf courses for their members to enjoy. Greenkeepers have held up their end of the bargain and now it is time for the golf industry to do the same.”

Among key areas of concern for Jim and the BIGGA team are the conditions that greenkeepers are expected to work in. While some forward-thinking clubs now provided modern, clean and comfortable facilities for their greenkeeping teams, many still force their team to use outdated facilities that are no longer fit for purpose.

Other significant areas of concern are salaries, particularly for entry level staff and those making their way through the ranks. Additionally, the incredibly-high expectations placed upon greenkeepers to present golf courses despite the often limited resources made available to them, which can cause significant stress and mental health problems.

BIGGA is an active participant in the Committee for Golf Club Salaries (CGCS), which this year issued a recommendation to increase salaries for golf club staff by 5 per cent to help with the rising cost of living, as well as an increased awareness of the vital role staff play in the success of a facility. However, the guidelines are recommendations that not all clubs adhere to.

Jim added: “I was at a gathering of golf club leaders last autumn and asked the attendees to put their hands up if they would be prepared to work in the facilities they provide for their greenkeepers. Only a minority raised their hands and that shows an awareness of how we aren’t looking after the staff who play such a critical role in the success of golf businesses and the wider sport. It is also, of course, important to point out the challenges that club managers and other staff are facing in a rapidly changing and demanding industry. Golf is a sport that is delivered by people at facility level; every club is autonomous and this leads to huge variations in pay, conditions and welfare for the staff members in those facilities.

“Greenkeeping is a wonderful profession with many physical and mental health benefits and a wide range of career opportunities. It’s time for golf clubs to put their staff first, invest in their wellbeing and for a framework to be put in place that ensures every facility in the country treats their staff in a respectful and appropriate manner.”

For more information about the British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association, visit www.bigga.org

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UK greenkeepers selected to support The R&A

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UK greenkeepers selected to support The R&A: The 150th Open at St Andrews is set to be a historic event with record crowds witnessing the world’s greatest players contest the Claret Jug and a team of almost 50 greenkeepers from golf clubs all over the United Kingdom and further afield will be supporting the home greenkeeping team as they prepare the Old Course’s famous fairways.

Each year The R&A requests the assistance of British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) members in the staging of the event. Every full BIGGA member who has been with the association for at least two years is eligible to apply for a place on the Volunteer Open Support Team and those who are selected are given incredible access to golf’s greatest championship, supporting every match with bunker raking duties.

UK greenkeepers selected to support The R&A

UK greenkeepers selected to support The R&A

The history of the Volunteer Open Support Team began at St Andrews in 1984 following years of complaints from golfers and the governing body that bunker raking at The Open was inconsistent. Walter Woods BEM, links superintendent at St Andrews at the time, proposed that members of the Scottish & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (SIGGA), which existed prior to the formation of BIGGA in 1987, could be enlisted on a volunteer basis. Having a deputised band of trained greenkeepers on site would also provide the home greenkeeping team with additional support, should the need arise. The Volunteer Open Support Team was formed and has attended every Open since, providing hundreds of BIGGA members with incredible memories and inspiring them to achieve greater things both in their careers and at their home facilities.

Joining the BIGGA volunteers will be Gordon Moir, BIGGA President 2022, himself a former links superintendent at St Andrews and an industry veteran who supervised the hosting of five Opens. Gordon will begin his presidency at the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition (BTME) 2022, taking place from 22 to 24 March at the Harrogate Convention Centre.

BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton said: “The 150th Open will be a spectacular celebration of the sport of golf and in some ways the Volunteer Open Support Team recognises the vital role greenkeepers have played over the centuries in the development and prospering of this wonderful game, so we are thankful to The R&A for providing this opportunity for BIGGA members each year. The Open is the world’s greatest golf tournament and this is set to be the biggest and best instalment ever, so everyone at BIGGA – including those members who form the home St Andrews greenkeeping team – is looking forward to playing our part in the hosting of the championship.”

This year’s BIGGA Volunteer Open Support Team features a record number of first-time team members and each year is provided with accommodation, subsistence and uniform for the event. Restrictions may be in place as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and any necessary adjustments to working practices will be made clear to BIGGA members ahead of the championship.

The 150th Open takes place from 10 to 17 July 2022. Applications for the BIGGA Volunteer Open Support Team for The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool will open later this year.

Here are the BIGGA members who will be assisting the home greenkeepers for the duration of The 150th Open:

Robert Acheson, Thonock Park; Daniel Ashelby, Reddish Vale; George Barr, Worthing; Robert Bemment, Elsham; Simon Bone, Royal Wimbledon; James Bonfield, The Hertfordshire; Adam Brackley, Heworth; Tim Brown, Hockley; Michael Budd, Richmond Park; Steven Carmichael, Dumfries & Galloway; Stuart Christon, Middlesbrough (Brass Castle); Paul Clarkson, Sherborne; Mark Cleverley, Ludlow; David Davies, St Annes Old Links; Jack Fairbairn, Shipton; David Forbes, Faughan Valley; Dean Franks, West Sussex; Michael Gibbons, Dunham Forest; James Gilchrist, Harborne; Andrew Harding, Boyce Hill; Darren Hexley, Muir of Ord; Stevie-Jon Hood, Ljunghusens, Sweden; Jamie Hughes, Lyme Regis; Paul Law, South Staffordshire; Craig Littlejohn, Douglas Park; David McCormick, Royal Porthcawl; Matthew Milligan, Rudding Park; Tiffany Mills, Ryston Park; David McCormick, Royal Porthcawl; William Morton, Llanishen; Ronnie Myles, Buchanan Castle; Ian Nichols, Orsett; George Nock, Enville; Joshua Raper, Hosel EV, Germany; Scott Rigby, Gathurst; Scott Robertson, Strathmore; Harry Roe, Alwoodley; Andrew Sellars, The Grove; Chris Sheehan, Chorlton-cum-Hardy; Niels Sorensen, Randers, Denmark; Craig Surgeon, Kirkcaldy; Rick Tegtmeier CGCS MG, Des Moines, USA; Mark Thompson, Galgorm Castle; Ross Traill, Kilmarnock (Barassie); Sean Tully, Meadow Club, USA; Jeremy Ward, Bradford Moor; George Watton, Ludlow; Aidan Wright, Camberley Heath.

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