Tag Archive for: Turf

Turf Tank sales team expanded

/in , /by

Turf Tank sales team expanded: Sales of the Turf Tank One Robotic line-marker from Danish robotics company, Turf Tank, has been steadily increasing over the past 12 months, so much so that a new regional sales manager has been appointed for Scotland and Northern England.

Alan Donaldson, 48, married with children, is based between Glasgow and Edinburgh, perfectly situated to reach every part of his area with relative ease.

Turf Tank sales team expanded

Turf Tank sales team expanded

Although from a different sector of business, Alan has an industrial background with extensive sales experience, and will be looking to transfer some of that knowledge of working face to face with customers, finding solutions in a variety of different scenarios, to his new role out in the field. He has just completed an intensive first hands-on training period with UK Sales manager Matt Murray in Ireland, followed by technical training and an introduction to the rest of the company during a week at the Turf Tank headquarters in Denmark.

“I am delighted to be joining such a young and forward-thinking company.” Said Alan “It’s a breath of fresh air to be part of a company, which is open and honest and inclusive with what they are wanting to achieve. I feel I have come in at the perfect time. I see the momentum growing and I am delighted to be a part of this exciting project. Everyone I have met is obviously committed to the company and very enthusiastic about the future.

UK Regional Sales Manager for Turf Tank, Matt Murray is delighted to have Alan on-board. “Alan has a natural ability to work in sales” said Matt “This coupled with an extremely deep passion for sport, makes him the ideal candidate to join us.”

Alan’s addition to the team signals a positive shift towards further expansion as the company continues to develop their business infrastructure in the UK and Ireland to serve a wide range of customers from professional football clubs to grassroots sports clubs, plus educational establishments, local authorities, and contractors.

To learn more about the Turf Tank One or book a demo with Alan, please contact him here: alan@turftank.co.uk

For those based in the Midlands UK, please contact Matt Murray matt@turftank.co.uk or Alex Robinson alex@turftank.co.uk for southern UK.

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Turf Tank supports Movember

/in , /by

Turf Tank supports Movember: Industry leading robotic line marking company, Turf Tank, teams up with Scotland-based universities to support this month’s annual moustache-starring campaign for leading men’s health charity, Movember.

Scotland-based universities, Heriot-Watt, and Strathclyde, who are existing Movember Ambassadors, both allowed Turf Tank, an autonomous line marking robot company, to paint its iconic mo across its very own sports fields.

Turf Tank supports Movember

Turf Tank supports Movember

Now in its 19th year, Movember is just days away from encouraging its Mo Bros around the UK to band together to bravely sacrifice their upper lips in support of men’s mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer.

Movember’s Country Director for UK and Europe, Anne-Cecile Berthier, said: “It’s a real pleasure to have received support from Turf Tank, Herriot-Watt, and Strathclyde University this year as we’ve been able to continue to raise awareness for men’s health in a way we’ve never once done before.

“Being able to replicate our moustache on such a large scale really does help to amplify our message – men are dying too young. Support like this we admire as it helps us to spread the message far and wide, so together, we can change the face of men’s health.”

According to a recent report released by the men’s health charity, in the UK, 3 out of 4 suicides are by men. 1 in 8 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime and testicular cancer continues to be the most diagnosed cancer in young men.

Movember wants to encourage men to speak up when things get tough, and the work that Turf Tank, Herriot-Watt, and Strathclyde University has allowed the charity to create will hopefully spark conversations which could ultimately save lives.

To date, Movember has welcomed six million supporters and helped fund 1,250 innovative health projects across twenty countries. But we are not done yet. To donate or learn more, please visit uk.movember.com.

TIPS TO GROW YOUR MO 

  • Be prepared:  Choose the moustache that will grace your face by browsing the inspirational Movember Mo Style Guide. But embrace the moustache that nature gives you because whatever you grow will save a bro.
  • Be brave: The first few days, even weeks, can be uncomfortable as your Mo takes shape. Ride it out to encourage donations.
  • Ignore the itching: Remind yourself that men have endured worse in the past. You can stand a little face tickle.
  • Shape your moustache: Get across all the proper grooming techniques. A great Mo comes down to great grooming.
  • Nurture it and keep it clean: Look after your Mo, and your Mo will look after you.

OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

  • Move for Movember- Commit to running or walking 60kms over the month. That’s 60kms for the 60 men we lose to suicide each hour, every hour across the world. You can join a team or run solo.
  • Host a Mo-ment- Rally a crew and do something fun. Hosting is all about having a good time for a good cause. And you can always put a virtual spin on your plans. The best part? Virtual events are easy to organise, cheap to run and you can go in your slippers. Think an online gaming tournament, Mo Bingo, or a virtual trivia night.
  • Mo Your Own Way- A choose-your-own-adventure challenge, epic in scope and scale. You make the rules. You set the limits and chase them down. Take a hike, run a relay, ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Get creative, push your limits, and inspire donations with sheer grit.

Why do we do it again?

  • Globally, we lose one man every minute to suicide
  • Three out of four suicides in the UK are men
  • One in 8 men in the UK & Ireland will receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer in their lifetime
  • Over 333,500 men are living with or beyond prostate cancer in the UK
  • Testicular cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in young men

To date, Movember has welcomed six million supporters and helped fund 1,250 innovative health projects across twenty countries. But we are not done yet.

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

George Davies, founder of George Davies Turf

/in , /by

George Davies, founder of George Davies Turf: George Davies started his ‘side venture’ in 2001 and has since reached new heights to become the largest independent supplier of turf in the UK, spending more than two decades perfecting his knowledge to become an expert voice on all things relating to turf, soil, crops and landscape materials. 

Pursuing a dream – turf experts

Driven by his own self-belief, George Davies has gone from a struggling student to university graduate, to successful business owner – sharing his flawless work ethic and inspiring passion for helping others, while he set out to achieve his longstanding dream to become the UK’s largest independent supplier of turf.

George Davies, founder of George Davies Turf

George Davies, founder of George Davies Turf

George’s forward-thinking approach and experience as a Farm Business Consultant always kept him one step ahead, and it was this energy and determination that he applied to his father’s family-run farm where his company was, and still is, based.

When he realised the farm wasn’t suitable for growing additional crops, George spotted the lucrative potential to sell landscaping products to nearby developing towns in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Hertfordshire.

In 2001 George invested every penny he had into a Scenic Blue Turf franchise and, having devoted so much time, energy and money into the venture, knew he had no choice but to throw everything into making it work.

By 2003 he had carved out his own unique selling point – his exceptional customer service – and felt it was time to go it alone. He changed the name and became a business owner in his own right – George Davies Turf was born.

From ‘one-man-band’ to multi-million-pound business

Based in Olney, George worked solo to sell, load, and deliver rolls of turf across the Midlands and London, while an honesty box in the farmyard portacabin collected payment for those who preferred to collect – that box alone took around £1 million over the first 10 years.

By 2010, George knew the secret to growing the business was to invest in state-of-the-art machinery, a new premises in St Albans, and to bring in drivers and support staff. He did this with a strong approach to recruitment, actively seeking people he could trust, and only those who would encompass the same values: honesty, reliability and quality.

Celebrating their 21st birthday in September 2021, George and his team of 19 now proudly refer to themselves as ‘The Landscaper’s Choice’, providing high-quality turf and landscaping products along with impeccable customer service. The striking fleet of six red 32-tonne lorries and a 44-tonne artic – all with forklift trucks – are used to transport 1.4 million rolls of turf to 35,000 gardens a year within a 40-mile radius of the two bases. George believes this is how the company maintains its identifiable two-hour delivery slots; a timeframe critical to maintaining the short shelf life of fresh turf.

With a reliable team in place, George now focuses on developing the business for his staff and customers: providing helpful information via blogs, social media, newsletters and events. The new George Davies Turf app is the first of its kind in the industry aimed at speeding up the buying process for busy landscapers – an innovation for the sector.

George is an advocate for supporting others too, not only sharing his insights with likeminded people, but encouraging his people to take time to further their own learning. Through various investments and activities, he continues to be involved with the local business community who helped him get where he is today, as well as funding new business owners on their journey.

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Lantra to promote turf care training

/in , /by

Lantra to promote turf care training: Lantra are exhibiting at Europe’s largest turf management show, SALTEX next week to continue its ongoing Instructor recruitment drive and promote a NEW forward-thinking course aimed at meeting major challenges in the sector and advances in science and technology.

Members of the Lantra team will be available on exhibition stand K124 at SALTEX 2022 to update industry professionals on their NEW Landscape Multi-Tools course which has been developed in light of feedback from both land-based industries and training Providers.

Lantra to promote turf care training

Lantra to promote turf care training

SALTEX is Europe’s leading turf management show for grounds care volunteers, professionals, suppliers, and manufacturers.

The two-day event, which will be held at the Birmingham NEC November 2-3, attracts industry experts and hundreds of leading brands every year and gives exhibitors and event visitors the opportunity to see the latest technological and product developments – and this year SALTEX marks its 76th year by introducing a new look for 2022.

As well as sharing details on its new Landscape Multi-Tools course, Lantra will also be on hand to provide information on its wide range of other courses in turf industries, such horticulture, sports turf and landscaping, and give advice on how people can become training Instructors and Providers.

People can take their ‘green careers’ further by choosing from a wide range of courses in the horticulture industry which contributes a massive £9 billion each year to the UK economy.

Courses include – Safe Operation of Ride-On Mowers, Awareness of Integrated Weed Management, Installation of Artificial Grass Surfaces and Ground Care Machinery Maintenance.

Lantra also provides training and qualifications in the Safe Use of Pesticides which includes CRD-recognised certificates of competence.

David Fisher, Lantra’s Head of Industry Partnerships for the area, said: “We’ve been reviewing and updating our Landscape tools assessed training courses with sustainability in mind.

“To meet demand we have seen from Providers, we have also extended the content of some of our courses to include coverage of battery-operated equipment, and have developed a specific course for Landscape Multi-Tools which will be launched at the event.

“The two-day course consists of modules covering small engine maintenance, grass trimmers, hedge trimmers and leaf blowers, and will be relevant to both petrol and battery powered machines.

“SALTEX is the ideal place to launch the updated courses and materials, as it is where industry professionals come together to learn the latest developments for turf industries, and to share best practice.

“At Lantra, we recognise that, like so many other land-based industries, a shortage of suitably skilled labour is a major issue in the landscape sector. A key solution to addressing this skills gap, and growing the sector, is without doubt high quality, industry-recognised training and qualifications.

“That’s why we believe it’s crucial we attend events like SALTEX to share details of our latest training initiatives and keep our finger on the pulse in terms of what’s needed in the real world of work.

“This year, we’ll also be continuing with our drive to recruit experienced industry experts as training Instructors who can inspire, motivate, and educate both the current and future landscape workforce.”

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Turf Tank returns to SALTEX

/in , /by

Turf Tank returns to SALTEX: Turf Tank, leading robotic line marking company and winner of the 2017 Saltex Innovation Award, is bringing the revolutionary Turf Tank One back to Saltex 2022.

Booth No G085

This year the company is bringing a new surprise to the show, the next generation robotic line marking software. Visitors will have a chance to discover the latest features, that improve usability, make the process even faster and easier, and offer more customisation options.

Turf Tank returns to SALTEX

Turf Tank returns to SALTEX

The Turf Tank UK team is inviting everybody interested in the technology to visit Stand G085 and learn how Turf Tank could improve their line marking operations.

Read more

We’re dealing with an establishment where people are investing a lot of money sending their kids to a private school which excels in all areas of education on and off the pitch. So, I want to make sure that the pitches reflect that level of expectation. The Turf Tank robot brings a quality of perfomance and reliability that we expect.

– Lee Marshallsay, Grounds Manager, Eton College

With the traditional way of marking pitches, there was a lot of time wasted. Today we’ve marked five pitches, which would have taken our staff three-four days. With the robot, we’ve done that in an afternoon! It’s the future of line marking!

– Richard Hare, Head Groundsperson, Bromsgrove School

It wasn’t until we used the GPS machine that it highlighted the fact that when you come to mark a line freehand, they creep a bit. And then they creep a little bit more. And then they creep a little bit more, and you don’t really notice the little bit of creeping until you get a GPS line marker overmarking the pitches that were already there. You realise that they’ve moved a considerable amount of distance, and it kind of highlights that the lines were actually in the wrong place.

– Ewan Hunter, Grounds Manager, Nottingham Forest FC

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

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.