YET again a meeting of industry professionals pose the question, where are we going to get good staff?

And there is a qualification here. They said ‘good staff’ rather than ‘qualified staff’. OK, training can be provided ‘in-house’, perhaps through an apprenticeship. But listen to what Gary Barwell, head groundsman at Edgbaston said at the IOG Conference yesterday.

“I was previously at Leicestershire Country Cricket Club as one of the only two apprentices the Club have ever employed. Today, both of us have risen to be head groundsmen at leading County Clubs.

“With the hectic schedule at Edgbaston next year, including an Ashes Test, I recently wanted to take on a youngster and put him through an Apprenticeship. I had an outstanding candidate, but in order to offer him an apprenticeship he has to pass a requisite number of GCEs – and that might prove a stumbling block.

“He has worked with us in the past and shows real potential as a groundsman of the future. Frankly, I would rather find a way of employing him over others who might be more academically qualified."

Isn’t that the truth?

Industries like groundsmanship, greenkeeping, agricultural or turfcare engineering offer great career opportunities and a satisfying lifestyle, but have an image problem.  

They have to work damned hard to get noticed, and then if they do attract the attention of those who want a job opportunity, but who perhaps lack academic aptitude, then are we in danger of setting the bar too high?

Throughout our industries, there are many who came in at the bottom rung of the ladder, but through a willingness to learn, to work hard, to listen and yes, ‘fit in’ – have risen to the top of the profession.

There are many youngsters who have a ‘feel’ for engineering, a skill for growing things or looking after nature, who may not tick the boxes academically or have sufficient pieces of paper. We should take every opportunity to welcome them into our fold, because once in we are very good at mentoring and providing training ‘on-the-job’ to enable them to progress onwards and upwards.