Dealers GGM Groundscare has announced it has expanded its team with the appointment of two new service engineers both recruited during the lockdown and has created positions for three new apprenticeships, in a bid to support continued  growth and offer job opportunities in both Colne and Haydock.

Andy Crabtree and Chris Sumner

The group employs 39 staff across two sites, and despite the current crisis, managing director Chris Gibson says he wants to continue his commitment to customer support and offer job opportunities in line with their long-term business growth strategy.

Andy Crabtree and Chris Sumner, have both joined the business as field service engineers based at the Haydock depot.

GGM Groundscare say they are also currently recruiting for three new apprentices to help local young people into a new career. This follows the Government’s announcement of an 'apprentice bonus scheme', when from August to January, any firm that hires a new young apprentice aged 16 to 24 will receive a £2,000 grant. Those that hire new apprentices aged 25 and over will be paid £1,500.

Chris Gibson explained, “While many businesses have struggled hugely over the lockdown period, at GGM we’ve managed to maintain a steady flow of business, thanks to the hard work of our dedicated team, particularly for our customers in local authority grounds, sports clubs and hospitals. We decided to recruit for these roles to help the local job market, as well as to facilitate business growth. It’s particularly important to us to support the next generation and we welcome the government’s new apprentice scheme.”

The company say they have spent time over the lockdown period enhancing its customer offering in preparation for life to return to some form of normality. Over the last few months, GGM have produced a number of new initiatives including a new brochure featuring its hire offering, and a new service agreement package providing customers with a tailor made service solution as well showcasing some of its golf and fine turf customers in a new case study brochure.

Chris Gibson concluded, “We feel very fortunate that our business has continued to grow over this testing period and we’re thrilled to be able to offer these new opportunities to local people, as well as helping our customers provide services as they get back to business”.