We feature a number of industry business stories today, that with our optimistic hat on, hopefully point towards positive things to come - especially for the commercial groundscare sector.

As we have discussed plenty of times this year, it is this area of the outdoor powered equipment market that appears to have felt the affects of the pandemic most acutely. We've heard from manufacturers and dealers how golf and local authority customers in particular, have reined in their spend these past months. 

From what we've been hearing anecdotally, the commercial market can't be said to have faced the utter devastation that perhaps was feared back in March and April, but it's certainly not been much better than an OK season. Whilst these business stories that we include today might not be the first evidence of some green-shoots of recovery, I think looking for any upside certainly helps amidst all the doom and gloom.

Firstly, it's always encouraging to read stories about new personnel joining companies. Taking on new staff is a sign of a healthy business. So it's good to hear from Iseki, Suzuki and John Deere on that front.

More significant is the big news that Textron has chosen to move all their production of the Jacobsen commercial turfcare machinery products to the UK facility in Ipswich. This is a major step and one which the team at Ipswich should be rightfully proud of. The development could be a stimulus for the local jobs market and it's always heartening to see international corporations put their faith in the expertise of the UK's manufacturing base.

I looked it up and it's pretty much exactly a year ago that we were reporting in this Weekly Update about Ariens choosing to move all their zero-turn production to the UK at Great Haseley. We were excited then about the belief that was shown in the abilities of the factory teams here in the UK - and this move by Textron feels similar.

Beyond this gesture of faith in the UK as a manufacturing hub though, is the wider faith that these corporations are showing in the sectors which they serve. Simon Rainger, vice president, Turf for Textron Specialized Vehicles talks about being able to expand on the legacy which their machines have built up. The company is also speaking bullishly about the slate of new products they have planned for release in the coming months - clearly predicting, or at least hoping for, a resurgence in the pro-sector.

David Withers appears to sum up this feeling today, explaining why Iseki UK & Ireland is taking on both new people and new plant. He says, "Whilst this year has been difficult we are looking to continue our market share gains and so are happy to invest further in the company."

Investing further in the company is also what Generac and their DR Products division are doing - specifically in the field of commercial, battery-powered grass cutting equipment with the purchase of Mean Green.

We know that alternatively powered machines have been finding increasing favour amongst professional end users - in an ever expanding variety of applications. Councils, landscapers, golf, sporting facilities, etc - all of these customers are switching on to electric for all of the reasons that have been well-documented.

Overton, who we heard have been reassured of their continued distributorship of Mean Green in the UK, have been steadily building a dealer network for these commercial battery powered machines over the past few years. Indeed, dealers across the UK have been finding that whatever manufacturer brands they deal in, grounds staff and greenkeepers have a desire to try electric machinery that stands up to the rigours of professional usage. 

There is no doubt the commercial grasscare machinery sector has taken a real hit in 2020 and there is certainly a long way to go to get fully back on track. The cancellation of shows and the difficulties faced in demonstrating kit to the pro-users, has made life tough for both dealers and manufacturers. 

However, looking at these developments, there is a genuine belief that demand will return and the sector will recover.