First up, as you may have already read, those dealers who wish to get their business or members of their team in the running for a Dealer Of The Year Award, now have until 5pm on Monday October 17th to get their nominations in.

This should make sure everyone has plenty of time to gather together any supporting material, such as videos or customer testimonials, that can aid their entry. 
 
Also, to our manufacturer and supplier readers, we still want to hear from you too regarding who has been doing fantastic work for your brand this past year. So please do get in touch and let us know.
 
I'm led to believe by the organising team that this will be absolutely the one and only, final, no messing, this is it, no more after today, extension to the entry deadline - so do take advantage of the extra time! The Conference and Awards is fast approaching now and it'll be great to give the judging panel as wide a selection of nominations as possible to work their way through - in order to arrive at some truly worthy winners.

Talking to the team, we've had some great nominations in, with some amazing stories attached, so far already - but a flurry of late admissions is always welcomed. Don't forget we not only want to hear about great businesses, but outstanding individuals too. We want to tales of leaders setting examples from the front, of apprentices grabbing their opportunity with both hands, and of stars of the dealership going above and beyond - perhaps with some creative new initiatives!

So please don't miss out. Get your nominations in before Monday at 5pm. You never know, it could be you or a member of your staff holding aloft that prize at the gala ceremony this year.

Get entering!

Equip Expo

Next week will be slightly different in terms of the Weekly Updates you receive into your Inbox - as kicking off on Tuesday in Louisville, Kentucky, USA is the Equip Expo (formally GIE+EXPO).

Myself and Service Dealer owner Duncan Murray-Clarke will be visiting the show, accompanied by two winners of competitions that ran in our pages on behalf of the show organisers, for a UK-based dealer and a turf professional to attend. Joining Duncan and myself will be Pete McArthur of Strathbogie Forest & Garden (after our original winner had to pull out due to a change in circumstances) and Daniel Lewis of Manchester City Football Club.

The intention whilst we're there is to send a couple of extra Service Dealer Weekly Updates, to keep our dealer readers in the loop regarding what developments of interest to the UK are being seen at the U.S trade show. As long as the technology obliges - or more to the point, my ability to work the technology obliges - these bonus mailings should contain some short video content, to offer a flavour of what's taking place at the Kentucky Exhibition Centre.

There have been some changes to the show since I last visited in 2019. For a start it's now wholly owned by the OPEI - the American equivalent of our AEA - and it has changed its name! Beyond that there are a couple of new attractions such as a UTV test track and a drone flying area that should prove interesting. As well as all that, the static exhibition space and outdoor demonstration area sound to be bigger than ever.

The exhibition will see many manufacturers holding some major new launches of equipment - some for the first time anywhere in the world. I'm aware for example, that Kress who have recently made some quite striking presentations to UK dealers, are also planning to make a splash for the US dealers and end-users at the show. So there will most definitely be plenty to see and report on.

An aspect that I have always found fascinating when I've visited the event before, is to get a sense of what similar issues their outdoor powered machinery dealers are facing compared to ours - and where they differ. From what I can gather, American dealers have been struggling with many of the same problems as our dealer readers have these past couple of years - ie. stock, communication with manufacturers, rising costs etc - so it'll be interesting to hear how they have coped and whether they feel they are emerging from that now?

To further explore this compare and contrast, our winners Pete and Dan, have been invited to sit on a panel debate run by our friends Bob Clements and Sara Hey, entitled The Changing Landscape of Outdoor Power Equipment in the US and the UK, which intends to do exactly this. Hopefully by talking to experts from both sides of the pond, we'll gain some understanding of how both have been running their businesses to find ways of continuing to succeed.

Sharing experiences and knowledge such as this is incredibly helpful I think, as a means of gaining some fresh perspectives and new ideas. A business in the U.S will of course face issues that simply won't apply this side of the Atlantic - but equally there will be some fundamental similarities in running a machinery dealership, where ideas can be cross-pollinated.

In previewing the panel debate our guys will be joining, Sara Hey said, "What do autonomous mowers, battery power, and Ted Lasso have in common? They have all changed the way the UK and the US relate." She says she wants the discussion to cover the changing needs of both dealers and professional end-users in the US and the UK, how all can increase revenue and strategies that work to increase profit on both sides of the pond - which should prove enlightening. 

So do keep an eye on your emails next week as we should be popping up a couple more times than usual. We'll keep you updated with what's going on - and will follow up in more detail, post-show.

Also if any of our readers are planning to be in Louisville, do say hi if our paths cross. It'll be great to see some familiar faces and find out what else has been discovered around the vast showground.

Service Dealer has announced that entires to 2022's Dealer Of The Year Awards have been given a final extension until 5pm Monday 17th October.
 
A spokesperson for the organising team said, "With so many great examples out there, we wanted to ensure everyone gets their name down to enter.
 
"We are therefore extending the deadline to Monday in order for everyone to have time to pull their entries together and add supporting assets such as images and video."

Dealerships can put themselves and their staff forward for as many awards as they like - and manufacturers and suppliers are also invited to nominate those members of their network who they feel are deserving of recognition.

We advise you read the full details regarding the entry process on the Service Dealer website first before commencing any entries, just so you know exactly what the judging panel will be looking for.

This year we are welcoming back our core product dealership categories - as well as retaining some of the special awards we introduced last year.

A judging panel will review all the nominations prior to the Awards Ceremony on the 24th November. All entries for the categories below will be considered by the judging panel for the prestigious Overall Dealer of the Year award (sponsored by Kress).

Good luck and get entering!

Garden Machinery Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Husqvarna

Have you gone above and beyond this year to satisfy your domestic customers?

ENTER GARDEN MACHINERY DEALER OF THE YEAR 2022

Farm Machinery Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Ibcos

Have you kept your farming customers working throughout thick and thin?

ENTER FARM MACHINERY DEALER OF THE YEAR 2022

Forestry Machinery Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Societe Generale Equipment Finance

Have your arborist customers relied on your professionalism this year?

ENTER FORESTRY EQUIPMENT DEALER OF THE YEAR 2022

Professional Turfcare Dealer of the Year - sponsored by Toro UK

Do your commercial customers know you'll help them keep their surfaces well-maintained all year round?

ENTER PROFESSIONAL TURFCARE DEALER OF THE YEAR 2022

Star of the Dealership - sponsored by Catalyst

Is there someone in your team who always goes the extra-mile - for the business, customers or local community?

ENTER STAR OF THE DEALERSHIP 2022

Apprentice of the Year - sponsored by AGCO

Do you have a rising industry star in your dealership, who is keen to learn and contribute to the business's success?

ENTER APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR 2022

Best New Initiative - sponsored by Kress

Have you implemented something new in the business this year - be it some diversification, a fresh project, or a redesign, let us know!

ENTER BEST NEW INITIATIVE 2022 

Leadership Award - Sponsored by Kubota

Does your dealership benefit from someone who leads from the front, makes bold decisions whilst supporting their team and the wider industry?

ENTER LEADERSHIP AWARD 2022

The Awards will be presented at the Gala Dinner following the Service Dealer Conference that takes place on Thursday 24th November 2022 once again at the Double Tree by Hilton Oxford Belfry Hotel, Thame, Oxfordshire. The theme for this year's Conference is Sustaining Dealerships.

Mental health issues can creep up on you says Geoff Webb, CEO of the Grounds Management Association (GMA) who has spoken openly of the challenges that he faced during the past two years.

GMA CEO Geoff Webb

In an honest and thought-provoking conversation with Chris Biddle for the Inside Agri-Turf podcast, recorded on World Mental Health Day, Geoff talks about the background to his deteriorating state of mind and subsequent heart attack. 

He describes how the GMA had to return ‘a six-figure sum’ when the pandemic caused the cancellation of the 2020 SALTEX exhibition, the last minute decision about the 2021 event and the responsibilities of transforming the services offered by the Association in order to protect its revenues.

“I didn’t realise how the cumulative build-up of pressure, mainly as a result of the pandemic, was having on me,” he says. “Others could see it, but not me.” That resulted in some disturbing episodes, including almost going walkabout on a busy road and a brush with an Ocado lorry “with a giant grapefruit on the side which would not have looked good on a description of my demise," says Geoff!

Geoff’s message is that anyone starting to feel they are struggling to stay in control should immediately seek help and advice. “Mental issues have been stigmatised in the past, but no longer. In the GMA, we take our members wellbeing very seriously,” he says, adding, “I can now have open and constructive conversations with those who think they make have mental as well as physical health issues including many leading figures in the turfcare industry. But we are not experts, nobody should dismiss seeking help from the Samaritans or from specialists in our industry such as Perennial.”

Geoff was off-work for around four months, the medics believing that stress contributed to the early on-set of his heart attack. “Such events do allow you to re-assess your work  /life balance,” he says, “particularly in the turbulent times we are currently experiencing."

LISTEN to Geoff Webb on mental welfare.

PSD Groundscare held an event at Ansty Hall Hotel, Coventry, last week, to unveil to dealers new ranges of equipment to compliment their existing offering from Eliet and Koppl.

With presentations from each manufacturer followed by opportunities to try out the machinery first hand, it offered dealer sales teams the opportunity to see for themselves the organisations' extensive professional machinery ranges.

Showcased were:

• GRIN range of mulching mowers
• Stella long grass and steep slope mowers
• EcoTech range of pedestrian string trimmers, brushcutters, multi-accessory systems and hydrostatic mowers

Stuart Mercer, sales director for PSD said, “The aim of the event was to bring our dealer partners fully up to speed with what’s new and to ensure that they are well prepared for next season, with the opportunity to interact direct with our suppliers. 

“The event was held ahead of the public launch of the new range of equipment at Saltex."

Stuart continued, "“We were absolutely delighted with how well the dealer event went. We not only had a great turn out from dealers who were very keen to see what’s new, we had some amazing feedback and it was wonderful to catch up with everyone."

Alfonso Stella, managing director at Stella said, “Our first dealer meeting with PSD was a complete success for Stella Engineering. The location, the entire event, the quality of the experienced specialist dealers and the demonstration terrain for the Stella products all made for a successful occasion."

Franco Ghezzi, managing director at GRIN added, "It was great to see so many dealers and everyone loved having the opportunity to test our unique mowing system. The availability and professionalism of the PSD team have certainly contributed to presenting our machines in the best possible way."

Toro U.K. Limited have been holding in-person dealer meetings in their newly opened Douglas Hayter visitor centre at their Spellbrook factory in Hertfordshire.  

Held over a two week period Toro UK put on six dealer days, hosting dealers from all around the UK. 

Dealers were given a preview of the new product developments happening at both the UK factory and at the global Toro locations, in both cordless technology and automation. Plans were revealed regarding a new range of Toro mowers that have been designed and developed at the UK location, where they will also be manufactured, bringing with it substantial investment in the UK factory.

Alongside this new range of Toro mowers, expansion of the Hayter Harrier line up was also presented, starting with the new Hayter Harrier 41 Pro 60V. Continuing on with the electrification of Harrier range, which started with the consumer models, Toro UK showcased the advancement of the range with the addition of Harrier Pro models.

Dealers were also treated to a tour of the factory where they were able to see the product journey from raw material to finished mower, via the welding, painting and assembly departments. They also had the opportunity to visit the company's R&D department, where they got to understand the journey from concept to prototype and eventual finalized machine.

"It was a great pleasure to welcome dealers back to Spellbrook, where we were able to share our exciting plans for the future and for the UK factory,” said Craig Hoare, sales & marketing manager - Toro U.K. Limited. “Dealers really enjoyed understanding what goes into making the iconic Harrier as well as a varied range of Toro’s machinery."

A new groundscare trade event that promises outdoor demonstrations, indoor zones, free education, interactive workstations, machinery workshops, a wellbeing hub, a live music festival amongst other attractions has been announced for next year.

Called GroundsFest, organisers say it will be held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on 20 and 21 September 2023. 

The event is being put together by the team behind creative agency Fusion Media, who used to work on SALTEX, under their new media arm Purple Ash Media.

They say the event has been created based on research and independent surveys over the past six years. They say the results show that September is the most favoured time of year for an event such as this and that a mix of both indoor space and outdoor demonstrations is the preferred format.

They also claim that from an exhibitor point of view, GroundsFest is cost-effective in comparison to other events which they believe opens the doors for a  wider range of companies.

Promised for the show are:

• Outdoor demonstrations
• Indoor zones
• Live interactive stations 
• Machinery workshops.
• Educational seminars 
• Wellbeing hub
• Festival (including live music, street food, and fun, skill-based activities)

Editor of Service Dealer's sister title for commercial groundscare practitioners, TurfPro, Laurence Gale said, "With this new event's announcement, it will certainly be interesting to see the reactions of both BIGGA, and the GMA who currently run our existing industry shows."

BAGMA are hosting one of their Connect meetings next Thursday 20th October 2022 from 9am - 4pm, which will be hosted by Husqvarna at their premises in Newton Aycliffe - with a factory tour included as part of the meeting.

The Association says the meeting will be chaired by Andrew Walker from B&B Tractors and Pete Harding from PFW Associates will be speaking on “Getting the measure of aftersales” - focusing on parts and service KPI’s, some of the common pitfalls around them and what good looks like. 

There will also be a number of other speakers, including Peter Arrand, BAGMA President, who will be discussing training and education - with the BAGMA available to answer any questions. 

Retiring director of BAGMA Keith Christiain told Service Dealer, "This is a free to attend event that we throw open to both members and non-members."

To book a place click here.

According to figures released by the AEA, the number of agricultural tractors registered in the UK in September was again close to the seasonal average but was a little lower than in the same month last year.

At 1,070 machines, the monthly figure was 3% above the 5-year average but 8% lower than the number registered in September 2021.

Agricultural economist at the Association, Stephen Howarth, said of the figures, "This brought the total for the year to date to 9,297 machines, 6% lower than in the same period a year ago but a little ahead of the average reached by this point in the year over the previous five years.

"There was a similar decline in the third quarter of the year, when registrations were down 4% year on year, at 2,877 machines."

Organisers are offering a chance to win a robotic mower worth over £1000, by registering and attending this year’s SALTEX taking place at the Birmingham NEC on 2-3 November.

The Grounds Management Association (GMA) have announced that they have partnered with Danarm to offer one lucky person who registers and attends the show the chance to win the Wiper Blitz XH2.

Sarah Cunningham, director of commercial and events at the GMA, said, “Attending SALTEX is all about discovering the emerging and progressive technologies in the industry and this mower from Danarm fits those criteria. To be able to give one away is a real draw for those who register. It’s free to register, only take a few minutes and if you don’t win, you’re guaranteed an informative and valuable day out. It’s a win/win situation.” 

To be in with the chance of winning register for SALTEX by Friday 21st October 2022 and attend the event.

The future of unmanned mowing is now. The new Kress RTKn robot mowers extend unmanned mowing to larger areas, and efficiently operate in parallel lines and autonomously move from one area to another, as if they were driven by humans. No need for boundary wires, nor on-site aerials.

 
They offer a quick setup, zero emissions, quiet operation, efficiency and operational savings
No labour costs, negligible impact on your energy bill, minimal maintenance expense as compared to ICE mowers.
 
The advantages of RTKn
Residential lawn for which greater availability is required. Large properties. Facilities. Sports fields. Golf courses. Public parks. And numerous other areas. Unmanned mowing is the ideal solution for countless applications, providing quiet, emissions-free turf management, with an operating cost that is a fraction of manned mowing. It is convenient, quick and simple. Once the mapping is done, the mower is ready to go. And unobtrusive - no ugly aerials in the middle of the lawn or on the roof of the house.

 
The best boundary free technology to date.
Robotic mowers that make use of RTK usually require the installation of at least one station aerial for each lawn, which must be powered and placed in open sky. Our Kress RTKn delivers to-the-centimetre accuracy with no station aerial on site.
 
RTKn: position accuracy to the power of network
To ensure centimetre-level accuracy, Kress’ expanding proprietary network of reference GNSS receivers continuously delivers RTK correction data to each mower via the mobile phone network.

It works using the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) which provides geo-spatial positioning with 2 to 5 meters accuracy, and then real-time kinematic correction is applied to achieve centimetre-level accuracy. Should satellite signals be blocked by buildings and trees, inertial navigation and odometry take over to precisely route the mower until it reaches an open sky area and satellite navigation is restored.
 
Come and see us at SALTEX to find out more or contact Tony.Macer@positecgroup.com

Now in its 76th year, Europe’s largest sports amenities and landscaping trade exhibition, SALTEX, will be held at Birmingham’s NEC over two days on 2-3 November. 

With over 400 brands showcasing products in three halls, across two days, at one location, SALTEX is a must-attend event for everybody operating in, or supplying to, the groundscare sector.

At SALTEX you can: 

• Listen and learn from industry thought leaders
• See over 400 brands all in one place
• Stay up to date with the latest product innovations
• Further your career with free advice and guidance
• Connect with industry suppliers and partners
• Get expert advice on your specific turf challenges
• Network with national and international peers
• Celebrate achievements at the GMA Industry Awards

What’s On?

In addition to learning about new products, services, and suppliers to the industry from home and abroad, SALTEX also has an extensive programme of events and learning opportunities.

Learning LIVE

The Learning LIVE schedule this year has been extended to over 30 sessions, with additional papers attacking the key issues for the grounds care industry of pay, career development, recruitment and retention, how to negotiate in the workplace and how to find out about the millions of pounds of grant funding available from sports clubs. But what’s at the heart of Learning LIVE and this year’s show is sustainability and the environment. 

Those managing and maintaining sports turf and green spaces are already having to deal with the impact of climate change and industry suppliers are doing their best to innovate and help grounds people minimise the impact of droughts and floods. The session on reducing the impact of future water restrictions on golf and sports turf, for example, with Owen Turpin from the Environment Agency, Tony Hanson from Environmental Solutions International and Robin Price from Anglian Water discussing the water charter and how to deal with it will provide valuable practical advice. 

There’s something for most sports surfaces from some of the best in the business. For rugby, Catherine Hall (Premiership Rugby), Dr David James (Labosport) and Dan Prest (GMA) talk about raising Premiership Rugby pitch standards. For cricket, Gary Barwell (Edgbaston Stadium), Karl McDermott (Lord's) and Steve Birks (Nottinghamshire CCC) discuss how new cricket formats impact on the modern-day grounds manager. Tennis is covered off by Neil Stubley (Wimbledon) who presents the All England Tennis and Croquet Club’s court expansion project.

But all top-level surfaces start somewhere – at grassroots level – and Rob Sullivan presents the Football Foundation's strategic ambitions to improve grass pitch quality and Chris Smith tackles the funding process to improve pitches. Perhaps there’s a role for hybrid pitches in the community – Dr Richard Earl (TGMS) reveals data findings from the Sport England hybrid pitch pilot for community use in London’s Regents Park.

The full seminar line up is available online at saltex.org.uk, but whether it’s elite sports grounds attendees are interested in or a strategy for grassroots football, Learning LIVE has it covered and provides the opportunity to build knowledge and stay ahead of the game.

Eco Village 

The whole concept of the Eco Village is to showcase sustainable and environmentally-friendly practices in grounds care and consider what is a sustainable piece of machinery – what’s the impact on the environment and how does it help achieve neutrality? The Eco Village features a programme of daily demonstrations of cutting-edge sustainable technology, offering visitors an opportunity of seeing several products in action. Plus, industry experts will offer advice on green technology and how it could benefit current working practices.

GMA Industry Awards

The GMA Industry Awards hosted by the BBC’s Mark Clemmit, are back for the 12th year. It’s so important to celebrate the achievements of individuals and teams operating in grounds management and is key to positive workforce development. With 18 awards and an evening to celebrate everyone nominated, it’s a ringing endorsement to the good work and talented people in the industry. Tickets to the event can be purchased at saltex.org.uk

So, whether working in educational establishments, community facilities, on private estates, or in sports clubs at grassroot, amateur, or professional level, if you’re passionate about keeping green spaces and playing surfaces safe, accessible, and sustainable, and you’re keen to stay ahead of the game in the grounds care industry, then SALTEX is the show for you. Register for your free ticket here: 

“In 2021, there was a buzz and real enthusiasm for business: deals were being struck, demos were being organised, there were lots of new launches across the halls and I expect more of the same in 2022.” Geoff Webb, CEO for GMA, SALTEX organisers.

So don’t miss out, REGISTER NOW for #SALTEX2022 #AheadofTheGame

www.saltex.org.uk

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