SURVIVING THE RECESSION: Views from golf course managers, public sector and suppliers
BEST OF BRITISH: Dennis and Sisis, two British brands now together FEATURE: Winter maintenance programme DEALER PROFILE: Longham Garden Machinery, winner of the 2012 Marketing Award COURSE REVIEW: Trump International, winner of 2012 Best New Venue Award ON TEST:Makita brush cutters CONTRIBUTORS INCLUDE Scott MacCallum Chris Biddle James De Havilland Jane McPherson and of course . . Jim Green
The November issue of Turf Pro/Service Dealer is being published w/c 12 November
BOOST FOR IOG'S 'GET INTO GROUNDS' PROJECT Grant of over £40,000 to set up task force
A group of young people will be able to find out how grounds and playing pitches are prepared with the help of a £43,700 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) – their efforts to be steered by a young task force at the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG), based in Milton Keynes.
Milton Keynes is a priority area for the Heritage Lottery Fund and the ‘Get into Grounds’ project is part of the IOG’s drive to get more young people interested in grounds care as a career. The organisation last year set up the Young IOG Board with six directors aged from 18 to 25. It is these who will take charge of the Olympic project and encourage young volunteers to carry out the research and help create a touring exhibition that will visit a range of venues and events.
The young researchers taking part will be drawn from the IOG Apprenticeship scheme as well as Duke of Edinburgh Award participants from the Milton Keynes area. They will learn a range of new skills as they go in search of information and prepare it for public exhibition. The findings will also be presented in a way that will appeal to young people.
Stuart McLeod, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund South East England, said: “Maintaining sports grounds and parks for public and competitive use is a demanding task and this project will provide a fascinating insight into how this was achieved in the past compared with today. Those taking part will benefit from acquiring new skills and the profession could be helped in acquiring some new recruits.”
Commenting on the project, IOG Chief Executive, Geoff Webb, said: “It is an IOG strategic aim to encourage as many young people as we can into the industry – an industry that provides enjoyment and reward for thousands and one that continues to evolve in terms of the ‘science’ and application of managing and maintaining playing surfaces. Participants of the ‘Get into Grounds’ project will be working with the IOG’s Young Directors, a team of grounds professionals who are shining examples of what can be achieved by dedicated young people in this sector.”
If you're aged between 18 and 25 and would like to help steer this project, please contact Karen Woollard on 07966 937 101, kwoolland@iog.org before 30 November 2012
The 2013 Event Planner in a new, larger size, will once again contain dates of all the national and international industry shows and events. Published with the December issue of Turf Pro/Service Dealer TO ADVERTISE GEORGE MILLER E-mail or 020 3603 7936
