First up today, some super exciting news regarding another expert speaker for our Conference in December.

The organising team are delighted to announce that GB Paralympic gold medallist Frankie Allen MBE will be talking to our valued dealer delegates. Frankie, who has a collection of medals longer than Mr Tickle's arms, will be talking about the culture at the heart of an incredibly successful team. In her case the team are top level rowers, but as ever with all our Conference speakers, parallels will be drawn to the dealership experience. I am very much looking forward to hear her presentation, which will compliment our previously announced keynote speaker, Cally Beaton.

Speaking of the dealership experience, recruitment has long been one of the biggest headaches facing our readers of every machinery discipline - domestic, commercial, agricultural and construction. Whether it’s finding experienced technicians, attracting younger people into the workplace, or simply holding on to good staff once they are trained, it’s a challenge that has repeatedly come up in conversations with dealers across the country.

Looking back on the results of our survey that we ran on the subject around this time last year, things were still proving extremely difficult in 2025.

Last year, more than eight in ten dealers who responded described recruitment as ‘extremely difficult’. While many businesses had successfully hired new staff over the previous 12 months, the vast majority were still looking to recruit further. The biggest issue cited was a lack of candidates coming through the door in the first place, followed closely by a shortage of suitable skills and experience amongst applicants.

Other frustrations also emerged. Unrealistic wage expectations were frequently mentioned, alongside concerns about younger people simply not being aware of the opportunities that exist within the agricultural, groundscare and outdoor power equipment sectors.

At the same time, however, there has undeniably been a growing push across the industry to improve that situation. I don't think it's in any way fair to claim that recruitment is a subject that is not at least being discussed.

Campaigns such as WeAreLandbasedEngineering, alongside apprenticeship initiatives, dealer-led outreach and manufacturer support programmes, are all aiming to shine more of a spotlight on careers within the sector. More businesses are engaging with schools and colleges, social media is increasingly being used to promote vacancies and career paths, and there appears to be a wider recognition that the industry needs to do a better job of selling itself to the next generation.

The question is: has any of that started to make a genuine difference at a dealership level?

That’s what we want to find out in our recruitment survey today.

Has recruitment become any easier over the past 12 months? Are more suitable candidates applying for vacancies? Have any industry initiatives improved awareness of your business amongst younger people? Or are dealers still facing the same uphill battle they were a year ago?

As we always do with our surveys, we have space for your extended comments. You can tell us which roles are proving hardest to fill, whether dealerships are having more success retaining staff, what recruitment methods are currently working best, and where you believe responsibility lies for promoting careers within the sector.

As always, the aim is to gauge our readers for a snapshot of the challenges facing dealerships today. Understanding whether the situation is improving, stagnating or worsening feels more important than ever.

So, if you can spare a few minutes, we’d greatly appreciate your input. We will publishing the findings in the next issue of Service Dealer magazine, and like I say, we will feature as many of your comments on the subject as we have space for.

Thanks in advance for your help.

TAKE THE SURVEY

The first Insight Session announced for this year's Service Dealer Conference will see GB Paralympic Gold medallist, 4 x World Champion, 3 x European and 3 x Word Cup winner, Frankie Allen MBE, address delegates.

Service Dealer owner, Duncan Murray-Clarke, said, "We are so honoured that Frankie will be joining us. Frankie will be talking about her journey and, tying in with our Conference theme this year, how important culture is with a Paralympic crew."

Frankie, who is currently ranked number three Paralympic rower in the world, is an ambassador for Behind Every Kick, a charity dedicated to helping underprivileged children through sport. She has recently been appointed onto the Women’s Sport Trust where she will be raising awareness of women’s sport and disability sport. She is also involved with the Reading Water Sports Centre where she coaches local disadvantaged young girls to experience rowing and the benefits of sports.

From learning to row on the River Thames at the age of 12, to becoming a Paralympic champion and multiple world record holder, Frankie Allen has enjoyed a remarkable rise in the sport. A double World Champion in her debut season with the GB Para Rowing Team in 2022, Frankie went on to defend her titles, break world records and secure Paralympic gold at Paris 2024. Alongside her sporting success, Frankie has recently graduated as a physiotherapist, with ambitions to support children with disabilities in achieving their potential through sport. Passionate about inspiring the next generation, Frankie was awarded an MBE in the 2026 King’s New Year Honours List for services to disability sport and improving access to sport for young people.

The 2026 Service Dealer Conference & Awards will take place on Thursday 3rd December at the Stratford-Upon-Avon Crowne Plaze - with this year's theme announced as Culture - Nature and nurture in business. You can head to our website now to register your interest for delegate tickets or sponsorship opportunities.

Overton (UK) have announced that they have taken over the DR Power spare parts distribution from AL-KO Gardentech UK.

To ensure continuity of spare parts supply Overton say they will be the new primary contact for all DR Power spare parts.

Director Guy Overton said, "Overton would like to thank Stewart Anderson and his team for their help and support during the transition. Please contact us on 01522 690011 or email: sales@overtonukltd.com for all spare part enquiries."

It has been announced that a decade-long working relationship between Replay Maintenance and Redexim UK has evolved into a new partnership.

Nick Harris, managing director of Replay Maintenance with Paul Langford, director of commercial operations for Redexim UK

The collaboration sees Replay Maintenance become what they describe as "the premier UK distributor for Redexim’s synthetic turf machinery".

"We’ve been working closely with Redexim on an informal basis for over ten years,” explains Nick Harris, managing director at Replay Maintenance. “We’ve built strong relationships with the team, and as our own business has grown and developed, it just made sense to formalise that partnership - particularly around synthetic turf machinery, where we’re well placed to lead distribution and provide specialist guidance.”

Replay Maintenance is a specialist in synthetic sports surface care, servicing over 1,000 synthetic facilities annually and offering nationwide expertise in maintaining 3G, 4G, and other artificial pitches. 

.

The first major development under the new partnership is the launch of the Redexim RTC-E - a fully electric ride-on maintenance unit designed specifically for in-house use on synthetic pitches.

Paul Langford, director of commercial operations for Redexim UK, added, “Replay Maintenance bring unmatched knowledge of synthetic sports surfaces, and we’re excited to work with them as our premier UK distributor for this specialist machinery range. Their technical expertise and direct access to a wide customer base make them the perfect partner as we continue to innovate and grow our offering in the artificial turf market.”

The partnership is also expected to evolve further, with joint R&D opportunities being discussed. 

Robotic lawnmower manufacturer Segway Navimow has announced production of its one millionth unit. 

L-R: Calvin Chen (President and CTO, Segway Navimow), George Ren (CEO, Segway Navimow), and Frank Holzmann (global vice president, TÜV Rheinland Business Field Electrical) with the 1,000,000th Navimow robotic lawnmower

The organisation held a ceremony at its research and development and manufacturing base in China to celebrate the milestone. The announcement came as Navimow launched its new production line in Malaysia.

Commenting on the achievement, Segway Navimow CEO George Ren said, "This milestone is just the beginning. We hope to become a model for 'new quality productivity' going global, making ‘made in China' synonymous with efficiency, reliability, and sustainability in the home."

To date, Navimow's sales network covers more than 40 countries and regions, with over 5,000 offline retail stores worldwide. The company say their two major manufacturing bases in Changzhou and Nantong are equipped with intelligent, large-scale engineering and manufacturing capabilities. The newly launched Malaysia production line ensures stable delivery to European and American markets while preparing production capacity for further global expansion.

From the initial delivery of thousands of units in 2022, to steadily increasing sales year by year, and now to the cumulative mass production of 1 million units, Navimow say they have maintained continuous growth momentum.

Visitor registration for GroundsFest 2026 is now officially open, as the trade show announces new transport options for visitors.

To accommodate the increasing number of visitors attending the event each year, organisers have confirmed free coach transfers will be available between Leamington Spa train station and Stoneleigh Park across both days of the show. Coaches will run regularly throughout the event.

Event director, Christopher Bassett, said, “GroundsFest has always been about creating an event that the industry genuinely wants to attend, and a huge part of that is giving visitors the chance to get hands-on with equipment and experience products properly. That’s exactly what GroundsFest delivers. The show offers a completely different experience to a traditional exhibition.

“Every year we continue to see more and more visitors attending the event, which is why we’re pleased to be offering free coach transfers from Leamington Spa station to make travelling to the show even easier."

Taking place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on 16 and 17 September 2026, GroundsFest promises that it will feature its biggest exhibitor line-up to date, with expanded stands and a wide range of new machinery, live demonstrations and hands-on experiences across the grounds management, landscaping and amenity sectors. New for this year will be a dedicated Landscape Zone, delivered in partnership with British Association of Landscape Industries, while popular attractions including the lawn mower racing, sponsored by Kramp UK, and Machinery Nation Live will also return. The event’s live music festival will once again provide after-hours entertainment, networking opportunities and street food for exhibitors and visitors.

Cobra is proud to expand its 2026 tractor range, bringing together powerful performance, innovative features, and exceptional versatility to suit gardens and grounds of all sizes. Whether you’re maintaining a compact lawn or tackling expansive terrain, the Cobra line-up offers a solution designed for efficiency, comfort, and precision.

At the heart of the range is a strong focus on choice. Cobra’s lawn tractors and riders are available in multiple configurations, including compact lawn riders for tight access areas, rear-collection tractors for a clean, professional finish, and side-discharge models built for fast, efficient mowing on larger lawns. Each category is engineered to deliver dependable performance with intuitive controls and excellent manoeuvrability.

New for 2026, Cobra is expanding the range with the introduction of the LT74HRL 29" lawn rider, alongside an all-new Zero Turn (ZT) line-up, including both stand-on and zero-turn ride-on models. The LT74HRL offers an ideal balance of compact design and cutting capability, making it perfect for homeowners who need agility in tighter spaces without compromising on performance. Meanwhile, the new Zero Turn range is built for maximum productivity and precision, making it an excellent choice for larger properties, commercial environments, and users who demand speed and manoeuvrability.

Cobra’s 2026 range is built around powerful and reliable engines, including high-performance OHV units and advanced V-Twin options, delivering smooth, consistent power with excellent fuel efficiency and durability. Cutting performance is equally impressive, with a choice of deck sizes to suit everything from narrow spaces to large open lawns, along with adjustable heights and twin-blade systems for a clean, even finish.

Versatility is a core strength, with many models offering rear collection, side discharge, and mulching functions, plus added features like tow hitch points and mulch kits for increased practicality. Comfort and ease of use are also prioritised, with hydrostatic transmissions for effortless control, ergonomic seating, and intuitive layouts. Selected models include LED headlights and modern dashboards for enhanced visibility and operator convenience.
For larger or more demanding areas, Cobra’s V-Twin tractors provide higher torque, quieter operation, and greater efficiency, while compact riders remain ideal for navigating tighter spaces without sacrificing 

Peter Chaloner, Managing Director of Cobra Tractors, commented:

"We are incredibly excited to launch this expanded range for the 2026 season. Our team has worked hard to develop machines that not only deliver outstanding performance and cutting-edge features but also enhance the overall mowing experience. With the addition of new riders and our Zero Turn range, we are offering more choice than ever before. Whether you have a compact garden or a larger area to maintain, there is a Cobra machine perfectly suited to your needs. We’re confident this new line-up will make lawn care more efficient, enjoyable, and rewarding for our customers."

Overall, the 2026 Cobra tractor range combines new innovation with proven performance. With the addition of new rider and Zero Turn models, alongside an already comprehensive line-up, Cobra continues to offer high-quality machines designed to make lawn care more efficient, versatile, and enjoyable.

For more information on Cobra visit: www.cobragarden.co.uk or to become a Cobra dealer, please contact Andy Marvin on: 07771 581 296 or call our sales team: 0115 986 6646 today.

The latest independent research showed that on average, each Garden Trader dealer will be sent 114 new customers (or people with a buying intention walking through your door) per year.  This works out at 83p for each new customer. A subscription rate designed to be all inclusive delivering unrivalled online results.  

This site was purpose-built just for skilled servicing ground care dealers by the team that bring you Service Dealer Magazine. It is easy and quick to register and costs just £96 + VAT per year for a full listing.

Since the site launched over 7 years ago, it has raised the profile of listed dealers to well over half a million potential customers and as the site is designed to promote the UK dealer network, all revenues have continued to be reinvested into promoting the site online and so supporting the dealer network.

Join the country’s only independent specialist website, created by the team that bring you Service Dealer. Join our subscribed Garden Trader dealers now by clicking on “Register Dealership” and let's fight back against the zero value retailers.

Map of dealerships registered with Garden Trader

FIND OUT MORE