Dan Prest has been appointed as the new Education and Training Manager for the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG).

He brings a wealth of experience to the role, most recently as the sector leader for horticulture at The Maltings College, Halifax, and previously with eight years’ tutoring experience at Askham Bryan College, York.

Qualified to HND level (horticulture and golf course management) and with a BSc (Hons) in land management and technology, Dan has also gained extensive experience in sports turf construction and installation with several contractors in the UK and abroad.

His appointment demonstrates the IOG's commitment to further support and develop its industry-specific education and training provision which continually evolves to meet the needs of the rapidly changing groundscare industry.

This includes embracing technological developments such as online learning, an area where the IOG continues to expand, and a significant element of Dan's role will be to support learners on this programme.

Commenting, IOG chief executive Geoff Webb, says: “Dan joins the IOG's Learning team at a particularly exciting time, as we continue to expand and enhance our education programmes which are proving increasingly popular, including among the National Governing Bodies of Sport.

“Importantly, too, Dan brings to the role an unrivalled level of practical experience complemented by sound theory-based knowledge.”