We are just over a week away now from the traditional start to the turf care year - with BIGGA's BTME kicking off next Tuesday in Harrogate.

That's when the exhibition starts, the educational event which runs alongside it, Continue To Learn, actually begins this coming Sunday. Looking on the Association's website this aspect of the event appears to be more popular than ever this year.

A notice on there says all bookings have now stopped for Continue To Learn and scanning down the plethora of sessions, many have Sold Out notices attached to them.

For those who haven't booked up in advance it does say all sessions classed as 'Seminars’ will have 50 seats in the seminar room, available on a first come, first serve basis. BIGGA are recommending that interested parties arrive 15 minutes prior to the start time of the Seminar session they wish to attend.

All of which clearly illustrates the appetite out there currently amongst members of the industry to keep learning and constantly be looking for opportunities to expand their professional knowledge. It's something which as a whole the industry should be really proud of.

Similarly, on the IOG's website at the moment, they are promoting their new Training Needs Analysis service. This sounds like a great addition to their offerings, helping their members who are thinking of going for a formal qualification at a land-based college, or perhaps an online route through the IOG, with advice on the best route to take.

Meeting with each member of the grounds team, the IOG say the service can draw up a unique learning plan for that individual. This, they say, will aid both the individual and the employer to map out the future development programme for the whole team.

They give an example on their site of Sean Williams, Head Groundsman at Gloucester County Cricket Ground who has recently made effective use of this service. "This is an invaluable management tool which helps me plan for the future and show that the club are willing to invest in good training," he is quoted.

Apparently, the recent analysis of staff at GCCC has enabled the club to consider training routes they were not aware of. This service is totally impartial and considers all training providers, not just the IOG courses. Sean continues by saying, "This service gives both my team and I a learning path to follow, and it will be good for the game and the industry in the long run."

And that's the most important aspect. These courses offered by the various trade associations are clearly adding to the skill sets of individuals which in turn benefits the turfcare industry as a whole. New skills learnt when working in one discipline will, to varying degrees, be transferable as individuals move across work places and sectors.

This should lead to an industry populated with a workforce always up to date with the latest thinking and practices. However, almost more importantly than that, one which views the process of continually updating and adding to their professional education as both normal and on-going.

The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) is recommending a 2.5 per cent increase in grounds staff’s national minimum salary bands for 2018.

But the Institute also advises that a 2.5 per cent increase would, in real terms, equate to an increase of just 0.1 per cent when the projected Consumer Price Index (CPIH) is accounted for.

However, the IOG says the increase would:

• Maintain a sustainable pay structure for all grounds staff
• Account for inflationary pressures, and
• Ensure grounds staff pay is in line with overall market trends. Most pay awards in the private and leisure sectors are predicted to be two to three per cent in 2018.

Based on independent, industry-wide research, the IOG recommendations also suggest a two per cent extension to the top of each pay band, to allow for greater professional development and to reward experience.

The IOG recommended national basic salary bands for 2018 are:

• Grounds manager
  £34,909-£54,079
• Heads groundsperson
  £29,773-£40,863
• Deputy head groundsperson/sole charge
  £24,358-£31,088
• Groundsperson (skilled)
  £22,779-£29,059
• Groundsperson
  £18,250-£23,281
• Junior groundsperson
  £15,517 (Age 17)
• Junior groundsperson
  £12,886 (Age 16)

These bands reflect minimum recommended basic salary payment and are based on a 37.5-hour week. Bonuses, overtime and subsistence payments have not been included and are therefore additional.

The IOG also recommends that employers ensure they meet their obligations in terms of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and ensure fair payment for overtime worked - by agreement about the balance between overtime pay, time off in lieu or flexible working.

Regional pay allowances continue to be incorporated into the salary bands and the IOG recommends that higher cost areas of the country should make salary awards at the upper levels of the bands. Regional differences are:

• Inner London
  £3,751
• Outer London
  £2,240
• Fringe areas
  £670-£1,345

It is expected that the recommended minimum pay rate for a groundsperson in London should be £20,000 - though there is an expectation that most in this category would already be paid above that, in line with previous recommendations.

In addition, £550 per annum should be paid to those in junior groundsperson and groundsperson bands for the successful completion of IOG qualifications such as NVQ Levels 1 and 2, to encourage recruitment and ensure an ongoing focus on training and professional development. With low productivity forecast over the medium term, it is desirable to further incentivise the acquisition of skills, the IOG adds.

The IOG say these recommendations have been made against a backdrop of economic uncertainty caused by Brexit and a revised (downwards) expectation for GDP growth in 2018 (from 1.7 per cent to 1.4 per cent). Poor productivity is a key factor in economic growth and, while this is notoriously difficult to measure in the leisure industry, it is likely to be a continued depressor of growth.

For the year to October 2017, the CPIH (Consumer Price Inflation - including owner-occupier housing costs) recorded inflation at 2.8 per cent, while the Retail Price Index forecasts 3.6 per cent. In addition, interest rates rose from 0.25 per cent to 0.5 per cent in November 2017 and the National Living Wage, for people over 25 years old, also increased to £7.50 per hour in April 2017. It will rise again by 4.4 per cent, to £7.83, in April 2018.

Average earnings have been lower in the public sector than in the private sector since 2015 - provisional estimates for average earnings put public pay growth at 1.8 per cent compared to 2.3 per cent in the private sector – but in September the government announced the end of the one per cent pay freeze for average public sector pay awards. This year government will consider recommendations of the Pay Review Bodies to inform pay awards.

The research was carried out independently by Myriad Research using a number of data sources for analysis.

On Wednesday 24 January next week at BTME four of the UK’s leading names in the turf management industry will come together for an on-stage breakfast discussion.

The participants will be discussing the challenges they face in their respective sports, with tales from throughout their stellar careers.

Joining host Naga Munchetty from BBC Breakfast on stage will be:

• Darren Baldwin, head of playing surfaces and estates, Tottenham Hotspur FC
• Keith Kent, head groundsman, Rugby Football Union, Twickenham Stadium
• Stuart Kerrison, head groundsman, Essex Cricket
• Kenny Mackay, director of courses and grounds, The Wentworth Club

The BTME Breakfast Club 2018: Cutting Edge Turf Management will take place on Wednesday 24 January, 8.30-9.30am at The Royal Hall, Harrogate Convention Centre, HG1 5LA.

Register for BTME here.

Major Equipment Ltd has appointed Thurlow Nunn Standen Ltd (TNS) as the new distributor for its Major agricultural and grounds maintenance machines in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridge.

James Cox of Major Equipment with TNS staff at a product training day

TNS will be responsible for the sales, spare parts and service of the full line of Major products including grass toppers, amenity roller mowers, slurry tankers and slurry application systems. This agreement, say Major, is part of their long term plan to consolidate its UK dealer network to provide a better service to its customers.

“TNS is a highly experienced and progressive machinery dealership,” said James Cox, Area Sales Manager with Major. “This is an important step in a key geographical area for Major and we are delighted that TNS is on board with us.”

Commenting on the announcement, TNS Sales Director Chris Tew said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the Major agency for the Eastern Counties. The Major product line-up has an excellent reputation and our team is looking forward to representing Major in our region.”

Charterhouse Turf Machinery have announced the appointment of Ian Lauder as Northern Territory Manager.

Ian Lauder

This role will see Ian providing machinery, service and sales support to the dealer and customer network in Northern England, Scotland and Ireland.

Ian brings with him a wealth of knowledge on the golf and groundcare sectors, joining Charterhouse from over a decade spent with a large, established dealership in Scotland. Here he gained experience with a range of leading industry brands, including products from the Redexim Charterhouse stable, and built relationships with a range of customers including golf clubs, local authorities, bowls clubs, contractors and more.

Commenting on his appointment Ian said, “Having been in the role now for a few months I’m really enjoying getting to grips with the complete product range and helping to further develop Charterhouse’s presence and service in the Northern region. It was great to meet lots of new faces at Saltex and I now look forward to seeing more customers, both old and new, at BTME.”

After beating three types of cancer, Emma Kilby, Technical Area Sales Manager for ICL, is taking part in the London Marathon 2018 in a bid to raise funds for Children with Cancer UK.

Emma was just 16 years old when she was first diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. After 6 months of chemotherapy followed by 20 days of radiotherapy, she defeated this dreadful disease. She went on to finish her studies at university, got married and gave birth to her first daughter in 2010.

However, just before her daughter’s first birthday Emma noticed another lump in her neck. After numerous visits to the GP and many hospital appointments, she was diagnosed with differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma. Her battle with cancer had started all over again and she underwent a total thyroidectomy and neck dissection (removal of 27 lymph nodes).

Six weeks after surgery, she was told that not only did she have thyroid cancer but also an aggressive form of large B-cell lymphoma. Having to deal with one form of cancer would be enough for anyone but having to deal with it all over again while also trying to raise a young family was almost too much to bare. After a long and difficult battle, enduring months of operations, chemotherapy and radioactive iodine, she pulled through.

Less than 12 months ago she gave birth to another beautiful baby girl after being told that she may never have anymore. Slowly but surely she has pieced her life back together.

“Having cancer as an adult is hard enough to deal with; we have the ability to comprehend and rationalise what we may ultimately have to deal with,” says Emma. “The thought of any parent having to explain to their diagnosed children the nature of this horrible disease breaks my heart just to think about it. This is why I decided that I was going to run the Virgin London Marathon for the Children with Cancer UK charity, and maybe, just maybe, my contribution can lead to the prevention of the needless suffering that so many young children have to deal with on a daily basis.”

Almost 4,000 children and young people are diagnosed with cancer every year in the UK. That’s ten every day. Children with Cancer UK is the leading national children’s charity dedicated to the fight against childhood cancer. They fund life-saving research into the causes, prevention and treatment of childhood cancer and they work to protect young lives through essential welfare programmes.

Emma added: “Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope you will help me raise money for this great charity.”

To make a donation to Emma’s cause visit - www.justgiving.com/fundraising/emma-kilby

The Toro Company recently reported net earnings of $267.7 million, or $2.41 per share, on a net sales increase of 4.7 percent to $2.505 billion for its fiscal year ended October 31, 2017.

In fiscal 2016, the company delivered net earnings of $231.0 million, or $2.06 per share for the year, on net sales of $2.392 billion.

For the fourth quarter, Toro reported net earnings of $33.8 million or $0.31 per share, on a net sales increase of 4.3 percent to $488.6 million. In the comparable 2016 period, the company posted net earnings of $30.2 million on net sales of $468.4 million.

The company also announced that its board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share, a 14.3 percent increase from its previous quarterly dividend rate of $0.175 per share. For the fiscal year, the company returned nearly $236.0 million to shareholders through the payment of approximately $75.8 million in dividends and the repurchase of approximately 2.7 million shares of common stock.

“Fiscal 2017 was another record year for The Toro Company. We experienced solid sales growth fueled by new and innovative product offerings across our businesses,” said Richard M. Olson, Toro’s chairman and chief executive officer.

“Strong performance in our golf, landscape contractor and rental businesses continued with the success of new products such as the Exmark Radius zero-turn riding mowers, the Greensmaster series of greens mowers and the Dingo TX 1000 compact utility loader. We continue to gain momentum in those markets and we are encouraged by retail trends. Our BOSS snow and ice management business also had a strong year driven by the continued success of the EXT extendable plows and the V-Box spreaders, which elevate performance and enhance productivity.

“Sales in our international business were up 5.6 percent for the year driven by our Australia-based Pope residential product offerings and by the newly acquired Perrot line of professional irrigation products. We are pleased with the integration of Perrot and we are optimistic about the growth opportunity for that business as we expand distribution more broadly. Balanced performance across our professional turf product categories also bolstered international sales.

“For the fourth quarter, our residential business generated solid growth with sales up 3.2 percent driven in part by the success of our Pope line and increased shipments of zero-turn riding mowers. Turning to our snow business, field inventory levels are in good shape and we are well prepared to address customers’ needs in the winter months ahead.

“Fiscal 2017 marks the end of our three-year Destination PRIME initiative. I am proud of our team’s accomplishments. We achieved record revenue, exceeded profitability goals and made significant progress on improving working capital. With the launch of our new initiative, Vision 2020, we will once again focus on driving profitable growth with an emphasis on innovation and serving our customers, which will generate further momentum for the organization. It is the collective efforts of our employees that make these initiatives a success. I look forward to working together as we kickoff the next chapter.”

For fiscal 2018, the company expects revenue growth to exceed 4 percent, and net earnings to be about $2.57 to $2.63 per share. For the first quarter, the company expects net earnings to be about $0.42 to $0.44 per share.

Reesink Turfcare has announced two new finance deals for TYM Tractors.

TYM customers can choose between two interest-free options. Option one is buy now pay in June 2018, with full payment due at that point. The second option spreads the cost over two years with 22 equal monthly payments.

The new T393

TYM sales manager Steven Haynes says, "These finance options are designed to help customers buy the tractors they need without compromising cash flow, allowing them to replenish or add to their fleet of turfcare equipment in a way that suits their financial situation.

“The TYM range in the UK underwent some healthy expansion in 2017 and its continued popularity saw Reesink Turfcare invest heavily in the brand, bringing more choice to customers: more product launches, more attachments and more investment in the sales team. 2018 follows suit as soon as we enter the year, with more options for customers to purchase TYM.”

These finance deals apply to the entire range of TYM tractors, from the smallest to the largest horsepower and includes the latest model to join the range - the T393. 

Both deals are available from 2 January until 2 March 2018 and apply to a maximum of 60 percent of the RRP. Finance is subject to acceptance and only available in the UK.

A video of a Pennsylvania man clearing heavy snow with just a cardboard box tied to his ride-on mower has been viewed more than 9million times on Facebook.

A video posted by Kaitlynn Toporzycki, who lives in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania shows Jonathan Schill, her fiancé, plowing a driveway on December 30 with a John Deere ride-on and a cardboard box.

According to the York Daily Record Schill was 15 minutes into his snow shoveling following the first big snow of the season, when he decided he needed a snow plow. Having just moved, he only had a shovel, a much larger driveway than before, and no access to a plow.

He looked in his garage and found a 50-inch TV's cardboard box which had a shiny coating and decided to see if he could fasten it to his lawnmower.

The video of what happened next has been viewed over 9 million times on Facebook.