SELLING OUR SECTOR Need to shout the benefits by TurfPro Editor, Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR
One of the biggest problems our industry faces is that we have failed to portray the real benefits of working in our sector on a national level.
Last week I was invited to attend a cricket groundsman forum run by Brian Sandalls at TurfCareBlog. It is a regular Wednesday night get together that allows groundsmen to talk with other members and peers.
It followed up on my recent article co written with Brian about the top five frustrations of a groundsman. We wanted to see if any of the participating groundsmen wanted to highlight or say any more about this subject.
It turned out the same old issues were in the minds of these members - resources, pay and career development. On these subjects, I duly offered my two penneth worth of knowledge, wisdom and enthusiasm along with the other participants.
As far as career development there was plenty of discussion about pay, retaining staff and, more importantly, how we encourage young people to come into our industry. This issue is going to be a national problem in the coming years across all landscape, horticulture and sports turf sectors.
I hear many accounts from managers advertising for staff and finding it nigh on impossible to find the right candidate who is interested in pursuing a career in our industry. This can often be blamed on poor levels of pay being offered and the fact it can involve weekend and evening working. Worse still, some do not have the desire to undertake manual work.
For me, one of the biggest problems is that we as an industry have failed to portray the real benefits of working in our sector on a national level. For many years it been left to individual companies, businesses and organisations to promote potential jobs and careers.
Maybe it’s time that the likes of BIGGA, GMA, Fields in Trust, Amenity Forum, BASIS, Lantra , universities & colleges, Parks Management Forum, Landscape Institute, RHS and many other national representative bodies and organisations, came together to create a national campaign that could promote the wide and diverse range of careers on offer in this exciting industry.
We should have a mechanism for our successful horticultural and sports turf professionals and business MDs to be able to go and promote the values and opportunities of working in this sector in schools.
Every school child should be made aware of the opportunities on offer within our industry.
I have been saying for many years we should be inviting schools and colleges to come to our trade shows and see for themselves the diversity, scale and size of our industry.
Maybe this new initiative would then inspire a new national apprenticeship / academy scheme to be set up with funding found from government and private businesses to ensure we have an appropriate opportunity to attract new blood into the sector.
It could be run on a two-year programme with candidates having the opportunity to have proper work based learning at say four venues, say, six months working at each venue while at the same time attending college one day a week and coming away with a recognised certificate / qualification.
This apprenticeship would be the catalyst for people to fulfil a wonderful career. I just don’t think the youngsters of today quite understand the unique and wide-ranging opportunities that are on offer.
This pandemic has shown us the importance of our parks and public open spaces, sports clubs and the countryside. We just need to see the value of investing more money into its infrastructure and maintenance.
It is time to become more pro-active and finally bring this diverse industry together to collectively achieve some of the aims outlined above. We are still essentially a very fragmented industry. We now need to come together more than ever. Let’s hope that some of the above organisations and leading businesses start talking and begin working together to safeguard the future of our landscape and sporting assets.
Which brings me on to a very worrying development I come across in the Wirral.
Safeguarding required
There is a very interesting video been posted on YouTube. See below
It highlights the plight of four council golf courses that are potentially to be closed to save a miserly £270,000. It is well worth a watch. The loss in my opinion would be devastating for all concerned. We need to start protecting these land assets. Once they have gone, they are lost forever.
This again points to the fact that we have a profit and loss mentality, which in my opinion has been the driver for many lost services within local authorities. I remember when I was a local parks manager most services were subsidised fairly heavily. But how do you put a value on people’s welfare and mental health?
It was the norm for these facilities to be provided. But since budgets have been lost dramatically, dumbed down, lost to other departments and yes, wasted on many occasions, we are now in a situation after many years where the historical maintenance budgets are now cannot fulfil the needs and requirements of a living landscaped facility.
There is a real need to safeguard the further loss of these valuable land assets. Therefore, we need to see a change in government policy and a support strategy to obtain and guarantee the future land assets such as Brackenwood GC.
Our first WEB ONLY story this week is following growing concern in the industry around mental health in the turf and amenity sectors, Bayer has teamed up with suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) to raise awareness of the support they can offer to anyone struggling.
Our next WEB ONLY story is following research commissioned by the Grounds Management Association, conducted by Myriad Research, a recommendation of a 1.2% increase in pay for all grounds people is being made.
A round up of the guidance offered by the various governing bodies in light of recent developments.
Below is a round-up of the guidance offered by the various governing bodies in light of recent developments:
With England entering a full national lockdown due to rapid increases in infection rates, golf courses have been closed since the 4 January 2021 until further notice. Further information regarding guidance on regulations and what you can / cannot do can be found on the BIGGA website.
Like other sports the GMA has worked closely with various National Governing Bodies to offer advice and guidance on what maintenance may be required during restricted periods of activity or when sport resumes. For guidance on what grounds maintenance tasks may be essential to getting surfaces fit for play when sport resumes. See here.
In England, the ECB have confirmed that unfortunately all indoor and outdoor privately owned cricket facilities will now need to close for all but elite cricket activity and disability cricket outdoors. They understand there will be a review of the restrictions sometime in mid February.
The RFU has developed a range of resources and information to help clubs affected by Coronavirus. Answers to the most frequently asked questions can be found on our Helpdesk FAQ.
As for Rugby league the following latest coronavirus news can be seen here.
Bowls England say they have been inundated with enquiries from clubs and county associations regarding the Coronavirus outbreak. They have produced a number of documents including ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ and supplementary guidance in response to the enquiries received.
As for the British crown green bowling association their guidelines cn be found here.
The LTA has confirmed that regrettably all indoor and outdoor tennis facilities must close.
An important survey is being undertaken by government to gain information on the use of pesticides, in which the Amenity Forum is encouraging turf professionals to participate.
An important survey is being undertaken by government to gain information on the use of pesticides, in which the Amenity Forum is encouraging turf professionals to participate.
The survey, delivered by Fera Science Ltd, is looking to gain information on the amount of pesticides used, the different types and categories and also a little additional information on numbers of sprayers, qualified staff etc.
The Amenity Forum say it is vitally important that the sector fully supports this work as it will form the basis for future policy, strategic decisions and it will provide valuable information for use across the sector. A similar survey was conducted in 2016.
The Forum say they have been consulted to help ensure the survey is as straightforward as possible and easy to complete. John Moverley, independent chairman of the Amenity Forum said, "We cannot over emphasise the importance of high participation so that good and sound data can result."
T H White’s Groundcare Division is changing the way it serves its customers in the Reading and Berkshire area.
T H White have announced that their Groundcare Division is changing the way it serves its customers in the Reading and Berkshire area.
From March 1st 2020, the company's Reading branch will be fully reloacted at their exsiting Stockbridge site.
T H White's Stockbridge site
In a statement the company explained that their existing branch at Arborfield had reached the stage where it would have required significant investment to maintain and develop the quality of service customers have come to expect. So, rather than commit resources to a leased site, the decision was made to concentrate investment at the freehold site in Stockbridge.
In December 2020 work was started on a new 3,500 sq ft facility at Stockbridge where the majority of T H White’s Arborfield staff will be relocated by the end of March.
An official spokesperson said, "This change is part of a strategy in which the company’s Groundcare Division is being integrated with our Agricultural Division to deliver greater efficiencies and customer benefits. T H White’s investment in property, people and processes is being made to assist ground care businesses as the sector adapts the way working practices to achieve the best outcomes in these challenging times."
Whites say key parts of the Stockbridge development are a modern, fully equipped workshop and state-of-the-art parts facility. Their Reading area representatives will continue to be based and operate locally to ensure continuity and Reading customers will continue to be able to access all services with a phone call. When machinery needs servicing, it will be collected and delivered back to customers.
By making this change T H White say they plan to enhance their service standard and secure a firm basis for future developments.
DAVID BRIGGS Campey Turf Care Systems announce sad passing
It is with deepest regret that Campey Turf Care Systems have announced the passing, just before Christmas, of David Briggs, who had been suffering with Parkinson’s’ disease.
It is with deepest regret that Campey Turf Care Systems have announced the passing, just before Christmas, of David Briggs, who had been suffering with Parkinson’s’ disease.
David joined Campey Turf Care Systems in 2000 and retired in 2017.
Richard Campey, chairman of Campey Turf Care Systems said of Davis, "He was a successful product specialist for Southern England. He made a subtle but significant impact on industry methods of creating dealership networks and direct customer contact, both in the UK and abroad. David was instrumental in establishing a highly effective dealer network for Campey machinery, in Southern Europe. He was always a popular and much respected member of the team. David was also highly regarded and well respected amongst his colleagues and customers alike.
"We offer our sincerest condolences to Diane and all the family at this incredibly sad time."
The Doe Show will take place online this year between 25th January and 4th February.
The Doe Show has been a fixture in the agricultural, construction and groundcare industry calendar since 1960.
Held during the first week of February every year, the event attracts huge crowds to the dealership's head office at Ulting, Essex.
Given the current pandemic and restrictions though, Ernest Doe have announced that it would be irresponsible to hold the 2021 event in the physical sense. However, they say they are delighted to be able to bring the 61st Doe Show to their customers, albeit in a different way than over the past 60 years.
The 2021 Doe Show therefore, will take place digitally. This year Case IH, New Holland and every other brand that the company sells will have a dedicated page, comprised of interactive videos and product walk throughs, so that customers can learn about the latest equipment.
The company says the digital event will feature some Doe Show Deals which is always a popular element of the show, with offers and finance packages available. At this time of year the company say they need to move old stock to make way for new items arriving in the Spring. This year they are partnering with auctioneers, Cheffins, to offer an online timed auction for all their used, ex-demo, ex-hire and clearance items.
Hayter have donated a brand new Harrier 56 Pro to the team of volunteers managing the grounds at Epping-based charity, Copped Hall Estate.
Hayter have donated a brand new Harrier 56 Pro to the team of volunteers managing the grounds at Epping-based charity, Copped Hall Estate.
Hayter's Matthew Coleman hands over the mower to Copped Hall's Stephen Potts
Copped Hall is a Georgian mansion surrounded by landscaped parklands. It is also home to a multitude of gardens, which are looked after by the volunteer grounds management team, headed up by Stephen Potts and Graham Stewart.
Matthew Coleman, UK sales manager for Professional Landscape Contractor & Siteworks Equipment at Hayter and Toro, oversaw the donation of the mower to the estate. He said, “We are so happy that we could help by donating a Harrier 56 Pro to Stephen and Graham who are extremely dedicated to keeping such a beautiful site in amazing condition.”
Matthew continued: “The Copped Hall Estate is a lovely place to visit and being so close to our headquarters in Spellbrook, it’s a great feeling to be helping a local organisation and heritage site keep up its appearance.”
Stephen Potts, from the grounds management team at Copped Hall said, “We are incredibly thankful to Matthew and the rest of the team at Hayter for the donation of the Harrier 56 Pro - it’s a brilliant feeling to be able to add such a great piece of machinery to our equipment.
“Matthew delivered the lawnmower and explained its operation to us and was extremely polite and helpful while doing so. It was a real pleasure working with him and we are incredibly grateful for such a generous donation from Hayter.”
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The association says that while its recommended pay award of 1.2% for all grounds care bands is lower than in previous years, it is intended to balance any estimated increase in the cost of living with affordability in what is likely to be a very challenging labour market in 2021.
I think it will certainly be interesting to know if, or how many, grounds professionals actually get this recommended pay rise. From my own experiences and understanding very few get anywhere near the salary bands the GMA have been recommending for many years.
For me it is one of the worst traits of our industry that we are one of the lowest paid professions. For far too long we have been branded with the term grass cutters / gardeners / labourers and paid a wage that reflects this description.
I know of a number of professional groundsmen who have worked in the industry for many years who are highly trained, experienced and competent and still only get a minimum wage for their services.
GMA chief executive Geoff Webb has stated in the past that, “Over half of head grounds staff earn more than £25,000 per annum and a fifth earn over £40,000.”
Clearly, the range of salaries is very wide and individuals doing similar jobs, sometimes for similar employers, can be earning significantly different salaries.
However, in reality there are only a few top end ground professionals who get paid anywhere near these salary recommendations. For the majority of grass roots paid professionals their wages are far lower than these guidelines. Perhaps coming in at between £18-£ 21,000 (£9-£11 per hour) if they are lucky.
While researching industry wages I came across this information found on this website which stated other industry wage scales which far exceed ours. Another site also gave similar figures.
Check out the stats on those links - all very depressing when we know that in general terms, we are paid substantially lower ranges than other trade professionals. The current hourly rate for a plummer nationally is anything between £40-60 per hour
As for other tradesmen the annually salaries are averaging between £25-34,000
If turf professionals are being paid the national living minimum wages these are all under ten pounds per hour. If we use £10 per hour as a guide based on 37.5 hours a week, that will bring in a salary based on 52 weeks of £19,500 - not what you would call a decent wage by today’s standards.
Even if the groundsman has relevant qualifications and certificates and other work related tickets to do his job there are no ruling bodies that state they should be paid ‘x y z’ salary. It is generally down to the employer to set a wage they seem happy to pay. Yes, there may be market forces that will dictate some levels of pay, but for many practising groundsmen their pay is deemed lower than other trade professionals.
This low pay scenario has been going on for far too long. I know both the GMA and BIGGA have been fighting for better pay for their members for years. It is sad that both these organisations do not come together on this subject and finally work with other agencies and major employers to help sort this issue out.
We definitely need to get something done. If we want to attract the next generation of groundsman and greenkeepers, we will need to be able to offer a decent living wage.
THE TURFPRO FILES
A BUZZ FROM DOING THE JOB Wide experience of the turf grass industry by Laurence Gale, TurfPro editor
Next in our regular series of the TurfPro Files, we hear from Andrew Turnbull, Turf Agronomist.
TurfPro editor, Laurence Gale writes:
One of the biggest challenges our industry faces in the coming years will be inspiring the next generation of turf professionals to join our sector. We desperately need to start finding ways to encourage more people to come and work in this diverse, international industry.
To help start this process, I have asked a number of our leading professionals to write a piece about how they came to work in this industry and the opportunities it has given them.
Andrew Turnbull -Turf Agronomist
Tell us about yourself?
I have had a wide experience of the turfgrass industry: Head gardener, golf course greenkeeper, head groundsman, course manager, construction agronomist, college tutor, all leading to being an innovator in developing biostimulants for turfgrass surfaces. Along the way I have studied for a BSc (Hons) and Master of Research degrees.
Who or what inspired you to take up your career?
I always wanted to work outdoors and drifted into landscape gardening, tree surgery and growing plants. But it was when I started at Wentworth as a greenkeeper that I realised that all my previous experiences came together in working on a golf course. I got a great buzz out of people using my work instead of just walking around and looking at it when I was gardening.
Which individuals have inspired you or helped you develop professionally?
Malcom Ulhorn - The owner of the landscape company I worked for in the 1980s encouraged me to go for a C&G in greenkeeping when I was only looking after client’s lawns.
Graham Matheson – Head greenkeeper of the Edinburgh Course at Wentworth who took me through the ropes of turning me from a gardener into a greenkeeper.
Martyn Jones – Former curriculum leader of Turfgrass Studies at Myerscough College who got me into studying turf science for the love of it, not just to get the next promotion.
What three pieces of machinery or innovations have in your opinion helped drive our industry forward or helped make your job easier?
Aeration, equipment especially the Verti-drain
Worktruck, with mounted sprayer, top dresser, spiking/slitting equipment
Koro, making it so much easier to strip surfaces, particularly in sports pitch renovations
Working on the Isle of Jura
What concerns do you have for the future of our industry?
Higher expectations from members/customers/viewing public, leading to impossible demands on the guy in charge
Education - being treated as a ‘bums-on-seats’ exercise by colleges and training providers, and by greenkeepers/grounds staff as a stepping stone to the next promotion instead of learning to improve how we carry out our job.
How do you think we can entice the next generation of industry professionals to come and work in this industry?
Be more forward in promoting the value of what we do, e.g. making sport possible whether a hack around the local course or a World Cup final. Make people want to be part of sport instead being viewed as just a grass cutter
Improve working conditions and attitudes, e.g. clean up sheds and brew rooms, i.e. be more Scandinavian in cleanliness
How have recent events impacted on your job and how would you like to see the government support our industry?
The largest impact on my business has been the reduced ability to visit golf courses and sports stadia and meet the guys, and no trade shows. The government could do more to support education and turfgrass research, not just Apprenticeships vital through they are. Managing the land and water environments are higher up the political agenda and, as grass is the most efficient carbon capturer (?), the turfgrass industry could play its part on carbon capture and keeping our environment clean.
