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EDITOR'S BLOG

SUN SHINES ON BTME
Fewer visitors but good to be back
by TurfPro Editor, Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR

With fewer people in attendance, it certainly enabled exhibitors to spend more time talking to those who had made the trip - with the subject of recruitment difficulties never far from the conversation.

Attending this year’s BTME show in Harrogate certainly had a different feel to it in several ways.

Firstly, with the show being moved to March we all knew it would likely be impacted by low attendance numbers compared to the usual January event. This was largely driven by the fact that many professional grounds staff had to remain on site to prepare their facilities for the start of the new growing season.

The recent spell of warm soil and air temperatures for March have initiated a spurt in grass growth, giving an ideal window for a number of essential spring renovation works.

Origin's stand

This was borne out by the first day’s attendance figures showing a 37% drop in attendance figures compared with 2020. Wednesday seemed a tad busier, however the real test came at night when a usually packed Wetherspoons at 10.30 was unusually half full.

Further networking at Wetherspoons

However, with most exhibitors aware of the consequences of the potential of lower attendance numbers, they still felt it important to be in Harrogate, supporting the industry. Many said it was nice to be back having face-to-face conversations with their customers and colleagues.

It was also different that come the end of the day when the show closed at 5pm it was still light. Usually in January it gets dark about 4pm and it’s cold and wet. This year we enjoyed sunshine and a scene of bright colours of the spring bedding dotted all-round, giving us a different feel to the town.

As usual, I always enjoy coming to Harrogate. It is without doubt one of the best venues for both the exhibitor and customer. The opportunity to educate, exhibit and socialise with one another is the real success of the event.

Although there were fewer people in attendance, it certainly enabled the exhibitors to spend more time talking to those who had made the effort to come to the show. As always the BIGGA Education programmes were also well attended, with over 200 hours of education delivered over the duration of the show.

Around the halls

During the two days, I managed to catch up with a variety of exhibitors and work professionals who dedicate their lives to promoting and working in our diverse sports turf / amenity industry. While on the subject of education, I was delighted to catch up with Keith Kent former HG at Twickenham, Manchester United and Leicester City FC, who has recently qualified to become a Lantra Trainer and will be working for Groundsman Training working alongside Chris Parry and Martin Sampson, two longstanding friends.

L-R: Keith Kent and David Fisher

As for interesting products, members of the trade press were introduced to several new Campey products on the Campey Turfcare stand that included a new Inmants Shockwave, Verdo D25 series seeder, Uni Scratch, BM50 verticutter and a new Air2G2 324 compressed air aerator.

A visit to the ATT Infinicut stand allowed me the opportunity to catch up with John Coleman and see what latest mowing technologies he has brought to market. Over the last few years they have been focussing on the well-designed, pedestrian battery powered cassette mowers that have become very popular, especially at Premiership level football clubs. However, the company have now produced a new dedicated greens mower to target the golf market. And to ensure he can provide a quick turnaround on products, the company have started manufacturing their own batteries - a project they had been working on during the covid pandemic. Essentially this means the company have no waiting times for parts of any kind – most, if not all, the parts are now all made at their new Sheffield factory site.

I also caught up with Simon Hutton of Tillers Turf who happened to be talking to retired cricket counties pitch advisor Chris Wood, who now keeps himself busy helping out at Tottenham FC who are now using a hybrid turf system produced by a collaboration between the club, Tillers Turf and Hewitt Sportsturf. Chris is certainly impressed with the quality of the pitch and how it performs week in and week out.

On the awards front I was very pleased to hear that David Cole from Loch Lomond GC and Richard Ponsford HG at Clevedon GC where among the list of this year’s BIGGA award 2022 winners. You can read more about the winners here.

Recruitment issues

It is always important that industry organisations recognise the hard work and dedication of their members and where possible promote the good work they are doing in the maintenance and management of their facilities. One of the most talked about subjects I came across at this year’s show was centred on the issues of recruitment. Virtually every sector of the industry was finding it hard to recruit new staff. This was principally down to poor pay and the fact that grounds professionals are expected to work additional hours to cover weekend and evening events.

The current rates of pay for a qualified groundsmen / gardener is set at anything between £18-22,000 however, in reality the average wage has been found to be £19,328 as quoted by talent.com.

It is sad to say that people who drive white vans or stack shelves can earn more than a qualified gardener / groundsman / greenkeeper. So, what chance do we have to attract the next generation of industry professionals?

We need to change the mindset of people who still only see us as grass cutters. We need a national campaign to enlighten people regarding the remarkable skill set required to be a turf professional and understand the value of the work they do in maintaining some of the most priceless environmental lands assets we have, providing so much amenity and environmental value.

It is certainly something our industry needs to address. I personally think we need collectively to come together to find a way to solve this problem. I personally would like to see a gathering of senior managers /owners of some of our leading manufactures/ turf businesses along with some key industry organisations such as BIGGA, R&A, RHS, GMA, Fields in Trust, Parks Management Association, AEA, BAGMA and some senior colleges / universities to find a way of increasing wages in our industry.

The next five to ten years is going to be very challenging. We are still just getting over the affects of Brexit, the pandemic and now we are facing the unknown consequences of the current war in Ukraine. There is no doubt our industry will be facing many challenges in the coming years -however, I believe the biggest will be retaining and recruiting the next generation to come and work in our diverse and wonderful amenity and turf industry.

NEWS

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS RECOGNISED
BIGGA award members

In our first WEB ONLY story, a turf educator known as the ‘grandfather of greenkeeper education’ was recognised on the opening evening of the BTME.

ALS CONTRACT SERVICES PURCHASED
From Agrovista

In our next WEB ONLY story, the purchaser says the acquisition will protect the long-term future of ALS.

CAN'T NETWORK ON A VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
The return of in-person events

Industry experts on the return of in-person events

TurfPro heard from a selection of visitors and exhibitors at BTME, regarding their feelings on a return to real-life exhibitions.

TurfPro heard from a selection of visitors and exhibitors at BTME last week, regarding their feelings on a return to real-life exhibitions.

CALLS TO PROTECT LIVERPOOL'S GREEN SPACES
Local residents invited to get involved

Liverpool councillor calls for local businesses and the wider community to support protection programme.

Green Space charity Fields in Trust is inviting Liverpool residents to get involved to help them protect all the parks and green spaces across the city.

L-R, Chrisie Byrne, chair Liverpool Park Friends Forum; Helen Ball, Friends of Norris Green Park; Helen Griffiths chief executive, Fields in Trust, Cllr Dan Barrington LCC cabinet member for Climate Change and Environment; Caroline Williams, Friends of Hartshill and Calderstones Park; Kenneth Aspinall Friends of Sefton Meadows.

Liverpool City Council have committed to protect 100 parks, totalling over 1,000 hectares, which can never be built on or lost to development. Once completed, Liverpool will be the first city in the UK where every resident has a legally protected green space within a ten-minute walk of home.

The Council’s commitment ensures the positive benefits of green spaces will always be available for the city’s residents. But this is a joint effort, the Liverpool Park Friends Forum were instrumental in bringing about green space protection, working with Liverpool city council and Fields in Trust. Now Fields in Trust are inviting local businesses and the wider community to support the programme.

Fields in Trust Chief Executive Helen Griffiths said, “We have seen a major shift in the way people talk about, visit and value their local parks. Our parks have provided a lifeline throughout lockdown and now, coming out of the pandemic, we can all play our part to make sure local green spaces will remain a healthy part of the local environment contributing to our wellbeing, our community connections and mitigating the impact of climate change. We are working with the city council to ensure all Liverpool parks will be protected and available for the whole community, for future generations. As a charity we need support from the communities and businesses in Liverpool to help turn this vision into a reality.”

Councillor Dan Barrington, Liverpool City Council cabinet member for climate change and environment said, “We are delighted to work with Fields in Trust to protect the city’s parks and green spaces. This is a practical example of Liverpool City Council’s strategic Triple Lock: People, Planet, Equality. I encourage local community organisations and businesses to step-up and get involved with Fields in Trust, supporting them to protect more green spaces for good."

A series of posters will be going up around Liverpool parks in the forthcoming weeks inviting park users to sign-up for regular updates on the progress of the programme and help bring about a fundamental change by future-proofing Liverpool’s much-loved parks - securing green spaces for good.

ANOTHER TWO FOR CORVUS
Further dealer appointments

Boss have made two more dealer appointments

New members of the network brings a total of seven additions in the first quarter of the year.

A further two more new dealers have joined the Corvus dealer network to bring a total of seven additions in the first quarter of the year.

The latest partners in selling and supporting the range of 4x4 utility vehicles are Scotland’s W.M. Rose & Sons and JG Paxton & Sons in Lancashire.

W.M. Rose, with roots dating back to 1923, is an established family-run business directed by brothers William and Ian Rose. The company has two depots in Peebleshire and East Lothian supplying a wide range of agricultural, construction and industrial machinery.

Phil Everett with Ian Rose of W.M Rose

Phil Everett, MD of Boss Off-Road Vehicles, the sole UK Corvus distributor said, “We’re delighted W.M. Rose can give the Corvus range such a presence in Scotland, selling to customers the Terrain UTVs are very much built for. It is great to partner with a company that invests so heavily in product training and support.”

Moving south of the border finds another family-owned agricultural machinery dealership, Paxtons, with their head office in the Durham village of Pity Me. Dating back to 1853, today they are main dealers for a wide range of brands. With depots in Northallerton, Alnwick, Bentham and Lancaster, they are serving the requirements of farmers, contractors, local authorities and equestrian customers across Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire and Lancashire.

Phil with Gary Robinson, branch manager at Paxton's Bentham branch

“Paxtons have everything we’re looking for in a Corvus dealer,” says Phil Everett. “They are all you would expect of such a progressive business providing high-quality service backed by highly skilled technicians."

HUSQVARNA PUBLISH ECO REPORT
Now available to read

Manufacturer says that electrification encapsulates their ambition to lead the industry transition into low-carbon, resource-smart solutions.

Husqvarna Group's Sustainovate Progress Report is now available to download.

The manufacturer says Sustainovate is their way of combining sustainability with its innovation capability.

Henric Andersson, CEO and President of Husqvarna Group, said, "Sustainability is at the center and fully integrated into the Husqvarna Group strategy and business. Electrification encapsulates our ambition to lead the industry transition into low-carbon, resource-smart solutions. Through innovation, collaboration and driving the transition together with our customers we can really make a difference and contribute to the goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5° C."

Growing the market for electrified products is what the company say is key for the Group’s aspiration to reduce absolute CO2 emissions. During the year the Group raised its ambitions for electrification to reach 67% of (motorised) sales within five years including double the sales of robotic mowers.

The company's Sustainovate 2025 project encompasses three main opportunities - Carbon, Circular and People. Some of the year's highlights:

Carbon: The group has achieved a -27% reduction in CO2 emissions since 2015 and stays committed to reducing another 8% over the next four years to reach the target of –35% by 2025. Two key battery solutions were launched, the CEORA professional robotic mower and K 1 PACE power cutter, marking the start of electrification in two professional segments.

Circular: The Group stays on track to achieve the target of launching 50 circular innovations before 2025. This year, the Group launched two circular innovations and nine are under consideration. EcoLine – Gardena Division’s range of garden tools made with recyclable material – received the German Sustainability Reward for sustainable products.

People: By 2025 the Group will have empowered 5 million customers and colleagues to make sustainable choices. This will be achieved through partnerships, learning from others and engaging in issues with an opportunity to affect change.

KUBOTA LAUNCH NEW SCHEME
Warranty incentive

Manufacturer says new scheme is intended boost the number of hours chosen by customers when purchasing a new tractor.

Kubota (UK) Ltd has introduced a warranty incentive scheme that they say boosts the number of hours chosen by customers when purchasing a new tractor.

Called the Work Smarter upgrade, this package is applicable to M4003, M5002 and M6001 Utility models, and allows customers to receive an automatic upgrade of warranty hours under the Kubota Care scheme.

Agricultural and ground care sales manager Tim Yates, said “We have a lot of confidence in the reliability of our M-series tractors, and this latest offer should give customers reassurance that they’re buying into the best of Japanese engineering.”

The Work Smarter upgrade is available on Kubota Care packages of 2,000 and 3,000 hours for M4003, M5002 and M6001 Utility models purchased prior to 30 June 2022.

“If a customer buys a five-year, 2,000-hour warranty package for example, we’ll upgrade this to five-years and 4,000 hours at no extra cost,” he says. “While buying 3,000 hours of cover will generate the maximum of 5,000 hours of Kubota Care for these models.”

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