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EDITOR'S BLOG

WHO WILL FOLLOW US?
Recruitment challenges must be tackled
by TurfPro Editor, Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR

With youth unemployment climbing and fewer young people entering land-based careers, I believe the turf and horticulture sectors have reached a pivotal moment.

I recently read with interest that our youth unemployment figures are rising.

In the BBC’s report Alan Milburn is quoted as saying the number of people in their twenties who are claiming benefits for anxiety and depression amounted to a “moral crisis”.

It seems that this trend is a growing concern for government, who are now looking at trying to find ways to halt these increases in unemployment.
For me, we have seen a decline in young people wanting to come and work in our sector for a few years now.

I have written several articles in the past about this issue and the fact we as an industry must start working together and convince government to finance a new educational career path. I believe we need one that essentially offers a two year apprentice / academy course where candidates are offered placements, education and qualifications while gaining working experience that is totally paid for (wages and training cost) by the government. We should be looking at processing 5,000 apprentice academy students per year for the next five years to solve this problem.

To attract more people into gardening, sports turf, and horticulture, the industry must solve three linked problems simultaneously:

perception (“this isn’t a serious career”)
visibility (“I didn’t know these jobs existed”)
progression (“where does this lead?”)

Our sectors often compete against tech, finance, logistics, and other trades that market themselves far more aggressively. Yet horticulture and turf management offer tangible work, environmental impact, entrepreneurship, science, and increasingly advanced technology. The challenge is packaging that reality effectively.

Perception

I feel we must look to rebrand our industry. Many younger workers associate horticulture with low pay, seasonal labour, limited advancement and physically exhausting work.

Our industry needs a modern identity built around, environmental stewardship, climate resilience, urban greening, biodiversity, sports science, technology, robotics, design and wellbeing.

For example, sports turf is not “grass cutting” - it is elite surface engineering. Horticulture is not “gardening” alone - it includes plant science, controlled-environment agriculture, landscape architecture, ecological restoration, and green infrastructure.

Visibility

We need to continue and improve the awareness of what job roles and responsibilities we bring to the table when managing our landscape, amenity and sports facilities. We are good at preaching to ourselves the value of our work. However, we need to get across to the wider public via TV, news and the wider media the real value of the work of greenkeepers, turf professionals and horticulture practitioners.

I am sure if we did not manage and maintain our beautiful landscape heritages such as parks, estates, urban landscapes, schools grounds etc, we would soon be living in a toxic environment.

Progression

Young people need to see a clear career path that provides a range of entry routes, salary growth, qualifications and entrepreneurship potential. Without defined progression, industries appear temporary rather than professional.

No recruitment campaign can compensate for wages that lag behind comparable skilled trades though.

Retention is recruitment

As an industry, we should be engaging with schools earlier. Speaking to a friend of mine who is a teacher, he says many school pupils are not aware of the opportunities that prevail in our vast horticultural / sports turf / amenity industry.

I am conscious that the likes of BIGGA, GMA and other industry associations are fully aware of the problem and in their own way have been for many years trying to address these issues.

I firmly believe however, it is time that we as an industry finally come together collectively to promote and secure a way of enticing the next generation to come and work in our diverse industry.

Is it not now the time for our industry leading lights and businesses to start working together to form a brand-new career pathway, working with colleges and government to formulate a clear and securely funded pathway for the next generation to come and work in our industry?

I’ve heard there is over £3.5 billion sitting in a government levy apprenticeship pot. This money could be used to pay for both the training and wages of those on the scheme.

Younger workers increasingly want meaningful work and to see the results of their labour. Over time their working contribution would improve their own mental wellbeing as well as benfit climate adaptation, create greener cities, assist biodiversity recovery and lead to healthier communities.

People are attracted to industries with visible pride and status. For me it is time to stop the talking on get on with working together to tackle this serious problem facing our industry.

I have had a fabulous 54 year career working in this industry starting as an apprentice working for Birmingham City Council in 1972, principally working in parks, propagating plants and exhibiting at Chelsea Flower Shows. I subsequently became a greenkeeper, a groundsman at Portsmouth FC, worked for the MOD and Telford and Wrekin Council as parks manager and cemetery /events officer – before going back to university to get a Master of Sciences in sports surface technology at Cranfield University. Finally I became editor of a number of our industry trade magazines.

I personally have been promoting and seeing the many benefits for those who work in our industry. I have met many dedicated individuals who have prospered and become recognised leaders and role models.

It is now time to position our sector as a ‘future industry’, not a legacy one. Our strongest message is: “You’re not maintaining the past - you’re building the future environment that people will live, play, and recover in.”

NEWS

INAUGURAL INTERNATIONAL BEST OF THE BEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED
By Green Flag

In our first WEB ONLY story the awards recognise outstanding people and projects from parks and green spaces across 20 countries outside the UK.

DORCHESTER RFC REPORTS EARLY BENEFITS
From robotic mower usage

In our next WEB ONLY story the club says it is already seeing improvements in pitch quality after receiving two robot mowers through manufacturer's partnership with England Rugby.

ISEKI ANNOUNCE NEW APPOINTMENTS
At management level

Iseki UK and Ireland have announced a new sales and marketing manger and a new regional sales manager.

Iseki UK and Ireland have announced two new management appointments, via their LinkedIn channel.

Matt Barr and Andrew MacKenzie

Firstly the company has confirmed the promotion of Andrew MacKenzie to the position of sales & marketing Manager, effective immediately.

Andrew will now take responsibility for the company’s marketing activities, including social media, print advertising, and wider brand promotion, while continuing to support and manage their dealer network across Scotland, Iceland, and Northern England.

Meanwhile the company has also welcomed Matt Barr to their team as our new regional sales manager for the island of Ireland and the Isle of Man.

Based in Northern Ireland, Matt brings a wealth of industry experience, having started his career in golf course maintenance before moving into sales with an Iseki and Raymo dealer, and most recently working with a Toro turf equipment dealer.

With a strong background in groundscare machinery, technical support and sales, the company says Matt will be working closely with their dealer network and customers across the region, helping to drive growth and provide even greater support on the ground.

FIRST FOR T H WHITE BRANCH
Taking on ATV / UTV range

The TH White team. L-R: Matt Hooper, Alex Ross, Adrian Pipe, Adrian Lovegrove and Graham Probert

Dealership says they are looking forward to the new development as it's a perfect offering for their groundscare and agricultural customers.

Boss Off-Road Vehicles has announced the appointment of T H White Agriculture as a dealer for Aodes off-road ATVs and utility vehicles.

The TH White team. L-R: Matt Hooper, Alex Ross, Adrian Pipe, Adrian Lovegrove and Graham Probert

The vehicles will be initially sold and supported by T H White’s Knighton branch on the England / Wales border. There are plans to expand to other branches.

Alex Ross, area sales manager, said, “The appointment as Aodes dealer is a first for T H White and Knighton. We have not sold ATVs and UTVs before, and we’re really looking forward to this exciting development for the business. Aodes is the ideal product for the area and a perfect offering for our agricultural and groundscare customers.”

Boss ORV national sales manager, Neil Everett added, “We’re very excited T H White has joined us on the Aodes journey and we look forward to working together in selling and supporting the vehicles. They offer customers in Knighton’s area a high-quality and competitive alternative to other established brands. The team of Aodes dealers is going from strength to strength.”

PRO DEALERSHIP RAISES OVER £10K
For North West Air Ambulance

Members of the team present North West Air Ambulance with a cheque for £10,856

The fundraising campaign brought together colleagues across the business who took part in a range of activities.

GGM Group has successfully reached its fundraising target of £10,000 in support of the North West Air Ambulance Charity, following a series of dedicated team initiatives.

Members of the GGM Group team present North West Air Ambulance representative Chris Andrews with a cheque for £10,856

The fundraising campaign brought together colleagues across the business, who took part in a range of activities including 50-mile cycle rides, 10K runs, and collection drives at key industry exhibitions.

Chris Gibson, managing director GGM Group said, "We are incredibly proud to have reached our £10,000 target for the North West Air Ambulance Charity. This was truly a team effort, with colleagues across the business stepping up to take part in a variety of challenges and events. The support we’ve received from our customers and partners has been fantastic, and we’re grateful to everyone who contributed.

“The work carried out by the North West Air Ambulance Charity is vital, providing life-saving pre-hospital care across the region. Knowing that our efforts will help support such an essential service makes this achievement even more meaningful."

Chris Andrews, corporate partnership officer for the North West Air Ambulance Charity added, "We are extremely grateful to GGM Group for their incredible fundraising efforts. Reaching £10,000 is a fantastic achievement and will make a real difference in helping us continue to deliver critical care to patients when they need it most. It’s inspiring to see such a strong team commitment behind this campaign, and we thank everyone involved for their support."

The North West Air Ambulance Charity relies entirely on public and corporate donations to operate its fleet of helicopters and critical care cars, bringing advanced medical care directly to patients across the region.

SEARCH ON FOR BIGGEST STIHL FAN
Part of global centenary celebrations

The competition turns the spotlight on the brand’s loyal fans and invites enthusiasts to compete for the title - with big prizes to be won.

STIHL GB has launched the ‘STIHL 100 Fan Award’ competition as part of its global centenary celebrations.

The exclusive Instagram competition, which closes on 26th June, turns the spotlight on the brand’s loyal fans and invites enthusiasts to compete for the title of ‘STIHL’s biggest fan’, with big prizes to be won.

To enter, participants must share a photo or video on their Instagram page showcasing their passion for the brand. Entries must tag @stihlgb and use the hashtag #biggestSTIHLfan to be in with a chance of winning.

The company says entries can feature anything from vintage tools, creative projects and restoration works, to tattoos or stories that demonstrate a passion for the world’s best-selling petrol chainsaw brand.

Once the competition deadline has passed, a panel of judges will review entries based on creativity, skill, and passion, with one winner and five runners-up to be announced in early July.

The winner will receive a limited centennial edition MS 500i, the brand’s flagship high-performance petrol chainsaw. Runners up will each receive a merchandise bundle worth at least £100 RRP.

The winning entry will also progress to a worldwide competition, where three global winners will receive an all expenses paid trip to STIHL’s HQ in Germany, which includes attendance at the 2026 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS World Championship.

The 2026 competition is part of a range of initiatives taking place across the manufacturer's global network to mark 100 years.

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