BTME 2023 was certainly a show to remember.

This year’s event was felt like a great success for everybody involved. organisers, exhibitors and visitors alike, with a record turnout on the Tuesday with well over 2500 people reportedly attending the show. 

My colleague, Steve Gibbs, editor of our sister title Service Dealer, echoed the same feelings in his blog for our dealer readership. Steve also wrote, “Jim Croxton of show organisers BIGGA was clearly delighted with how the event was going when he spoke to the trade press on day two of the show. He said day one "felt outstanding" and it was back to how the show used to be. Nostalgic is how he described it.”

I would tend to agree with Jim’s comment, there was a definite buzz all around the show during all three days, with exhibitors and visitors alike praising the positiveness around this year’s event.

You can gain a sense of the buoyant mood of the show by watching our excellent video, here.

Every stand was busy during the three days and everybody I spoke to was upbeat. A feeling prevailed that industry was finally coming out of Covid, moving forward and getting back to near normality. 

For me the show is all about people and their passion for the industry. Everyone I spoke to was  pleased to be supporting the event and having the chance to meet up with friends and colleagues.

Without doubt the combination of BIGGA’s three core events (conference, education seminars and exhibition) coming together over four days, within the same venue, has cemented the reputation of the week, bringing in a strong core of Industry professionals.

What also helps is the fact that Harrogate is a most welcoming town, with plenty of restaurants, pubs and hotels, providing a wide range of post-show offerings - quite often where most business deals are conducted. 

Clive Nottingham with the newly painted Paladin mower

 
One of the first exhibitors I spoke to was Clive Nottingham who was proudly presenting the new livery colours of the Paladin following the buy-out by Dennis SISIS last year. They certainly looked stylish could attract a lot of attention in the coming year.   

As usual there were a number of new products and services being launched at the show. Campey Turfcare had three new products that caught my eye, during a press call to their stand.

Members of the press attending an event on Campey's stand 

Campey have taken over the rights to distribute and sell the popular Graden scarifyer range, along with offering a new handheld Vredo Disc pedestrian seeder and a new 7m wide tractor mounted rotary brush system, similar to the Redexim Top Brush 6000. However, this brush can be set to windrow debris into lines for easy collection. These types of powered brushes are becoming popular on golf courses and large sports fields, being used to clean up worm casts, brush off dew, lightly scarify and more importantly help present the playing surfaces. 

Vredo pedestrian Disc Seeder 

It was also the first show for Envu, who last March bought the rights to sell a range of Bayer products that were sold under the umbrella of Bayer Environmental Science’s division. 

Envu offers solutions to control pests, disease and weeds in non-agricultural areas such as vector control, professional pest management, vegetation management, forestry, and turf and ornamentals. It is headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, United States, and is active in over 100 countries. Nearly 900 employees in total will transfer from Bayer to Envu.

Tim Tim Peeling of Envu, centre, with fellow team members 

I also met up with Mark Sanderson at Syngenta and was impressed with their large Chafer grub on show, which was attracting a lot of attention,. Mark eluded to the fact that the popular insecticide Acelepryn is likely to be approved for our 2023 season and will be a key Syngenta product along with their popular NemaTrident Nematode product that can be worked in tandem to help control both Chafer and leather jacket pest problems in turf.

NemaTrident are a range of beneficial nematodes selected for their activity on leatherjackets and chafer white grubs. NemaTrident F contains Steinernema feltiae - specifically selected for control of leatherjackets under UK conditions; NemaTrident B contains Heterorhabditis bacteriophora - selected for the control of chafer white grubs. 

Other show news centred around BIGGA’s announcement of their collaboration with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) to deliver a new programme to offer schools a First Green STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education programme in the UK. You can reead more about that here today.

Jim Croxton, CEO BIGGA 3rd left, announcing the First Green initiative 

This was an exciting announcement and I hope this may be a new opportunity to attract the next generation of greenkeepers coming into the industry.

David Golding, courtesy of BIGGA 

And finally I would just like to offer a big congratulations to David Golding, an old friend and colleague, who was presented with the Outstanding Contribution Award sponsored by Baroness at BTME, for his long service to the industry.

In a career spanning more than 50 years, David drove educational opportunities for greenkeepers to new heights. Possessing a passion for education and desire to improve development opportunities for his peers in greenkeeping, David’s encyclopaedic knowledge of the industry helped lay foundations that continue to bear fruit to this day as proven with the recent establishment of the Level 5 greenkeeping apprenticeship and the continued development of the Level 2 and 3 qualifications.

The Grounds Management Association (GMA) has announced that its annual awareness campaign, #GroundsWeek, is returning from 20 - 26 March 2023.

The GMA says the campaign, now in its third year, recognises the work of turf care volunteers and professionals in the UK, with a focus on inspiring new recruits to consider a career in the industry.

According to research carried out by the GMA, the industry is facing an impending employment crisis. Currently, 40% of the workforce is over 50 years-old and, without an influx of new recruits, this could result in a significant employment gap within 5 years.

Geoff Webb, CEO of the GMA, says, “Our job is to look out for the interests of our members and the wider industry. Part of that means ensuring new talent is entering the industry. The turf care industry provides a chance for younger people to learn new skills, work in a wide range of sectors and contribute to making sport possible. It also offers incredible career opportunities and health benefits. Connecting with new recruits is what #GroundsWeek is all about.

“As part of the campaign, we’ll be offering school students the chance to experience the buzz of turf care at the highest level, as they get pitch side at a professional football club. We’ll also be sharing real life stories from young people who are reaping the rewards of their amazing careers in turf care.

“We’ll be highlighting the incredible work existing volunteers and professionals do to make sport possible and showcasing their invaluable impact on the nation, and making sure they get the recognition they deserve, from the public, sporting organisations and the industry.”

Neil Stubley, head of courts and horticulture at Wimbledon, adds, “Grounds staff up and down the country deserve the spotlight for their invaluable contribution, ensuring millions of people every week can enjoy their favourite sports. I’m looking forward to supporting #GroundsWeek, showcasing our work to a wider audience and helping people understand more about what goes into making sport possible.

“To help the campaign make as big an impact as possible, I urge grounds people across the country to keep an eye out for #GroundsWeek content and share it online. Make sure you and your colleagues are celebrated far and wide.”

Overton UK have announced Rickerby Limited as their dealer for Cumbria, the North East and Scottish Borders for the Mean Green electric commercial mowers.

L-R: Alistair McRobert, Rickerby Groundscare sales manager and Steve Barnfather, Overton (UK) ASM

Alistair McRobert, horticulture and groundscare sales manager at Rickerby Groundscare says he has followed the Mean Green range since their introduction and after initial demonstrations to the sales team felt that the time was right to move forward.

"We chose Mean Green Mowers because it fills a gap in our portfolio of grass cutting machines," Alistair said, "and as the years have progressed we noticed that they were continually improving.

"Knowing Overton have been in business for 35 years and have been promoting the Mean Green mowers for the last 7 also gave us comfort and we are looking forward to working with the company."

Stuart Rose of Overton added, "We are pleased to add such a well-respected and professional company to our growing list of dealers throughout the country.”

Following the record-setting attendance and sell-out of exhibit space last year, the organisers of Louisville, Kentucky's Equip Exposition say that in 2023 the event will expand on its success by offering new, advanced education, additional entertainment and events including a new arena concert, expansion into the West Wing of the Kentucky Exposition Center, and improved logistics and food options.

"Equip Expo has evolved into a unique, week-long experience for a range of interconnected businesses including outdoor power equipment, landscaping, hardscaping, tree care, design, lighting, irrigation and more," says Kris Kiser, President of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, which owns and manages the trade show. "And just like our industry is ever-evolving, so is the trade show that serves them."

Show attendees each year gain access to the latest equipment, technology and software, as well as education and connection with their peers. "But they should also expect new and improved experiences," says Kris. "So when attendees speak, we listen. Our philosophy is 'same show, new show, every year'."

New 2023 show experiences being planned include:

• A new arena concert at the Yum! Center featuring headline band, Third Eye Blind.
• A return of the New Product Showcase.
• A Welcome Party at the downtown Kentucky International Convention Center with a concert from Expo house band, The Crashers
• An keynote speech by Polar Explorer and master storyteller Ben Saunders who completed the longest-ever polar journey on foot.
• The debut of the Equip Exposition Equipment Museum to showcase the evolution of the industry.
• The addition of a business lounge, meeting spaces and expanded seating areas at the KEC.
• Landscape education for young people sponsored by the TurfMutt Foundation. Children ages 12 and up may attend the show.
• Improved shuttle bus, rideshare and transportation logistics.
• More coffee shops and food offerings on-site, including breakfast options.

Also returning for 2023 are education and connection events for dealers and landscapers, live in-tree climbing demonstrations, Mulligan's Fun Run & 5K, the UTV Test Track, the Drone Zone, and Mulligan's Mutt Madness, a national dog adoption event, sponsored by the TurfMutt Foundation.

"We sold every inch of both indoor and outdoor exhibit space last year, and, in fact, had a waiting list," said Kris. "I encourage anyone seeking to participate in this year's show to act quickly. In fact, book your hotel room early. If you're going to fly, book it today. I can't stress this enough."

Equip Expo takes places from October 17-20.

TurfPro owners Duncan Murray-Clarke and Emma Craigie are running the Brighton Half Marathon next month for the the Addington Fund.

Emma Craigie

Emma said, "We are running to help raise awareness and money for the Addington Fund, of which I'm a trustee, who are an incredible charity supporting farming and rural communities. Every penny will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this tremendous cause."

Duncan Murray-Clarke

Duncan added, "I am open to sponsorship and happy to sell my body if anyone wants to make a chunky donation! I’ll wear a branded baseball cap - the paparazzi will no doubt be out in force and the inevitable publicity that will follow could be substantial…"

Addington Fund supports primarily in the following ways:

• Disaster Relief if someone's farm is severely impacted by adverse weather and certain animal disease outbreaks.
• Retirement Homes for retiring farmers.
• Affordable Houses to keep agriculturalists and rural workers in their chosen location.
• Farmworker Grants for active or retired farmworkers on low incomes.
• Young Entrants Scheme to help and encourage first-generation talent into the farming industry.

To support Duncan and Emma click here.

OPTIMISM RETURNING
By Guest Editor, Roy Rigby

WATERLOGGING ISSUES

NEW YEAR, NEW FEATURES

View all of 2022's blogs here

View all of 2021's blogs here

View all of 2020's blogs here

View all of 2019's blogs here

View all of 2018's blogs here

CONTROLLING COSTS
Planning is crucial

THE SEARCH FOR SUSTAINABILITY
What exactly does the term mean?

CARING FOR THE GRASSROOTS
From volunteers to contractors

DEFRA IS LETTING DOWN THE COUNTRY
Complete failure to address the plastic grass debate

WE CAN ALL DO MORE
To aid biodiversity

MY LIFE IN GREENKEEPING
With Bruce Cruickshank

LEVELLING UP, GETTING SMARTER & GETTING AHEAD
Parks require so much more funding

SWITCHED ON FOR HARD WORK
Putting trimmers through their paces

MACHINERY HIGHLIGHTS
At this year's show

MY SALTEX
Daniel Lewis​, Manchester City Football Club

AWASH WITH LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Two months till showtime

LOOKING BACK, LOOKING FORWARD
Priorities for the amenity sector

THE DECLINE OF ‘PARKITECTURE’
A symptom of the state of parks in 2022

DEVELOPERS SHIRKING GREEN SPACE RESPONSIBILITIES
Lack of financial commitment

TIME TO COME TOGETHER
For the good of the industry

THE DEATH OF GRASS ROOTS CRICKET
Gathering apace?

ROUTES INTO THE INDUSTRY MUST BE ENSURED
Q&A with David Fisher, Lantra’s head of industry partnerships

STRONG VIEWS ON CRICKET PITCH PERFORMANCE MARKING
A bone of contention

A PREMIUM PRODUCT
Delivered at Naas Golf Club

THE GREEN REVOLUTION
And Esker Hills

MAKING A CHANGE
Laytown and Bettystown Golf Links

A DAY AT THE RACES
Naas Race Course

WORKING TOGETHER AS ONE VOICE
How the industry needs to proceed

OVER 175 YEARS OF EDUCATION
Wesley College

ELECTRIC EXCITEMENT
Dennis's Ian Howard talks electrification

THE HOME OF CORK GAA
Páirc Uí Chaoimh

LONG POLE BATTERY HEDGE TRIMMERS TESTED
STIHL HLA 66 and HLA 86

OVER 800 YEARS OF HISTORY
Johnstown Castle and Gardens

A CLUB GONE WILD
Kilkenny Golf Club

A GOLF COURSE IN THE GARDEN OF IRELAND
Woodenbridge GC

80 YEARS YOUNG
Charleville Golf Club

AN UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE
Bunclody Golf & Fishing Club

GETTING BACK TOGETHER
Albeit gradually . .

GO WEST
Inishturk GAA pitch – one of the most westerly sportspitches in Europe

WORKING ON A TIGHT BUDGET
Nenagh Golf Club

ON A MISSION
Wrekin Golf Club aiming to enrich wildlife and fauna

WILD AND WONDERFUL
Design By Nature

LEARNING HOW TO SURVIVE
Abbey Par 3

TACKLING OBESITY
Vital that schools can provide sport

A LIFETIME OF LEARNING
Vital for turf professionals

CELEBRATING 125 YEARS
Tullamore Golf Club

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGES
At Trinity College Dublin

BLENDING THE OLD WITH THE NEW
Bray Golf Club

A WELL POLISHED COURSE!
Ierne Social And Sports Club

IDENTIFYING THE TRUE VALUES
Of grounds maintenance

THE INDUSTRY WILL CHANGE & ADAPT
But it will survive

WIRRAL GOLF COURSES SAVED
Renewed hope and optimism for the future

GREEN SPACE CONTRIBUTION TO WELLBEING IS UNDERVALUED
Parks invisible on national agenda

A SHINING LIGHT IN IRELAND'S SUNNY SOUTHEAST
Wexford Golf Club

GREEN SPACES DO NOT LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES!
Keith Kent says we must invest in people

WE SHOULD TELL THE WORLD ABOUT THE UK INDUSTRY
Right time for all sides to come together

SOIL LIFE IS PRECIOUS
Good-quality soil can help save the planet

MORE THAN JUST CUTTING GRASS
Encouraging the next generation

A BUZZ FROM DOING THE JOB
Wide experience of the turf grass industry

PAYING THEIR WAY
Low wages is the bane of the industry

AMENITY MANAGEMENT IMPACTS US ALL
Professor John Moverley

CARING FOR PARKS OF ALL TYPES
Mary Worrall

TOP FIVE FRUSTRATIONS FOR CRICKET GROUNDSMEN
What causes you the most frustration in your role?

PROFESSIONALS AT THE CUTTING EDGE
Vic Demain and Phil Sharples

BOWLS CLUBS IN PERIL
A sad decline

A VERY SPECIAL INDUSTRY
Loz looks back

SNEAK PEAK AT A ROBOTIC "GAME CHANGER"
Commercial model capable of covering 50,000 m2 teased

HALESOWEN PICK A BIG ROBOT UP FRONT
Invest in mowers

COMPRESSED AERATION
The new way

PARKS MATTER MORE THAN EVER
Recent sector developments

ON TEST
STIHL blowers

THREE CORE VALUES TO SHAPE OUR INDUSTRY
Real concerns for the future

ENGLAND'S GREEN SPACE GAP
A split along racial lines

ON TEST
EGO STX3800 strimmer with RTX2300 Rotocut head

A SECTOR FACING IMPORTANT TIMES
Review of the National Action Plan

PARKS MATTER
The role of public parks in the recovery: a discussion paper

A UNIQUE SPORTING VENUE
Wormsley private estate

A BTME OUTDOORS?
A good bet for the industry

PARKS NEED APPROPRIATE POLITICAL REPRESENTATION
Q&A with Philippa Reece, Parks and Foreshore Manager at Adur and Worthing Council

CRICKET LOAM
What does it mean?

A HERCULEAN EFFORT TO GET PARKS BACK TO NORMAL
Q&A with Chris Worman, Rugby Borough Council’s parks and ground manager

ON TEST
STIHL battery products

TURFGRASS STRESS MANAGEMENT
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and antioxidants during biotic and abiotic stress in turfgrass plants

AUTUMN DISEASE MANAGEMENT
The coming months are going to prove very difficult

THE ABUSE OF PARKS . .
Is the abuse of society

WHY PARKS MATTER?
A statement from the Parks Management Forum to the Prime Minister

THE 21st CENTURY PARKS MANAGER
Innovative, creative and entrepreneurial

EAT, SLEEP, CUT, REPEAT!
Cricket under covid

TIME FOR A SINGLE SHOW?
Debate brought back into focus

A CHALLENGING TWO MONTHS
Running golf design projects from home

PRESSURE SITUATION
Cementing the reputation

A CLUB TO BE PROUD OF
10 years at the helm of Olton GC

GAME CHANGERS IN TURFCARE
The day the Lord's outfield reconstruction proved its worth

THE ESSENCE OF ESSENTIAL
Finding a sensible way forward on defining "essential maintenance"

THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS
2001

HOW TO LOOK AFTER A GOLF COURSE WITH NO GOLFERS
Fundamental to the survival of almost all courses, if not of the game itself

RAIN STOPPED PLAY WOULD BE WELCOME
. . along with ‘lunch is being taken early’

PHYSICAL CONTROL OF TURFGRASS PESTS
An urgent problem

A DIVERSE & ENTERTAINING WEEK
Successful BTME 2020

INTEGRATED PEST CONTROL
Opportunity to embrace new methods

ENVILLE ON THE UP
Major investments taking place

GREEN FLAG AWARDS 2019
A great success

U.S PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT SHOW EXCELS
Buoyant GIE+EXPO

LEGACY OF THE SOLHEIM CUP
At Gleneagles

A DAY OUT WITH THE LADIES
Behind the scenes at the Solheim Cup

COVENTRY UNIVERSITY'S EDIBLE GARDEN SUCCESS
2006 - present

HAIL THE GRASS MASTERS!
Boorish media comments about pitch quality are wide of the mark

CONTRACTOR SEES MULTI-DISCIPLINE SUCCESS
360 Ground Care serving professional facilities

BUSY TIMES
Judging the Green Flag Awards

TAKING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH
What does it all mean in managing turf surfaces?

UNDER PRESSURE
Dry weather conditions continue to keep turf managers focused on moisture management

EDDIE SEAWARD
Death of Wimbledon’s influential grounds manager

MAJOR NEW IRRIGATION PROJECT
At Top 100 classic Berkhamsted Golf Club

NEW HORIZONS FOR THE HATTERS
Investment paying off at Kenilworth Road

ELIZABETHAN RESTORATION
At Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens

WHAT IS BIOPHILIA?
The vital impact of parks and green spaces on health and well-being

WORM CONTROL
Without carbendazim

THE TRUE COST OF PETROL
Battery-powered outdoor power tools are now turning the heads of professionals

SANDS OF TIME
Sand-based pitches are now the norm in professional sports

WHY DO WE DO THE RIGHT THING?
We must maintain industry standards

CHASING GRASS PERFECTION?
11 things you need to know . . .

MAINTAINING STANDARDS
Q&A with BASIS ceo, Stephen Jacobs

STRI RESEARCH DAY 2018
Hosted at research trial grounds in Bingley

THE MECHANIC
Leicester City FC invest in new role

LORD'S 'GRASS-GUVNOR' TO RETIRE
Mick Hunt bows out after 49 years

HOLLOW CORING & DEEP SCARIFICATION
Is it really necessary?

On the 18th January I, with over 100 parks managers and officers, attended a Zoom meeting to hear delegates from the All Party Parliamentary Group for Parks and Green Spaces speak. 

A number of MPs turned up from both Labour and Conservative to hear the concerns of parks professionals including Paul Rabbitts representing the Parks Management Association and Paul Todd  of Green Flag Awards, who gave presentations stating the current state of parks and requesting that government would do something to prevent further decline of parks services.

Pauls Rabbitt’s presentation focussed on an email that he received before Christmas from a parks manager who, having worked in the industry for thirty plus years, was concerned about the current state of his industry. This plea for help was centred on his experiences and evidence of what is happening in many local authorities up and down the country. 

The letter read – 

“Parks staff are broken, disheartened and aging – people have forgotten we’ve been in serious measures for over a decade, and compounded with 2 years of COVID, public expectations of green spaces what they should be like and what service we can provide with the resources we have. We are on our knees.

Complaints are on the increase. Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)  – the kids have gone feral and we are suffering vandalism, weekly on sites all over the borough. Two play areas have had to be removed/decommissioned this summer due to ASB. Safer Neighbourhood policing reduced = reduced youth services = no engagement. Arson and vandalism increased, and it’s taking a toll on the revenue budget.

Friends and volunteers are struggling to keep going, aging, frustrated, disheartened by the ASB, and reduced support from us. The current recession and what happens over the next few years as we are asked to tighten our belts even further. 35yrs in and I’ve never seen it this bad.

We need to support the volunteers we have as best we can, we can’t afford to lose them. During covid we did have an increase in volunteer litter pickers, which was a god send with the increased footfall.

We have reduced grass cutting frequencies over the last 5yrs – which is now branded as rewilding. More areas to come under the new banner next year. The push to plant trees, is meaning we are again reducing areas of grass cutting within some of our lesser used sites planting small copse and mini orchards.

Only seasonal bedding we now have is around the Town Hall – the rest was taken out of schedules in 201. Any seasonal in our district parks is arranged by the Friends groups from funds they have raised, but it’s minimal.

There is no capital for development, this has been like this for decades (revenue is laughable). All development /new facilities are funded via external grants /106/ whatever the three of us can get our hands on - but we are on our knees answering complaints and firefighting.

No different to everywhere else I expect.

I would love to hear what little easy wins others are trying – but while housing, social services and education remain top of the list, poor old parkies will always get the short straw.”

Something needs to happen

I believe this is a very sad account of where we are now. I personally have seen this across all parts of the country. As a Green flag judge, the standards in parks and public open spaces are definitely on the decline. For me, this is a national scandal in that successive governments (Labour and Conservative) have done nothing to rectify or control this decline.

We have so much evidence to portray the value of these parks in numerous reports and documents, but no notice is being taken. This decline has been happening for years. It really began on the back of the Compulsory Competitive Tendering (CCT) Act of 1980.

This was an initiative whereby local authorities were forced to open up in-house services, such as refuse collection and road maintenance, to private competition in an effort to cut costs and improve value for money. 

Since then, we have seen a continued decline in spending in local authorities. However I do agree that there was a need for authorities to work more efficiently. We did, and probable still do, waste a lot of money ticking boxes and having lots of middle management. The worry for me is that once these experienced parks managers retire in the next ten years, who will replace them?

There are sadly very few hands-on operatives who have been on the tools and have had the opportunity to work their way up the chain of command. 
We now have a very different landscape manager to the ones I was brought up with. Also management techniques and ways of working have changed out of all recognition.

Over the years I have seen a significant decline in the horticultural skills being taught and promoted in the modern management of parks services. The standard of horticultural excellence is limited with fewer and fewer horticultural practices being undertaken. 

Maintenance budgets have been slashed over many years. I also hear of local authorities struggling to employ young people to come and work in this environment. We do have a number of apprentice schemes happening within some local authorities, but these are sporadic.

This problem of recruiting is not just happening in local authority sector. I see it happening in all aspects of the sports grounds and gardens industry.

I hear on a daily basis the concerns of businesses that struggle to attract young people to come and work in this diverse industry. Many Premiership football clubs are finding it difficult to  employ new staff. This is also being seen across many sectors of our industry. The new generation are not interested in a career in horticulture / sports ground / landscape related jobs. I feel this is mainly down the fact that pay and conditions are poor compared to other career opportunities.

As an industry both the GMA and BIGGA and many other organisations have been talking about this for many years. However, talking about it is one thing, but delivering is another. 

I personally think it is now time to act. We need to see something happen in the next two years.

I believe it is now time for all these leading organisations - such as GMA, BIGGA, PMA, BAGMA Landscape Institute, Fields in Trust, RHS, R&A, Arb Association and others - to finally come together with some of the major manufacturer CEOs to agree a way of nationally selling our industry and making everybody aware of the career opportunities that can be found within it. This can be achieved with a national campaign that can go into schools and promote the importance of this industry and the range of career opportunities it offers. 

We also need to set up a National UK Apprentice scheme funded by the Government and private monies to develop a national 2-year introductory programme, working with existing colleges, that will see at least 1000 apprentices a year trained. In five years’ time we would then have had 5,000 additional people coming into his industry. This would be a game changer.

The time for talking and promising must stop. It is time we came together as one and solved many of the current problems we are facing today.