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EDITOR'S BLOG

A CELEBRATION OF OUR PEOPLE
At SALTEX last week
by TurfPro Editor, Laurence Gale MSC, MBPR

SALTEX 2025 once again reminded me that while technology and innovation continue to surge ahead, it’s the dedicated people across our turf industry who truly make this sector special.

Thankfully the recent spell of wet weather did not hamper the spirits of all those attending last week’s SALTEX, with a good turnout from a plethora of turf professionals and volunteers from all parts of the country.

The show, now in its tenth year at the NEC Birmingham, was held for the first time in Hall 17 - a slightly smaller space than previous years.

The two-day show seemed to be well attended, so it will be interesting to see the official figures when they are presumably released in the coming days.

The show certainly felt busy from around 11am until 2pm on both days. Also, there were several new exhibitors at this year’s show.

It was great to see Tim Lodge owner of Agrostis Turf Consultancy who had a Stand opposite our TurfPro / Service Dealer stand. I have known Tim for many years and it was nice to catch up with him. He like many turf specialists are now investing in new technologies such as drones and data collection devices to map playing surfaces and land assets so they can prepare work and maintenance programmes.

Again, there was a lot of robotic technologies on offer with many companies offering a wide range of devices to help maintain sport surfaces and amenity sites - with the likes of Husqvarna having a whole area dedicated to these developments.

EGO were also showing off their latest robotic mowers along with their now extensive range of Pro X professional battery powered tools.

There were various announcements made around the show including on Iseki’s stand where their MD, David Withers, announced that he will be retiring at the end of 2025 following a distinguished career spanning more than four decades in the turf care and grounds maintenance industry.

David Withers (right) with Alan Prickett at SALTEX 2025

You can read more about what was said here, but I’m personally sure that he will be sorely missed. Without a doubt during his long career David has left an indelible mark of successes on the amenity and sport turf Industry, both home and abroad. I’d like to wish him well for the future, but I’m sure we will still see him around occasionally keeping an eye on the industry.

For me, this show is always about the people who work tirelessly in our sector to deliver daily, the fruits of their labour. Whether this is working on the sports facilities, parks and open spaces or ensuring that we have the equipment, resources and products to do our job.

Shows such as SALTEX provide an important networking and learning experience and are vital for improving our understanding of our unique industry. How can you put a price on the wonderful environments we have created over the last 200 years? We here in the UK have some of the finest parks, public opens paces and sports facilities in the world.

It is now time to encourage the next generation to come and work in our industry – and our annual trade shows play an important role in doing that.

For me, I was also great to bump into several friends and colleagues during the show. I caught up with turf technicians Matt Axton, Robert Weaver and Chris Minton and we talked about the opportunity of raising the profile of their TETO organisation (Turf Equipment Technician Organisation) in the coming months. I plan to visit their workshops at Leicester City FC and Copt Heath GC.

I also bumped into Alex and Keith Exton from Perfect Pitches who have just completed a very busy period of autumn end of season renovations for several cricket clubs. Regarding cricket, I also met up with Vic Domain and Andy Mackay and spoke about the ever increasing workload being placed on cricket groundstaff at County and Test level - especially with the new formats of the game being implemented. Also, I heard that two of our longest serving cricket groundsmen are retiring - Steve Birks at Trent Bridge and Sean Williams at Gloucester CCC. It will be interesting to see who applies for those jobs.

I also caught up with Simon and Vinny at SGL and hope to meet up at one of the football grounds to discuss the latest innovations in grow lighting technologies. Whilst on that subject, I noticed a couple of new companies also promoting LED lighting technologies.

As always there continues to be a strong support for our industry trade shows. Like I say, it will be interesting to find out the exact attendance figures for Saltex 2025.

If you wanted to read more about the show, you can also find my colleague, editor of Service Dealer, Steve Gibbs’ thoughts on the show here.

NEWS

£208K FUNDING FOR NEW INDUSTRY CAREERS SCHEME
Boost for next generation of green space leaders

In our first WEB ONLY story the funding will help launch a new training programme that will equip future green space managers with the skills needed to protect and enhance parks, gardens, and nature reserves.

SELECTED GREENKEEPERS NAMED
For The R&A Championship Agronomy Programme

In our next WEB ONLY story 10 ambitious and talented greenkeepers have been chosen to provide support during five of the biggest championships in 2026.

DAVID WITHERS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
From Iseki UK & Ireland

Official announcement made at SALTEX last week also saw successor named.

At SALTEX last week, David Withers, managing director of Iseki UK & Ireland announced he will retire at the end of 2025 following a distinguished career spanning more than four decades in the turf care and grounds maintenance industry.

David Withers (right) with Alan Prickett at SALTEX 2025

Reflecting on his time at Iseki, David described the process of building the brand as “One of the most fun and satisfying things I have done in my career.” Under his leadership, the company has doubled its sales over the last eight years and continues to grow.

Expressing confidence in the future of ISEKI UK & Ireland, David announced his successor, saying, “I have worked with Alan Prickett for around 30 years and am very comfortable leaving the business in his hands to keep it growing and prospering for many years to come.”

He also extended his gratitude to dealers, customers, and fellow manufacturers for their support and partnership throughout his career, wishing them continued success.

David began his career demonstrating verti-drains for Charterhouse Turf (now Redexim), followed by 25 years at Jacobsen, including six years as President. His eight-year tenure at ISEKI UK & Ireland as a stand-alone entity marks the culmination of his full-time professional journey. He added, “I feel it is time to finish full time work - I may still do a bit of consulting and advise for a couple of companies, but plan to end serious work and focus on developing a golf swing and a tan!”

In addition to his roles at major manufacturers, David has been an influential figure within the industry, serving as a director of the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) for many years and as its president in 2022. During the recent AEA 150th celebrations, he spoke at an event in the Houses of Parliament. David has also recently taken up a Directorship at the Grounds Management Association and intends to continue contributing to the organisation in his retirement.

In a statement Iseki UK & Ireland, its staff, and partners said they would like to thank David for his years of dedication and leadership "and wish him all the best in his future endeavours both on and off the golf course."

PIONEER MARK #27 AWARDED
As part of Pioneer Legacy initiative

The Pioneer Mark is a distinctive legacy number that symbolises the impact each member has made on the grounds management profession.

Sam Cain has been awarded Pioneer Mark #27 as part of the Grounds Management Association’s (GMA) Pioneer Legacy initiative, a scheme recognising the contributions of both past and present members of GMA NextGen.

Sam Cain (centre), with the GMA's Jenifer Carter and Jason Booth

The Pioneer Mark is a distinctive legacy number that symbolises the impact each member has made on the grounds management profession.

Sam joined the GMA NextGen group (formerly known as the Young Board) in September 2018 and has since provided invaluable knowledge and guidance to the group. As owner of Cain Markings, Sam represents a different side of the industry and highlights the wide range of career opportunities available within grounds management.

His journey into the sector began through his father, who had worked in the industry since he was 16. Having attended trade shows from a young age, Sam was given a summer job which proved to be a turning point in his career. During that role, he noticed inconsistencies in the quality of playground markings which later inspired him to build his own business.

Sam now joins the ranks of esteemed NextGen Alumni who have received their Pioneer Marks.

Following the conclusion of SALTEX 2025, Sam has stepped down from the NextGen group.

Jennifer Carter, GMA director of communications and marketing, said, "On behalf of everyone at the GMA, I’d like to thank Sam for his outstanding contributions and guidance to the NextGen group over the past seven years.

"He has been a key figure in helping shape the direction of the group and supporting its members every step of the way. While he will be greatly missed, we’re excited to continue the legacy and are now looking to recruit the next generation of passionate individuals to carry the group forward."

Sam Cain said, "As I step down from NextGen, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you. Since joining in September 2018, it’s been an incredible journey - from navigating the challenges of COVID to being part of our exciting rebrand. I’ve especially valued the chance to help inspire young people to join our industry and to see more women stepping into grounds management.

"It’s been a privilege to visit world-class facilities and meet the talented men and women who make this industry what it is. I’m grateful for the collaboration, the learning, and the friendships formed along the way. I'm looking forward to seeing what NextGen continue working on."

MILITARY HIRING EVENT TO TAKE PLACE ONLINE
Helping service leavers

Manufacturer says their virtual session will give attendees a view of the roles available across the UK and Ireland dealer network.

John Deere have announced that they will run a free online Military Hiring Programme event on Wednesday 3 December to help service leavers understand how their skills transfer into careers working with advanced agricultural and turf machinery.

The manufacturer says their virtual session will give attendees a clear view of the roles available across the UK and Ireland dealer network, the training pathway, and the support on offer to those leaving the forces.

Allan Cochran, training centre manager at John Deere, will outline how the programme works and what candidates can expect once they start their transition into civilian employment.

“We know the skills, discipline and problem-solving experience found in the armed forces match perfectly with our technician and support roles,” said Allan. “This is a chance to hear directly from our team and speak with people who have already made the move. Service leavers bring huge value to our dealers and we will continue to invest in pathways that help them succeed.”

Former Royal Navy engineer Graham Walker will share his journey. His 24 years in service were mostly spent aboard nuclear submarines. Graham then used his background, technical versatility, and leadership experience to move into a senior role at John Deere dealer Smallridge Bros.

On board the submarine, with no access to spare parts, Graham and his team often had to manufacture components from raw materials to keep critical systems running. He became skilled in hydraulics, gas and atmosphere management, propulsion, and nuclear engineering - all under pressure and in confined conditions.

Since following the Military Hiring Programme pathway, Graham has now taken the role of service manager at Smallridge’s Callington depot in Cornwall.

“Attending an event like this is online introduction to the programme is thoroughly worthwhile,” said Graham. “You understand the scale of the opportunity and hear first-hand from people who have already made the move. The support is there from day one and the programme helps you map out your next steps.”

The online event will also feature Chris Giles from Tallis Amos Group’s Leominster depot, who previously served in the forces and has since built a successful career in the dealership network.

James Evans, division customer support manager for John Deere, will explain how the business supports ex-forces staff as they move into the workshop and wider dealership environment.

The online event starts at 7pm on 3 December. Registration is open now.

JOBS

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Reesink UK Ltd

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