9 minute read
BRIEFING
THE LATEST INDUSTRY HEADLINES FROM THE GMA
GMA boosts SALTEX investment
Andrea McMahon and Sarah Cunningham join the GMA leadership team as new directors as the GMA gears up for this year’s must-attend turf management event
The GMA is marking the 76th year of SALTEX with a series of investments set to make the 2022 event, which will take place at the NEC Birmingham on 2 and 3 November 2022, the best yet.
With the support of its chairman and board, the association has made two key appointments that will add great value to the team delivering the industry’s largest must-attend trade exhibition.
On 20 April, Sarah Cunningham joined the GMA’s leadership team as director of commercial and events, and Andrea McMahon became the new director of communications. Andrea McMahon Sarah brings a wealth of expertise gained from a decade of managing large-scale trade events primarily in the media industry and not-forprofi t sectors. She had previously worked in an interim capacity to support the delivery Sarah Cunningham of SALTEX 2021. Andrea off ers multisector communications experience, having held senior communications roles in central government departments, law enforcement organisations, membership associations, and businesses in the media, advertising, telecoms, automotive and management consultancy sectors.
GMA CEO Geoff Webb said: “We’re delighted to have Sarah and Andrea join the GMA team. They both have extensive experience in their fi elds, and will be a great asset to SALTEX and the wider GMA family. With most stands already taken and remainder selling fast, coupled with industry colleagues embracing a return to normality post-pandemic, the 2022 event could be one of the best yet.”
Learning LIVE 2022: Call for Papers
SALTEX organisers are looking for the best speakers in the grounds management industry to showcase their knowledge at SALTEX.
Learning LIVE, the show’s all-encompassing education programme, provides advice, insight and real solutions to the biggest issues that the grounds management industry cares about most. The organisers aim for the seminar programme at SALTEX to be engaging, informative and educational for attendees.
Since its creation in 2015, the most popular Learning LIVE sessions have been case studies and presentations from companies or individuals who are prepared to share personal experience and learning, but the submission of presentations on new and emerging trends, technologies and innovations that will benefit the sportsturf industry are also encouraged.
Each proposal will be evaluated and those that most closely match the needs of the attendees will be selected. n To submit a proposal, please visit: gmasaltex.co.uk/learning-live-
2022-call-for-papers
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
For exhibitor or sponsorship opportunities at SALTEX, please contact Sarah Cunningham at: saltexsales@thegma.org.uk For more information, visit: gmasaltex.co.uk. Follow SALTEX on Twitter @GMA_SALTEX and Facebook at facebook.com/GMASALTEX
GMA relaunches Industry Awards 2022
Below: The GMA Industry Awards celebrate the best in the turfcare sector
The GMA Industry Awards (previously the Awards (previously the IOG Awards) are back for 2022. The ceremony will take place in November at The Vox, Birmingham, during this year’s SALTEX
Widely recognised as ‘the show the industry needed’, the 75th SALTEX event last year provided the ideal opportunity for the grounds management sector to regroup, reunite and celebrate.
With turfcare quickly growing its media presence and public interest, the GMA has also looked at ways to make the annual GMA Awards more accessible to those who work at all levels of groundscare or turf management, from grassroots community facilities to professional stadia. This means that, for the fi rst time, nominee applicants have the option to submit a short video to address the set questions and entry criteria, instead of completing a written form.
Commenting on this year’s event, GMA CEO Geoff Webb said: “Last year, we recognised that entering the GMA Industry Awards was not a priority for many grounds staff and volunteers, but
Previous Award winner Danny Negus with growing post-COVID-19 optimism, we warmly welcome everyone back to celebrate their achievements in 2022. Both paid grounds staff and volunteers are the backbone of sport and physical activity, and our new award categories aim to make the applications more inclusive and easier to enter for all.”
Award nominations opened on Tuesday 3 May. Nominees will receive an award application. These will be judged by an independent panel of experts and award category shortlisters will be announced later this year.
Deadline for nominations is Friday 29 July 2022 and the deadline for applications is Monday 8 August.
AWARD CATEGORIES
many grounds staff and volunteers, but
n Young Grounds Person of the Year n Newcomer of the Year n Volunteer Sports Grounds Team/Individual of the Year n Community Sports Grounds Team/Individual of the Year n Bowls/Croquet Grounds Team/Individual of the Year n Best Managed Artificial Surface of the Year n Best Environmental and Sustainability Impact n Professional Cricket Grounds Team of the Year n Professional Tennis Courts Grounds Team of the Year n Professional Horse Racing Grounds Team of the Year n Professional Rugby Football League Grounds Team of the Year n Professional Rugby Football Union Grounds Team of the Year n Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year (A) n Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year (B) n University/College Grounds Team of the Year n Independent School Grounds Team of the Year n International Impact Award n Alex R Millar Award n Induction to Hall of Fame
n For more information and to sign
up for further updates, visit: thegma.org.uk/awards
n To purchase award sponsorship
packages, email Sarah Cunningham at: scunningham@thegma.org.uk
BOOK YOUR PLACE
Table booking for the awards opens 1 July 2022. For more information, please visit: thegma.org.uk
BRIEFING GMA UPDATE
#GroundsWeek campaign a resounding success
Awareness initiative results in an increase in media coverage of the groundscare sector
BY OLLIE SWAN, GMA SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS EXECUTIVE
The GMA launched #GroundsWeek in March 2021 as part of its Grounds for Sport initiative, when funds were reinvested to help raise the infl uence and profi le of grounds management to support the growth and diversifi cation of future workforces. This original campaign followed one of the most challenging years in the sector’s history, due to COVID-19, and provided an opportunity to raise the public’s awareness of ‘Sport’s Vital Profession’.
This year, #GroundsWeek returned for a second celebration – from 28 February to 6 March – to again raise the profi le of the key role that the groundscare sector plays in sport across the country, while encouraging more people to consider a career in grounds management.
New research released by the GMA to coincide with this year’s campaign found high levels of job satisfaction and fulfi lment among grounds staff and volunteers, with 77 per cent of outdoor workers feeling a strong sense of achievement in their work compared with 47 per cent of desk workers.
The #GroundsWeek campaign gained a 48 per cent rise in coverage compared with last year’s campaign, reaching 52.3 million people through coverage that included interviews and news segments taking place across multiple media platforms, including ITV News and BBC Radio.
Through this and other initiatives, the GMA is highlighting the industry’s invaluable role in enabling people of all ages to play on safe, good-quality pitches at sport clubs, parks and schools. With the industry’s support and our
THANKS TO #GROUNDSWEEK SPONSORS:
John Deere, Nutrigrow, Origin Amenity Solutions, Premier Pitches, Redexim, Infinicut, SIS Grass, Kubota, ISEKI, Husqvarna, idverde, Sports & Turf from British Sugar, Turf Matters, Advance Grass Solutions, Reesink Turfcare and Barenbrug UK
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Mow Scarify Collect
Mulch Roll
Young members of the Viper Champions team in Hampshire, who have recently completed their Level 1 online cricket course
sports’ national governing body partners backing our work, we’re confi dent that the groundscare sector will see more reasons to be positive about the future when #GroundsWeek returns in 2023.
n For more on the success of
this year’s #GroundsWeek, visit: thegma.org.uk/news/groundsweekgrows-its-success
n For more information, visit: thegma.org/news
GMA pushes for red diesel guidance change
The GMA has written to the Government to request a change to the recently published guidance on changes to rebated fuels entitlement, which fails to be inclusive of all sports when citing exemptions to the new red diesel legislation.
In a letter to HMRC and HM Treasury, GMA CEO Geoff Webb reminded policymakers of the commitment made in the ‘Reform of red diesel and other rebated fuels entitlement’ policy paper, published in November 2021, which made it clear that there would not be a withdrawal of an entitlement to use red diesel in areas such as heating and sports.
“We are calling for wording within the guidance to be changed to replace the multiple references to ‘golf courses and driving ranges’ with a more inclusive term that reflects HMRC’s original intention to maintain the rebate entitlement across the wider sporting community. It is not acceptable to exempt only one sport when there are many other sports facilities with turf surfaces that rely on red diesel to fuel essential machinery and specialist vehicles to maintain grounds to a safe, accessible and satisfactory standard,” said Geoff.
The GMA will continue to engage with the Government on this matter and encourages others to write to local MPs to reiterate the points made in the association’s letter.
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