COVID-19 | GMA UPDATE
GMA LIVE BRINGS VIRTUAL NETWORKING TO LIFE Luke Perry, Grounds Management Association (GMA) director of events and SALTEX, discusses how the GMA Live webinars are the ideal networking medium during the Coronavirus pandemic
Colin Hoskins Editor
How is the GMA adapting to the changing circumstances created by the pandemic? Like many, we’ve moved very quickly as an organisation to adapt to a digital ‘working from home’ environment. We’re an active, outdoors industry, so I’m sure that the restrictions have been demanding for many in the sector. What is great, however, is the interest in our online learning and our newly-launched webinars. We often get feedback that our members love attending events to network and learn with like-minded friends and colleagues. So, we acted quickly with the aim to replicate a networking and learning experience with the GMA Live webinars.
The first webinar was held on 13 May. What was the response?
The next GMA Live takes place on Tuesday June 16. Visit thegma.org.uk/news to sign up.
Hugely positive, with over 400 delegates signing up. In the current circumstances, we’ve really seen the grounds community come together, share knowledge, exchange resources and grow closer than ever. We’re
really proud of that, and we’re pleased that GMA Live was exactly what the industry was looking for.
What are the next steps for GMA Live? Our first webinar coincided with our new report, ‘Back to Play: the season beyond no sport’, and this month we’re running a second GMA Live webinar also along the theme of Back to Play – this time from a business and mental health perspective. Mental Health Awareness Week was a big focus in May and we recognise that the wellbeing of employees requires close consideration in new working environments. This is all about how we adapt to that ‘new normal’. We’ve teamed up with an expert and industry-leading panel of speakers to present all points of view across the sector. Our aim with the session is to provide grounds staff, volunteers, employers and businesses with a rounded view of how they can best support others and themselves going forward. ■
thegma.org.uk | GROUNDS MANAGEMENT 9
