IOG U P D AT E
By Colin Hoskins Features editor
SUPPORTING YOU THROUGH THE SEASONS It’s been a busy 12 months for the IOG, with a number of initiatives underway designed to further the industry and to support its members through the seasons
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ccording to IOG CEO Geoff Webb, while preparations for the SALTEX trade show and the accompanying Industry Awards gathered pace, the IOG has been carrying on this year with its work behind the scenes, with the aim of developing initiatives which will support IOG members, while enhancing and promoting the image and importance of the groundscare profession to a wider audience. “The Young IOG Board of Directors is making huge gains in communicating with and attracting new blood to the industry by reaching out to youngsters at a local level (find out more on page 14),” says Geoff.
“The Pitch Grading System will benchmark playing surfaces, from grassroots sites to iconic stadia” 26 THE GROUNDSMAN November 2017
IOG C O Geo e at Wembley Stadium, where he accompanied the winners of the 2016 SALTEX College Cup
“The Grounds and Natural Turf Improvement Programme (GaNTIP) is now entering another phase, having completed visits covering 2,000 pitches and producing 1,000 assessments, which are resulting in significant gains for grassroots sports sites. Indeed, as a result of GaNTIP findings, the IOG is currently restructuring all its training and education offerings, in line with the development of the new Pitch Grading System, which is destined to set new benchmarks for playing surfaces and the training and education of the people who manage them. “In addition, this year the Board structure has continued to develop with the aim of ensuring the IOG offers services to all our representative membership categories.”
weather was like. The IOG was faced with a scenario of less exhibitors, less visitors and less opportunities for everybody, so we knew we had to make a radical change. The move to the Birmingham NEC coincided with making SALTEX a two-day instead of a three-day event, and the IOG moved it to a different time of the year. In its first year, SALTEX attracted around 8,700 visitors – a rise of over 2,500 compared to the previous (last) outdoor show, and with this year’s event featuring around 300 exhibitors it is expected to attract similar visitor numbers.” SALTEX is now combined with the annual Industry Awards gala night, which continues to grow year-on-year and another bumper attendance is expected this year.
SALTEX AND AWARDS
The IOG is run on a professional basis, working to governance protocols. The Board comprises members who represent the areas where groundsmanship in the UK takes place, as it is both wide and diverse. There are now three people on the Board who represent schools, colleges and universities; two representing the volunteer/amateur
He continues: “As the doors open on this year’s SALTEX, the expectations are very high. After 33 years at Windsor Racecourse, the show had reached a point where exhibitors especially required certainty and opportunity, and they needed a venue where they could trade without fear of what the
BOARD DEVELOPMENT