GROW WITH THE IOG
SKILLS AND TRAINING
Learning success It has been a great year for our students. In total 20 groundsmen of varying experience have achieved impressive results across the IOG’s suite of qualifications Shane Webb (The Curragh Racecourse) who has gained IOG Level 3 Certi�cate in Turf Surface Management
T By Dan Prest IOG head of member services
he IOG qualifications are new and updated versions of the historical National Technical Certificate, National Intermediate Diploma and National Diploma, and are supported by expert industry tutors and examiners. To encourage a flexible method of continuous learning, many qualifications also have modules, which can be taken as a professional development course without mandatory end-of-course assessments or tests. These qualifications all map to the Pitch Grading System (see page 26) to benchmark the quality of every playing surface in the UK, with each level being complemented by a training and education framework that will comprise specific and ‘accurately blended’ modules to suit the needs of each site at each level of ‘standard’, as well as being perfectly matched to the needs of the people charged with maintaining those pitches. The IOG would like to congratulate the following who have completed a qualification in the past year:
WHAT THE GROUNDSMEN SAY “Online IOG qualifications are a great way to keep learning where more traditional routes may not be suitable.” Daniel Ratling, Whitgift School “Organisations should take responsibility for training, investing in and educating their grounds staff. If staff understand why they’re doing x, y and z, they will undoubtedly be more interested in their work.” Shane Webb, The Curragh Racecourse “Being qualified and continual training are essential to progression in the industry.” Colin Ball, Ampleforth Abbey & College
KEEP IN TOUCH
www.iog.org
www.facebook.com/theIOG
50 THE GROUNDSMAN November 2017
IOG QUALIFICATIONS
NEXT MONTH
More advice on continued training and development
IOG Level 2 Award Will Hearsey IOG Level 2 Certificate in Turf Surface Maintenance Paul White IOG Level 3 Technical Diploma in Turf Surface Management Colin Ball Dan Bingle Shane Webb Stuart Lambert IOG Level 3 Certificate in Supervisory Management Stephen Ascott David Bastable Aiden Shepherd IOG Level 4 Professional Certificate in Turf Surface Management Samuel Gibbs Alex Latto Christian Brain IOG Level 6 Professional Certificate in Turf Surface Consulting Daniel Ratling
CITY AND GUILDS QUALIFICATIONS
City and Guilds Level 2 Extended Certificate / Diploma in Sports and Amenity Turf Maintenance Glen Comben Ollie Deeming James Spencer Leigh Denton Neil Smith City and Guilds Level 3 Certificate / Subsidiary Diploma (Turf Pathway) Kris Puzio James Duffield Congratulations to all involved and all the best for the future.
Institute of Groundsmanship
twitter.com/the_iog