INDUSTRY REPORT
AVERTING A CRISIS IOG research has unearthed a recruitment and skills time bomb that could reduce pitch availability for all
By Colin Hoskins Features editor
T
he footballing achievements of England’s Lionesses and the men’s ODI cricket team this summer have hopefully inspired the next generation of players and, with sports participation – by all ages and abilities – being encouraged on a national scale, the demand for safe natural turf pitches is set to increase. However, recent independent research by the IOG has identified concerning facts that will impact on the opportunities to play sport on wellmaintained natural turf pitches.
20 THE GROUNDSMAN November 2019
“The UK sports turf groundscare sector is worth more than a staggering £1bn a year to the economy”
The research highlights the fact that the number of young people embarking on a career in groundsmanship is in decline – a worrying trend when you consider that more than 40 per cent of the workforce is over 50. The report also reveals that investment in training and education is urgently needed to ensure groundscare professionals and volunteers are able to maintain safe, highquality pitches to allow for an increased demand for sports participation now and in the future. As a result of these findings, the IOG has launched the Grounds4Sport