RECRUITMENT CRISIS
Retaining talent T
here is no denying that we are living in difficult times and that it is impacting all aspects of our lives. Prices are soaring, supply chains are stretched to beyond breaking point and staffing shortages are everywhere. Anyone wishing to forget it all and fly off on holiday, well… In the amenity sports turf sector things are no better. Indeed, grass continues to grow and weeds continue to accumulate, if left unmanaged. That puts added pressure on those tasked with maintaining high quality facilities and, for many, the prospect of a life away from the long hours, stress and unattractive pay, is too great. Turf Matters has spoken to BIGGA, the GMA, some of those at the sharp end,trying to find ways to succeed in difficult circumstances, as well as one young ex-greenkeeper, who has left the industry. While the current global crisis has brought everything to a head it is fair to say recruitment has been an issue in greenkeeping and grounds management for a number of years and both BIGGA and the GMA have worked hard to identify the root causes and explore solutions. Jim Croxton, CEO of BIGGA, said that the issue had been there for a number of years but that the last couple of years had exacerbated it. “The profession has to an extent created the problem itself because golfers now expect standards to be amazing all the time and that puts pressure on the greenkeepers. The expectation is that standards will be high in February and November, when years ago golf was only played six months of the year.” Salaries have not kept pace at the bottom end of the scale and are not where they should be, although the independent recommendations
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are above the living wage. Progression isn’t good enough at the smaller to medium sized clubs. “Those who come into the profession love it for the first two years and then in years three and four begin to think that it’s not for them because there is little potential progression until Deputy or Course Manager level,” said Jim, adding that the pandemic gave people time to pause and reflect. “I’ve spoken to people who have taken time out or left the
of golf clubs who have recognised that they have good teams which they want to retain, and have given 10%-15% pay rises – focusing on the bottom end of the team. “I’ve been really pleased with the willingness of the key bodies, like the Golf Club Managers Association, to work with us, and the results of a recent survey we carried out are going to describe a major problem which, when articulated correctly, will spur these bodies into further action.
Jim Croxton
Geoff Webb
professional totally and they are doing lawncare, landscaping, driving – using the practical skills that they’ve got in other areas. If they wanted to train to be a lorry driver they could be earning £60,000 a year.” The problem is twofold. Recruiting to the industry and retaining those who are already working within it. “The number of people leaving the industry is more than it has been, so you have to recruit even more in a difficult market to offset those who are leaving.” Such is the nature the problem, and the huge consequences to the game as a whole of not to being able to maintain courses successfully, BIGGA has been in discussions with the R&A, the Home Unions and the other concerned bodies within the game. So potential solutions… “I’ve already spoken to a number
“What we want is stronger messaging to golf clubs on how they need to value their staff, and that’s not just through pay, we want our staff to be more insulated from the grief that they get from golfers. “The structure of our industry puts the Course Manager, or turf professional, too close to the consumer, without adequate buffers. You develop a thick skin, but it still hurts. For many greenkeepers their course is like another child to them, so if the course is criticised it is akin to calling their kids ugly!” said Jim. A better recognition of the difficulties involved in maintaining golf courses in the current climate – with supply chain issues; cost of fuel; the cost of fertiliser; delivery times on new machinery; irrigation part shortages, not to mention the staffing, would be welcomed by those working within the profession. “At least a recognition that,
