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The British Association of Landscape Industries has unveiled a new look ahead of its 50th year in business in 2022, marking the start of a new chapter in the Trade Association’s prestigious history.
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Spearheading the brand is the Association’s fresh, contemporary new identity, boldly updated for 2021 while celebrating its heritage.
Following a three-year development cycle which saw the team at Landscape House carry out research and analysis, a series of stakeholder interviews and a brand positioning exercise, several significant changes were decided upon to improve the Association’s continued efforts to promote, support and inspire its members, the wider landscape services industry and the public.
From 1st April 2021, Association members who have passed its stringent vetting procedures will be referred to as Accredited members, replacing the previous ‘Registered’ name. The team at Landscape House, supported by its board of directors, felt the replacement term was a more suitable choice for explaining the process companies went through in order to attain accreditation. Affiliate, the label used to promote members offering trade and publicfacing products and services has been dropped in favour of Supplier, a word that better describes that category of membership. So, in simple terms, a Registered Affiliate will now be known as an Accredited Supplier.
The brand refresh has also brought with it changes to the way the Association communicates, including a focus on high quality content to inform, educate and inspire. It will use its position as a thought-leader in British landscaping to draw attention to issues affecting the industry and lobby government, as well as developing its technical support offering. The rebrand will also bring a new approach to the Association’s identity, dropping the acronym ‘BALI’. Often confused with non-industry terms, the Association’s new identity advertises a greater publicfriendly position, simplified so it only displays the full company name that better describes the service offer.
Says Chief Executive Wayne Grills: “This is an important moment for our Association and its members. We recognised, through talking with key stakeholders, that we needed to make changes to our brand to continue to build on our strong foundation and provide the high level of customer service our members expect. Next year our Trade Association celebrates 50 years and we wanted to be in the best shape possible to take full advantage of what that special milestone will bring. Expect further announcements of what we have planned later this year.”
Members can login to their member’s area bali.org. uk/login to download the new Accredited logo and brand guidelines (if their membership category permits), order vehicle stickers, download Use the Professionals leaflets and access their membership benefits portfolio which have also been updated.
Re-brand for British Association of Landscape Industries Team outside Landscape House
STOP PRESS: National Landscape Awards are open for entries! Accredited members of British Association of Landscape Industries can now enter the 2021 National Landscape Awards, the largest of their kind anywhere in Europe, and with the announcement of entries opening there are also a number of exciting opportunities for 2021.
For further information please visit baliawards.co.uk or contact Events Project Manager, Emily Feeney via email at emily.feeney@bali.org.uk or call 07936 944258.
Entry Deadlines Accredited contractor/ designer/group
Early Bird Discount Deadline: 5th May 2021 Final Deadline: 2nd June 2021
Accredited supplier/employer excellence
Early Bird Discount Deadline: 2nd June 2021 Final Deadline: 7th July 2021
Accredited International
Early Bird Discount Deadline: 2nd June 2021 Final Deadline: 7th July 2021
BIGGA Partners new signing
The British & International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) has welcomed specialist fertiliser manufacturer Indigrow as the association’s latest Partner.
BIGGA Partners offer the highest level of support available to members of BIGGA, with the funding the association receives helping to underpin the Continuing Professional Development programme and all educational activity.
Indigrow is a specialist manufacturer of fertilisers and nutrients for the sportsturf market with more than 75 years’ experience of operating around the world. Covering five continents and over 40 countries, Indigrow employs more than 35 staff with qualifications covering all the aspects of agronomy required to promote healthy growth.
Bradley Foster, marekting manager at Indigrow, says: “Indigrow has long been a firm supporter of the activities of BIGGA and its members as the principles of highly-educated and qualified professionals are ones we appreciate and encourage across our own team. The desire to expand upon our own knowledge and innovate with new products and new methods of working is key if we are to overcome the challenges of the coming decade and I’m delighted that BIGGA and Indigrow will be working closer together to support the needs of the UK’s greenkeeping community.”
And BIGGA Business Development Manager Lauren Frazer adds: “Indigrow is a company that BIGGA has enjoyed a close relationship with over many years as the team was previously an education supporter. Their continuous product development helps create innovative, efficient and cost-effective products to suite the demands of the modern greenkeeper and so I am delighted the Indigrow team has made the decision to step up to Partner status. We are hugely proud of our relationships with all our Partners and we’re grateful for the incredible support they provide our membership, so I’m thrilled to welcome Indigrow to the line-up.”
Green-tech is a BALI Chalk Fund Gold Champion
L to R | Richard Gill, Kate Farrer, Jamie Peacock, Emily Watson, Jago Kay and Roger McGivern from Green-tech
Green-tech is showing its support for the industry by becoming an ultimate supporter for training and development in the landscape sector.
The BALI Chalk Fund, the British Association of Landscape Industries’ own charity, has recently launched an exciting new initiative called Chalk Fund Champions; to help combat the industry skills gap.
Leading supplier to the landscaping industry, Green-tech is one of the first businesses to show their dedication and commitment to helping the future needs of the industry. They have opted to support with the top-level Gold Champion.
Richard Gill Sales Director Green-tech comments, “This is an incredibly forward-thinking approach by the BALI Chalk Fund and provides a great opportunity for industry to put back and contribute towards improving our future workforce. At Green-tech we are staunch advocators of encouraging and nurturing the talents of the future generation, so this is a scheme we are proud and eager to get behind.”
Chalk Fund Trustee Richard Gardiner adds “Greentech have always been so supportive of our work and it was therefore no surprise that they have decided to become one of the first Gold - BALI Chalk Fund Champions. We are delighted Green-tech see the same potential that we see in developing the future of our industry and making them more work-ready when leaving education.”
The Champions scheme provides an opportunity to invest in the education, training, motivating, and equipping of the next generation of landscape professionals through a tiered support system. The Bronze is an affordable £250 per year and will ensure five students will leave college with a LISS/CSCS SmartCard and are ready to go on-site, this is a saving to future employers of around £600.
To become a Silver Champion costs £500 per year and is equal to the prize money awarded annually to the BALI Chalk Fund National Landscape Student of the Year.
Gold Champion is the choice for Green-tech; it is the highest tier and costs £750 per annum. It will help save future employers thousands of pounds.
All funds raised will help invest time, money, knowledge and skills with the hope it will save thousands of pounds a year for many landscaping businesses who struggle with recruitment and retention.
Green-tech is well known for its industry support. They currently support the Perennial, Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Society, the ProLandscaper 30 under 30 next generation initiative and a whole host of awards including being the headline sponsor of the BALI National Landscape Awards.
If you are interested in becoming a Champion, alongside Green-tech then visit
www.balichalkfund.org.uk/become-a-champion
Green-tech named in Top 100
Dan Burton and Kate Hulmes of Green-tech
Landscape supplier Green-tech has been announced as a Top 100 digital tech adopter within the Leeds City region, in the 2021 Digital Enterprise Top 100.
The Top 100 seeks out and recognises one hundred of the most digitally transformational, resilient, and innovative businesses in the area.
Launched in October 2016, Digital Enterprise helps small and medium sized enterprises (SME) across the region to improve their performance by investing in appropriate digital technologies and expertise. This highly successful programme has provided funding, networking and training to more than 2,000 businesses since its inception.
The programme is partly funded by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund 2014-20), the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and nine of the local authorities that make up the Leeds City Region.
Green-tech applied and was awarded a £10,000 grant from Digital Enterprise, which they used to help implement SmartFreight; a system which enabled Green-tech to provide a shipping solution that offers transparency, accountability, and efficiency. Integrating with SmartFreight has provided their customers with a choice of courier options and gives full visibility - updates on dispatch, transit and arrivals. Customers simply log into an online portal to view details and updates of deliveries. The SmartFreight system has significantly streamlined Green-tech’s internal administrative processes.
The investment has already returned an improved service to customers. As well as providing instant, accurate and quantifiable information on deliveries, it also provides delivery options from 24hr, 48hr and environmentally friendly deliveries.
Dan Burton, Green-tech’s Online Manager comments: “It was a huge surprise to hear that we had made it into the 2021 Digital Enterprise TOP 100. We have been investing heavily in technology across the business over the last 5 years; from our web presence to our warehouse and distribution systems. It has very much been a key business objective and it is really paying off. We have seen our turnover hit £20million for the first time in our trading history and this is due in part to the technological advances we have made.”
Kate Humes, Marketing Director adds, “Recently we have recognised that times are changing, our customers are busier than ever, and they require access to information at their fingertips and at all times of the day. As a business we really are taking leaps into digitally transforming the business by supporting our sales team function with online data that can be accessed by all customers. We are very much moving from old school to leading edge within our industry. It really is a case of coming of age and it is fantastic to be identified as one of the Digital Enterprise’s Top 100 Tech Adopters.’’
Grounds care group acquires garden maintenance business Green & Tidy Landscapes Ltd.
Surrey based Grounds Care Group has completed the acquisition of Green & Tidy Landscapes Ltd. The deal reinforces the firm’s position as a market leading provider of grounds care and landscaping services, strengthening its offering in the Thames Valley region.
As well as Green & Tidy’s client base, Grounds Care Group will also take on all staff members, equipment and facilities, including the Green & Tidy depot in Moulsford, Oxfordshire. The additional infrastructure will enable Grounds Care Group to expand its geographical reach and expertise in a range of grounds care solutions and services, including gritting, grounds maintenance, invasive weed removal, tree works and soft landscaping.
Green & Tidy will continue to trade under its own name across Oxford, Milton Keynes and the wider Thames Valley region, under their well-established brand, which has built up a reputation for providing quality grounds and tree care since 1987. It will move under the Grounds Care Group brand from November 2021.
The acquisition is part of a growth strategy by Grounds Care Group, which has bold ambitions to further grow its services across the South of England, as Grounds Care Group CEO Adam Brindle explains: “The acquisition of Green & Tidy is a fantastic opportunity and a significant milestone in our strategy to create a Group offering clients the very best landscape maintenance, invasive weed removal and winter gritting services.
“Both companies and our employees share similar values and a devotion to providing high quality grounds maintenance services and a commitment to customer satisfaction, striving for a long-term relationship with our customers. We pride ourselves on our talented workforce, so we are delighted to welcome the new Green & Tidy team to our Group. As a family business we are proud of the growth and success we have achieved and look forward to continuing our journey of expansion with plans for both organic and acquisitionbased growth.”
Green & Tidy Landscapes Ltd MD, Paul Gittus, said: “I am delighted that Green & Tidy has joined the Grounds Care Group family. Their professionalism and innovative approach to landscape maintenance, gives them the leading edge with their advanced communication systems, which I believe will bring great benefits to our customers.”
With headquarters in Cobham, Surrey, Grounds Care Group now services over 1,000 sites across the South of England. It’s impressive and rapidly growing client base includes some of the UK’s leading facilities management, construction, rail, retail and property companies, as well as a broad range of public sector organisations.
Grounds Care Group would like to take this opportunity to thank CMC Business Advisors in assisting with this acquisition.
For further information on Grounds Care Group, please visit www.gcgrp.co.uk
