GroundsFest support growing

The new trade event GroundsFest is gaining momentum as it prepares to launch at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on 20 and 21 September 2023.

It recently announced a new partnership with the Association of Play Industries (API), the trade association for the UK play sector. Its member companies are the UK’s leading providers of indoor and outdoor playground equipment.

The API will promote membership services and many of its members will be exhibiting. GroundsFest’s free educational seminar programme will also feature APIbadged sessions.

API Chair Mark Hardy, says: “We are looking forward to seeing how this new event will promote the play industry and in particular, provide an opportunity for API members to showcase their offerings.

“All API members abide by a strict professional Code of Conduct and are committed to value-for-money and long-term service and support. This exhibition will enable members to exhibit their products and demonstrate the highquality, innovative and fun ranges so typical of our members.”

Commenting on the partnership, GroundsFest’s sales director Charles Neale, adds: “The play industry will form an integral part of the GroundsFest event profile in September 2023 and will give the play industry an ideal platform to promote its services and products to a highly relevant national audience of buyers and specifiers.

“GroundsFest really is uniting every corner of the groundscare industry,” continues Charles. “The GroundsFest team is working hard on all aspects of the industry – from turfcare to commercial vehicles – by providing added impetus and innovation as we go forward.” www.groundsfest.com

Another feature of Groundsfest is the introduction to a retail area, where visitors can buy a wide range of products, tools, clothing, and accessories at a discounted rate on the spot.

The retail area is being organised by FR Jones and Son, a family run business that offers over 10,000 groundscare and arboriculture products from over 100 leading brands. FR Jones and Son's manging director Justin Jones is excited to be a part of the event.

“As a company, we are delighted to be involved. We are going to have a fantastic line-up of products on display at GroundsFest, and we will be offering exclusive discounts on selected items which will only be available for visitors throughout the two days. Our large team has plenty of experience and product knowledge and they will be out in force at GroundsFest to help visitors make the right decisions.

Origin Amenity Solutions welcomes new Technical Sales Representative for the East Yorkshire/Humber region

Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS) has announced the appointment of Greg Milton as Technical sales representative for the East Yorkshire/ Humber region. A former greenkeeper and spray technician at Brough Golf Club, East Yorkshire Greg has worked in the sports turf industry for more than 15 years predominantly on golf courses and racecourses. He has gleaned his significant knowledge at both private and proprietary clubs including the Royal Automobile Club and Lingfield Park Resort in Surrey. He has volunteered and worked at many national and international tournaments including the AMEX World Golf Championships at The Grove and the All-Weather Championships at Lingfield Park Racecourse.

Phil Dewhurst, Northern Area Sales Director comments on the appointment: “I am thrilled that Greg is joining us and strengthening the team. He has a wealth of practical handson experience that will be invaluable to our Humberside and East Yorkshire Greenkeeping and Sports-turf customers with their management plans and addressing and advising on any problem areas they may have.”

Greg Milton

● Origin Amenity Solutions brings together Headland Amenity, Rigby Taylor, Symbio and Turfkeeper and has over 60 technical sales representatives across the UK. If you feel you have the skillset to add to the group, email a covering letter and your CV to recruitment@originukoperations.co.uk

Agrovista Amenity has announced the appointment of Stewart Carbray and Sam Sweetzer to its team of amenity specialists.

Stewart joins the agronomy supplier from Bothwell Castle Golf Club where he worked for twenty-three years after initially joining as an apprentice.

“I achieved what I set out to do at Bothwell Castle and I saw so many improvements at the course. I wanted to stay within the industry and always had an interest in the other side of the business, so the Agrovista opportunity was just too big to ignore,” explains Stewart.

Stewart will be covering the areas of west and central Scotland and further down into Dumfries and Galloway borders, believes he has the perfect mentor at Agrovista Amenity.

“Ramsay MacGregor, my line manager, is the guy everyone goes to for technical advice and problem solving. I want to learn from him and pick up the reigns and become trusted and recognised just like him.”

Sam Sweetzer, also from a greenkeeping background, previously worked at Buckinghamshire Golf Club as the Deputy Course Manager. Throughout his career he has relied on several products from Agrovista Amenity and is looking forward to learning more about the science behind them.

“There is a huge amount of pressure and demand on