Reesink Turfcare sponsors GMA Young Board

The Grounds Management Association (GMA) announces that Reesink Turfcare will sponsor its Young Board of Directors, where the Board’s members strive to get more young people involved in grounds management. The year-long sponsorship with Reesink Turfcare will help the GMA build on its ‘Get into Grounds’ strategy which seeks to encourage the next generation of talent.

Many of the Young Board’s nine members first entered the industry by volunteering at local sports clubs before then gaining the skills and experience needed to progress in their careers. Chair of the Young Board, John Wright at Southhampton FC said it has “helped him gain the knowledge and skills to develop his own professional mindset” whilst “opening doors for young people interested in grounds management”.

The young board members involved, alongside the GMA’s senior management team, are building on previous efforts which have included successful ‘Schools into Stadia’ events, which saw schools gain the opportunity to visit elite stadia, and the ‘World Skills’ event where the Young Board interacted with up-to 43,000 young people over three days. Next year, the Young Board and the GMA’s wider ambassadors will be vital to #GroundsWeek (28/02/2022 – 06/03 2022), which will focus on communicating the essential work of grounds management to the general public so that more people consider it as a profession or understand how they can get involved in volunteering locally.

Commenting on Reesink’s long-term commitment to the development of the next generation of grounds professionals, David Cole, Managing Director at Reesink Turfcare, said:

“Reesink Turfcare & The Toro Company have a long association and positive perspective towards supporting learning and career development in the sportsturf, golf, and grounds maintenance industries. The Young Board initiative fills an important gap to raise awareness of the rewarding, long-term careers that can be forged in grounds maintenance to school leavers rather than them falling into the industry by chance.

The Young Board is an important resource to pull back the curtain and raise awareness of the great opportunities, career satisfaction and supportive network that characterisers groundsmanship and we are very pleased to continue our support for this important work.”

Geoff Webb, CEO of the GMA, said:

“We are pleased to have Reesink’s continuing support in developing the future workforce and working with our young leaders. The Young Board is just one part of the GMA’s initiatives where we aim to inspire and generate a sustainable pipeline of talent for years to come. Let’s show the world of opportunity that grounds management can bring.”

Ends

For further information, please contact:

Miri Buacmbuac@thegma.org.uk

Ollie Swanoswan@thegma.org.uk

About the Grounds Management Association

The Grounds Management Association is the leading not-for-profit membership organisation representing grounds managers, grounds personnel, grounds maintenance managers, greenkeepers and all others involved in the management of sports pitches, landscape and amenity facilities in the UK.

As well as maintaining the Grounds Management Association Performance Quality Standards and providing a consultancy service for sports grounds, lawn maintenance and amenity horticulture, the Grounds Management Association’s extensive Training and Education programme includes cricket, football, tennis, horseracing, bowls, artificial surfaces, turf science and many other specialist subjects.  It also stages the annual Grounds Management Association SALTEX exhibition, Europe’s leading show for the open space profession. For more information visit thegma.org.uk

About Reesink

Established in 1968, Reesink Turfcare is the UK's leading turfcare machinery and equipment supplier, providing the turfcare industry with an extensive range of professional equipment manufactured by its highly reputable