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Making a difference to the industry

Beth Gibbs, Groundsperson, Wellington School

Beth Gibbs came to the attention of the GMA when she won Young Groundsperson of the Year at the GMA Industry Awards 2023.

As part of Wellington School’s grounds team and the all-female grounds team who prepared the pitch at Emirates Stadium for the Women’s Super League, Beth is just the type of young person the GMA is proud to have represent the sector and inspire young people to join it.

Why did you decide to get involved with the GMA NextGen?

I wanted to get involved because I wanted to make a difference in the industry and help the Grounds industry to become diverse and inclusive. It’s an opportunity to promote the industry to young people who don’t know about it, so they have another choice of career path.

What’s your role on the board and what are your responsibilities?

My role on board is strategy and my main responsibilities are developing our six month and longer-term strategy to show what we hope to achieve and what events we would like to be involved in.

What do you enjoy most about being involved?

I really enjoy being a part of the group as it’s a great bunch of people. I enjoy the opportunities that come out of being in this group and feeling like I make a difference to the industry.

It’s an opportunity to promote the industry to young people who more than likely don’t know it exists and don’t know there’s an option like this. I want to give them another choice of career path.

Beth Gibbs Groundsperson, Wellington School

What do you most hope to achieve?

We need more people in this industry and more people doing this as a career. It’s all about promotion and demonstrating what a great industry it is to work in wherever you are.

Where do you work and what does that involve?

I work as a groundsperson at an independent school called Wellington School in Somerset. My role involves looking after the grounds and in particular the rugby, cricket and football surfaces for the Pupils to play on.

How did you get into the industry?

I got into the industry by accident, I was looking on the Government website for an apprenticeship and one came up at Wellington School and I thought it sounded interesting so I applied and I got it. That was three years ago, and I haven’t looked back since.

What’s your advice to those thinking about a career in grounds?

If you like working outdoors and don’t mind working in all weathers, then I would say give it a go!

What’s the best bit about working in the industry?

The best bit about working in the industry is seeing people enjoy playing on the pitches I have worked on, also when everything is looking really great, and you can take great pride in it.