Schools Into Stadia event deemed success

As part of Groundsweek 2023, 24 school children attended the Schools into Stadia event at Lincoln Football Club. The initiative, which was organised by the Grounds Management Association’s (GMA) Young Board of Directors and supported by Reesink Turfcare, was designed to give the next generation a taste of some of the careers available in grounds management.

Reesink Turfcare supports the ‘Get Into Grounds’ strategy led by the Young Board of Directors which seeks to encourage 14-16 year olds, school leavers and young people to consider a career in grounds management.

The GMA’s Young Board of Directors is a group of younger turf professionals formed to encourage young people to enter the industry through a series of events, and here Jess Mayho, the Board’s facilitator, explains more.

“The Board was created with the aim to make sure there’s a pipeline of skilled talent entering the industry for years to come,” Jess explains. “We need youth and diversity coming into the sector and this event is the start of a strategy that is focused on doing just that. We’re looking to have another event this year and then three events in 2024 – that would be such an achievement as the Board voluntarily gives it’s time to the initiative to plan events.”

David Timms, national accounts manager at Reesink Turfcare, says: “For years, Reesink UK has demonstrated its long-term commitment to the development of the turfcare industry. We handpick the initiatives to support that focus on those working across the UK to create the best fine turf, sports surfaces and green spaces they can. The future of these industries relies on those professionals, and we consider it an honour to create opportunities and be approached to support initiatives to recognise the skill it takes, promote progression, and ensure the future of turf management is bright.

“We are so impressed with the event the Young Board organised. The students were engaged, had lots of questions and were able to answer questions put to them too. There was a real degree of interest there, which is what made it such a successful event.”

Jess concludes by saying: “If we get one person from the event to move into a grounds career when they finish school, it will have been worthwhile.”

More information about the Young Board of Directors can be found here and about the event here