IOG PROMOTES 3.5 PER CENT SALARY INCREASE IN 2009 FOR GROUNDS PROFESSIONALS

The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) is recommending a 3.5 per cent increase in grounds staff’s national minimum salary bands for 2009, following annual industry-wide research carried out independently by PBi Consulting.

Commenting on the findings – which reveal that senior grounds management roles are beginning to be competitively rewarded in line with respective market rates – IOG Chief Executive Geoff Webb says:
“It is a major concern, however, that the average salary of entry- and mid-level jobs remains to be either below or at the lower end of the IOG’s recommended minimum. This highlights the need to continue to improve industry understanding and reward for these roles.”

He continues: “As confirmed by IOG research, we are facing a very real skills gap in the near future and continuing to pay below the recommended rates will only exacerbate this. The IOG will continue to work with employers, Government and sector skills councils to raise the profile and standing of the profession.

“The IOG is now embarking on a second-stage study designed to identify the relative standing of grounds staff within their organisations and the reasons for this perception. The ‘Grounds for Concern’ study will set out to, for example, understand the qualifications held by staff and their pay. We anticipate the results in the Spring.”

Explaining the methodology of the latest research, Steve Pheasant, PBi Consulting Director says: “Incomes Data Services analysis and other remuneration consultant reports have been utilised to confirm pay market trends in both the public and private sector. IDS records pay settlements across the UK economy covering approximately nine million employees in total. The divergence in pay settlement levels between the two sectors, first noticed in 2007, will continue in 2009.

“The IOG salary bands continue to primarily cross reference with the public sector National Joint Council Local Government pay shadow grades reviewed annually in April and the outcome of the internal salary survey by the Local Government Analysis and Research (LGAR), which this year for the first time gave us access to 4,311 records of local government grounds staff in the UK and Wales.

“Comparison with BIGGA salary scales – which for 2009 are announced at 3.7 per cent based on the Average Earnings Index at June 2008 - continue as a good comparator of salaries in the private sector.”

The IOG recommended 2009 national basic salary bands are:

• Grounds manager £28,100- £40,400
• Heads Groundsman £23,965-£31,170
• Deputy Head Groundsman/Lead Professional £19,610-£23,955
• Groundsman (Skilled) £18,335-£22,400
• Groundsman £14,690-£17,950
• Junior Groundsman (Age 17) £12,450
• Junior Groundsman (Age 16) £10,370

These figures are based on a 37.5 hour week, and regional pay variations have been taken into account. The bands do not include bonuses, overtime and subsistence payments nor the benefit of any accommodation provided.

To accompany its recommendations, the IOG publishes generic Position Descriptions to reflect typical job responsibilities and experience required for each level of position, against which employers can evaluate varying responsibilities and circumstances.

The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) is the leading membership organisation representing grounds managers, groundsmen, 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 IOG Performance Quality Standards and providing a consultancy service for sports grounds, lawn maintenance and amenity horticulture, the IOG’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 IOG SCOTSTURF and IOG SALTEX exhibition, Europe’s leading show for the open space profession. For more information visit www.iog.org

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