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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Bahco Bypass Loppers PG-20-E - Product Review

Review by Michael Smith

I must admit that I have had this pair of loppers in question for review now for the best part of a year but it does take a while, I believe, with tools to test them properly. That I have now done.

Bypass loppers of compact design to prune in difficult-to-reach places, available in two sizes. Oval steel tube handles with comfortable plastic grip and shock absorbing plastic buffers for added comfort in use. The smaller cutting head is ideal for pruning ornamental shrubs and rose bushes. Unlike for the professional range of loppers there are no spare parts available for this one.

The PG-20-E bypass loppers which I have had for review is the smaller of the two sizes and has a cutting capacity of a maximum of 30mm. This is, in my view, all academic though and depends on the hardness of the wood. I would not like to try it or any for that matter on dead prunus branches of that diameter, for instance. I have done dead branches of up to about 20mm with those loppers and I found it hard going. Not that the loppers would have broken, maybe. I just found it physically hard and would, in such cases, rather resort to a saw.

Those bypass loppers could be, and I do that at times, for they are very light and handy to carry, referred to as “secateurs on steroids”.

The specifications, so to speak are for the PG-20-E that of a cutting diameter 30 max, with a length of 440mm and a weight 665 grams. As I have said, they are very light.

Now if someone could design a carrying holster for it, of some sort, this would be an ideal too for any Countryside Ranger and such like to take out on a patrol, especially a foot patrol, in order to remove branches and such that may encroach on a footpath, a bridleway, or such.

This is, as all of Bahco's tools, a professional tool at a reasonable price and anyone in their right mind, especially a professional, I should think, would rather invest in quality tools than to buy cheap and find them broken in a few hours or days of use.

© M Smith (Veshengro), January 2009
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INSTITUTE OF GROUNDSMANSHIP CELEBRATES 75TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2009

The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2009 as the world’s largest membership organisation for grounds professionals with nearly 10,000 full and e-members.

A number of events will take place through the year including the first all-encompassing industry awards ceremony for grounds staff taking place at the Emirates Stadium on 15 October. This will be preceded by the IOG’s one-day Sports Turf Conference during the day.
Over the last two years the institute has transformed itself with the establishment of the IOG Academy – an apprenticeship through to retirement training programme to enable grounds staff to gain the professional qualifications they need throughout their career.

“Having doubled the membership over the last two years we will continue to follow the institute’s original mission to improve the status of groundsmen and the standard of groundsmanship,” says Geoff Webb, IOG Chief Executive.

“To this end we have been working with the national governing bodies of sport such as The Football Association on a soon-to-be-launched training initiative for grassroots grounds professionals, and the England and Wales Cricket Board on fine turf issues,” he added.
There is still much to do. Grounds staff are still not paid well and work in difficult conditions. The IOG therefore needs to evolve to meet the demands faced by its members in this ever-changing industry.

The IOG has been highlighting its concerns with a number of key politicians and stakeholders, pointing to the vital contribution that grounds staff make to British sport. This has led to Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe MP saying:
“Ensuring the long term maintenance of facilities is vital to the sustainability of sports provision. Grounds maintenance is a key element of this. I welcome initiatives by the IOG to raise skill levels in this area and the grounds maintenance profession as a whole.”
The IOG was founded by W H Bowles BEM, head groundsman of Eton College, and ten other founder members in 1934 at a pub by Cannon Street Station in London. Each of the founders put in £1 to set up the organisation.

Some of the IOG’s highlights include:

• The introduction in 1953 of the IOG examination system, the forerunner to today’s renowned training and education services;
• In 1990, the launch of the IOG Consultancy Service, which advises organisations worldwide on the development and management of sports and amenity facilities;
• The launch in 1938 of the IOG exhibition – now known as IOG SALTEX; and
• The launch of the 2012 Fund in 2007, which provides funding and bursaries to support industry development.
  

Geoff Webb continues: “As the industry looks towards the 2012 Olympics, the IOG will continue to enforce its ‘Challenging Perceptions’ six-year strategy dictum of ‘establishing the IOG as the leading professional organisation for grounds management, recognised by the National Governing Bodies of Sport and the public, private and voluntary sectors for its industry knowledge and technical expertise’.

“It is clear that health and the uptake of sporting activities is a major item on the Government agenda, as is the legacy that the Olympics (and other major sporting events including the Commonwealth Games in 2014) will create. As such, our activity within the political arena is focused here, to highlight the issues we face as an industry.

“This is one of a number of steps that the IOG is taking to voice concern and request action on matters that we as an industry are facing – for example, the encouragement of more young people into the sector, and to raise the pay and status of ground professionals.

“We will continue to lobby, with our partners who face similar issues, to address and raise the profile of these important issues with Government, those involved in sports governance and others in a position of influence.”

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

Source: Wildish Communications Ltd
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Bulldog Ratchet Pruning Shears BD31303 – Product Review

20mm cutting diameter ratchet pruning shears

Review by Michael Smith

I have to say that this is the first of those kinds of pruning shears that I ever really have had an opportunity to use and review.

Other manufacturers and vendors for some reason have been more than reluctant, to say the least, to part with one of those for a proper and thorough product review and I leave the reader to draw his or her own conclusions as to the why and wherefore of this.

Bulldog's representatives on IOG Saltex 2008 were more than happy to supply me with one of those and so far I must say that I am quite impressed with this tool.

It took a little while for me to get the proper hang of it as to the best way of using it but once that had been mastered it is just a great piece of kit.

The maximum cutting size, in my opinion, should not be exceeded when cutting hardwoods, whether green or not, such as apply, plum, oak, etc. While it may work alright with slightly larger branch diameters, I must say that I would not recommend doing it.

Once the “trick” of properly using the ratchet is mastered this pair of pruners cuts through quite thick branches without any real effort. Small pruning is best done with the topmost tip of the pruners as it is then just the single snip. This is very good for dead heading of roses and also general small pruning rather than using the cutting jaws further down that then still employs the ratchet, making the cutting process a little slower.

On larger material the ratchet makes cutting virtually effortless and I recently used it to cut back a Willow (Salix) and in this instance cutting material with diameters of 35mm and such without any problems. It must be considered thought that green willow is a rather soft wood.

I also used it to prune some apple trees and in that case I restricted myself to about the maximum given diameter for this pair of pruners and there as well very little effort and strength was needed for the cutting.

From what I have seen so far as to the performance and reliability I can, I think, very much recommend this model of Bulldog's pruners without any hesitation.

Once again another piece of kit that is of fine quality at a very reasonable price.

© M Smith (Veshengro), October 2008
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PREMIER LEAGUE GROUNDSMEN KEEP UP TO DATE WITH SYNGENTA TURF MANAGEMENT RESEARCH

The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) recently collaborated with turf management specialist Syngenta over a recent fact-finding visit by Premier League groundsmen to the Syngenta Turf Research facility at Stein in Switzerland.

With 30 or so groundsmen in attendance – drawn from the Premiership as well as clubs such as Reading and Derby, and including grounds managers of the clubs’ main stadia and academy playing surfaces – the two-day trip provided exclusive insights into the company’s $850 million research and development programme, in addition to face-to-face discussions with officials from the Professional Footballers’ Association and the Premier League.

Chaired by IOG chief executive Geoff Webb, the first day’s programme enabled open discussions about the implications to the playing surface by such activities as warm-up periods.

On the second day, delegates toured the impressive facilities at Stein where Syngenta Turf Researcher Dr Eva Haensel explained that it can take over 10 years and cost around £100 million to create a new turf management product. She also highlighted how “it is crucial that each new innovation brings a significant advantage for groundsmen”.

She continued: “We rely on the direct feedback from groundsmen to ensure we are focusing on the development of products that are especially relevant to the issues being faced, as well as providing practical advice and techniques to ensure they can be used as effectively as possible.”

The research facility has been instrumental in developing the use of Primo MAXX on sports turf surfaces, as well as new turf fungicides planned for UK launch in 2009.

Darren Baldwin, grounds manager at Tottenham Hotspur FC, praised the Syngenta team for its hospitality and professionalism, and thanked the IOG’s Head of Sales & Marketing, Kevin Duffill, for such an appropriate programme of events.

“Being able to get so many Premier League grounds professionals together was an achievement in itself,” he said, “and we all found it really useful to exchange opinions and to present those views to the footballing authorities.

“In addition, of course, the visit to the research centre was a real eye opener – the level of Syngenta R & D is quite amazing, and it was really helpful for us to understand what goes into the development and testing of chemicals, for example, before they reach the market.”
Syngenta Turf Manager, Simon Elsworth, added: “We hope that having seen the investment and commitment that goes into developing products, visitors will have full confidence and assurance in the performance of Syngenta products on the pitch.”

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

Source: Wildish Communications Ltd
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IOG SCOTSTURF SPEAKER ASKS: IS INDUSTRY READY FOR THE 2014 COMMONWEALTH GAMES?

With an exclusive keynote speech by the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Bid Director and a comprehensive programme of informative seminars covering the latest in noise & vibration, corporate manslaughter, pesticides and training & education, the IOG Scotsturf show on November 5 & 6 at Edinburgh’s Royal Highland Centre offers an unrivalled opportunity to provide updates on all the issues affecting the grounds care and golf course industry in the north and Scotland.

The fact that the show will both enlighten and entertain visitors is also illustrated by the programme of live equipment demonstrations being planned alongside the IOG Scottish Football Groundsman of the Year and Cricket Scotland’s Cricket Groundsman of the Year Awards, also the Best New product Awards, plus more than 100 leading suppliers are displaying products which are being seen for the first time in Scotland.

One highlight of the show will be the keynote address on Wednesday 5 November by Derek Casey, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Bid Director, who will ask ‘Are we ready for the challenge of Glasgow 2014? Is the industry prepared and able to play its part in delivering world class sporting venues?’ Derek’s probing presentation is certain to stir the audience!

The IOG Scotsturf seminar programme – which qualifies for IOG CPD, BASIS and NRoSO points – will comprise a series of not-to-be-missed sessions, including:

• Noise and vibration assessments – where are we now in workplace controls? Presented by the Health & Safety Executive.
• The Corporate Manslaughter Act – get the facts, by HSE Solutions.
• Pesticides and the law – new EU legislation is scheduled to be announced. Presented by The Amenity Forum.
• Training & education - improving productivity and performance, by IOG and Lantra.
• Residual pesticides – the facts, by Indigrow.
• Health & safety law – an expert view, by HSE Solutions.
  

Visit www.iogscotsturf.co.uk for more details and to pre-register for IOG Scotsturf - which is co-located with Road Expo Scotland, the only dedicated event for the roads and traffic management industry in Scotland.

Source: Wildish Communications Ltd
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IOG MAINTAINS MOODLE VIRTUAL LEARNING ROUTE FOR NEW LEVEL 3 ADVANCED NATIONAL CERTIFICATE

The Institute of Groundsmanship has announced the new Level 3 Advanced National Certificate in Sports and Amenity Turf Management as an easy-to-use, online career progression from skilled groundsman (Level 2) to supervisor/manager.

Following the success of providing the Level 2 National Certificate via its innovative Moodle online virtual learning environment – which enables participants to study for the qualification in their own time, or a time set by their employer, at a convenient pace and place – the new Level 3 Advanced National Certificate is offered on a similar flexible learning basis.

Developed by the IOG in conjunction with City & Guilds and NPTC, the Level 3 Advanced National Certificate incorporates eight compulsory units and one optional unit. The mandatory units are:

• Plant physiology in relation to the horticulture industry
• Maintaining health and safety in the amenity horticulture industries
• Management of weeds, pests and diseases
• Turf machinery and equipment management
• Working in the Turf grass industry
• Construction of sports and amenity turf areas
• Sustainable management of turf.
  

The optional unit aligns with the participant’s specific interest and covers the management of amenity, cricket, bowling, tennis, football, rugby, golf and horseracing turf. The structure of the qualification is such that candidates will have CPD documentation that shows clearly the sport option achieved.

The Level 3 qualification can be accessed by anybody who holds an equivalent Level 2 qualification such as the IOG National Technical Certificate (NTC), City & Guilds NVQ in Sports Turf Maintenance, or by anybody who can prove that they are/have been operating at a Level 3 standard.

Commenting, the IOG’s Head of Professional Services, Ian Lacy, says: “The overwhelming success of offering Level 2 via Moodle – the virtual learning environment pioneered and funded by the IOG – has emphasised why the IOG is the industry’s training and education supplier of choice, and the new Level 3 will further reinforce that.”

Source: Wildish Communications
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