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The GMA ’ s NextGen
Nurturing the next generation of grounds people
he European
T football championships are in full swing , and the players seem to be getting younger . Spain ’ s Lamine Yamal is just 16 !
It ’ s quite a contrast to the professionals who look after the pristine pitches the prodigy plays on . Research shows two in five grounds professionals are over 50 , an ageing workforce that could shrink by 20 % in the coming years if the next generation of talent doesn ’ t come through .
That ’ s where the Grounds Management Association ’ s NextGen team comes in .
This group of up-and-coming sports turf professionals are on a mission to inspire more young people to get involved in groundskeeping :
Louise Saunders
Became managing director of a leading sports surfaces supplier aged just 22 , she ’ s passionate about getting more young people involved in the grounds care industry .
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Since joining the industry at 18 , I ’ ve loved working for a business that supports communities and contributes to the creation of safe spaces where children can engage in sports .
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10 GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | July / August 2024