S events at the Grounds Management Association
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The GMA launches new event series to help groundspeople tackle key industry challenges
arah Hunter is head of
S events at the Grounds Management Association
( GMA), the UK’ s leading membership body dedicated to supporting grounds care professionals and volunteers. Here, Sarah provides the inside track on GMA Connect – a new series of educational events being launched by the GMA.
Grounds management is evolving like never before – and just keeping up can feel like a huge part of the job. That’ s why we’ re launching a brand-new series of one-day regional events, designed to help groundspeople stay ahead of the curve on the biggest issues facing the industry today.
GMA Connect is focused on expert insight and hands-on learning – with a clear purpose: to give grounds care professionals and volunteers the knowledge, skills and support they need to thrive in their roles and grow their careers.
The biggest challenge facing the industry today Last year, rainfall in parts of the UK was up 147 % on the longterm average. At the GMA, we saw a 244 % rise in requests from groundspeople needing help with water-related issues.
And in our latest industry research, one issue stood out above all others – 68 % of professional head grounds managers identified climate change as the biggest challenge they face.
So that’ s exactly what we’ ll be focusing on at the first two GMA Connect events.
Industry experts at events in Bristol and Durham We’ ll be kicking things off on 13 May at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol – a top-tier venue that hosts Bristol City Football Club and rugby union side Bristol Bears. Then, on 18 June, we head to the Riverside Ground, an international cricket venue and the home of first-class side Durham County Cricket Club.
14 GroundskeepingJournal. co. uk | May / June 2025