SALTEX SHOW PREVIEW
SALTEX – THE GROUNDS MANAGEMENT SHOW TO TAKE YOUR CAREER TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Sarah Cunningham is Director of Events at the Grounds Management Association( GMA). Run by the GMA, SALTEX is Europe’ s cutting-edge grounds management show – it’ s free to attend and takes place from 12 – 13 November at the NEC Birmingham.
Groundspeople have never been in greater demand. Grassroots sport is thriving, professional seasons are getting longer across many sports, and there’ s a growing national appetite for high-quality green spaces.
It’ s a crucial time for anyone in the industry. Whether you’ re looking to grow your career or your organisation wants to unlock more from its grounds team, SALTEX is unmissable.
Take your career to the next level Education has always been at the heart of SALTEX, and in 2025 we want to help more people than ever supercharge their careers.
Taking place across 12 and 13 November at the NEC Birmingham, this year’ s show will feature over 65 expert speakers as part of our Learning LIVE line-up. It’ s the industry’ s largest free-to-attend education programme, giving attendees access to some of the most knowledgeable professionals in the business, including:
- lan Ferguson, FIFA Senior Pitch Management Manager- Lee Guerriero, Stadium Operations and Pitch Expert at UEFA- Neil Rodger, Principal Project Manager, STRI Group- Graeme Beatt, Course Manager at Royal Portrush Golf Club- GMA NextGen, young professionals and grounds management ambassadors Our world-class speakers will cover the hot topics shaping the future of grounds management – from innovation and sustainability to long-term sector growth. Industryleading insights you won’ t get anywhere else.
Earn CPD points as you learn from the best in grounds management. Hear from the industry’ s top minds, unlock ideas to power your career forward, and enjoy free access to as many Learning LIVE seminars as you like.
The Workshop Machinery, and knowing how to get the most out of your tech, is vital when it comes meeting the growing demand for pitches and green spaces. The Workshop is a brandnew feature to SALTEX – and it promises to be a gamechanger.
Delivering live, hands-on machinery guidance for professionals and volunteers, the Workshop will help you get to grips with the latest equipment and sharpen your skills with the equipment you’ ve already got.
Sessions will be led by Tom Stidder, one of the industry’ s most respected turf machinery experts. With more than 27 years’ experience in turf care, Tom’ s career has taken him from a workshop technician to senior technical training and consulting positions with major machinery manufacturers.
You’ ll also be able to explore the latest kit from more than 400 brands, including major industry names like Kubota, STIHL and Husqvarna plus many more. These major machinery manufacturers continue to set the standard for innovation and quality – it’ s your chance to stay at the cutting edge.
Powering the industry As the UK’ s leading not-for-profit supporting the grounds management sector, the GMA is proud to reinvest every penny of surplus revenue from SALTEX directly back into the industry. Unlike commercial exhibitions, SALTEX is mission-led and impact-driven- designed to advance the sector, not generate profit for shareholders. That means funding cutting-edge training programmes, supporting members and improving the skills of those who keep sport and green spaces thriving across the UK. When SALTEX succeeds, the entire industry benefits- fuelling long-term sustainability.
That reinvestment makes a real difference. Income from SALTEX 2024 helped subsidise membership fees for around 63 % of the GMA’ s members. It also enabled over 2,000 subsidised training course places – opening up opportunities for 7 % more learners in just one year.
Profits from the show also power the industry’ s gold standard training and qualifications. In the last financial year alone, income from SALTEX helped subsidise over 2,000 GMA training courses, opening the door for an extra 7 % more learners. That means more groundspeople upskilling and delivering better pitches and sports facilities.
The GMA remains the only industry body accredited under the Department for Education’ s matrix Standard – recognition of our commitment to high-quality information, advice and guidance. And it’ s SALTEX that makes this possible.
Free to attend – secure your spot
SALTEX is completely free to attend, as are all of our seminars – and you can attend as many as you’ d like across both days.
Join more than 7,300 professionals and volunteers, over 400 leading brands and 65 expert speakers at this unmissable event.
www. saltex. org. uk
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