Landscape & A m en it y
October 2023
w w w . l a n d s c a p e a n d a m e n i t y. c o m
Special Feature SALTEX 2023 Preview
Government committee launches inquiries into green spaces and careers
The House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee has launched an Inquiry into Urban Green Spaces. The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has been actively engaging with parliamentarians and policymakers in calling for a greater focus and attention on the value
of urban green spaces, so this news is very much welcomed. Jennifer Pheasey, HTA Director of Public Affairs, commented: “This inquiry by the influential EFRA Select Committee is an important opportunity for our sector to set out the evidence and crucial need we have to grow our urban green spaces.
“With 30 million UK gardeners and many more who love and use our green spaces, we need to ensure we maximise their value. Urban green spaces deliver huge social, economic and environmental benefits. The HTA has long been calling for politicians and policy-makers to give greater recognition of the value of environmental horticulture, not least because we deliver £28.8 billion in GDP and support 674,000 jobs in the UK. “We have set out publicly a number of asks already including establishing an Office for Green Spaces - to deliver the cross-government and joined-up policy-making we need to deliver real change.” The committee has also launched an inquiry into education and careers in land-based sectors.
Committee Chair, Sir Robert Goodwill MP has acknowledged horticulture as distinct from agriculture, recognising the wide range of career opportunities within the industry. Jennifer Pheasey commented: “This inquiry provides an important opportunity to raise the profi le of careers in environmental horticulture. Challenges in attracting and recruiting into the sector have long been identified as barriers to growth. The current directly employed workforce is 420,000 people. “The HTA is looking forward to responding to the committee’s inquiry to highlight some of the challenges its members face and some of the possible solutions.
The sector is working through many avenues to inspire and attract talented young individuals to contribute to the future of horticulture while simultaneously creating an inclusive environment that welcomes adults seeking career changes and those passionate about making a meaningful environmental impact. “With such a breadth of roles and routes available, our industry has the potential to offer rewarding and sustainable employment opportunities for everyone. We believe this must be better understood and recognised by all stakeholders and policymakers involved in education, skills and career advice.”
SALTEX is the exhibition of choice for these leading sporting bodies when it comes
to meeting those who work in the groundscare industry. This has been proven by their annual participation over two busy days on the buzzing SALTEX show floor, sharing insights learned from their work, providing free technical advice on maintaining playing surfaces, and providing guidance on accessing funding. Following its launch at Lord’s Cricket Ground earlier this year, representatives from the NGBs will be on hand to speak with visitors about the GMA’s Grounds Management Framework. The NGBs, along with members of the Pitch Advisory Service, will be available at the GMA Hub to offer support to grounds staff in learning how they can use the game-changing framework to upskill and improve their playing
surface, as well as gain access to a wealth of information. Jason Booth has worked in the grounds care sector his whole career, from his early days at Yorkshire County Cricket Club and Leeds Rhinos to becoming chief operating officer at the GMA, and understands the importance of building closer relationships between the groundscare sector and the NGBs. Here, Jason explains why SALTEX is the exhibition of choice for five leading National Governing Bodies: “Our relationship and the work we do with these five leading NGBs is critical to the future of sport. Whether professional or grassroots, sport is simply not possible without grounds staff and groundscare businesses – our
Putting the spotlight on the urban environment Pages 9-11
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) Enquiry 1
The exhibition of choice for five leading National Governing Bodies SALTEX and its organisers, the Grounds Management Association (GMA), pride themselves on the 77-year history of the event and making it the largest trade show for the sector in Europe. This history, along with the GMA’s work towards making sport possible, has made SALTEX the exhibition of choice for five of the UK’s National Governing Bodies (NGBs). Year round the GMA, Football Association (represented by Football Foundation), Sport England, England & Wales Cricket Board, Rugby Football League, and Rugby Football Union work collaboratively to improve pitches and upskill those in the industry.
Hard & Soft Landscaping & Pedestrianisation
Battery Power The latest technology shaping the industry Pages 24-26
industry as a whole. The NGBs understand this which is why they support the sector through funding and by attending SALTEX. The NGBs also play a major role in our Learning LIVE education programme where they will discuss several burning topics relevant to their respective sports, from grassroots facility funding and workforce development to showcasing the work that has gone into the major sporting events this
year. Their input, in addition to other interactive panel discussions, which will cover key issues such as pay and reward, mental health and wellbeing, and work-life balance, adds great value to our Learning LIVE programme. And there’ll also be the latest updates on key legislations or restrictions, that are essential for today’s grounds staff to be aware of.” SALTEX
Enquiry 2
ATV, UTV & Work Trucks Focus on the latest vehicles and machines Pages 27-28
of our extensive machinery range are available at our facility or at your own site, call 01260 223273
King Feeders UK
SALTEX STAND H012
info@kingfeeders.co.uk READER ENQUIRY 3