IGFH’s Bradley Tennant explored grounds management trends and caught up with some familiar faces at SALTEX 2023. Here are our highlights from the popular event…
On November 01-02 2023, International Greenkeepers For Hire participated in
SALTEX 2023, Europe’s largest free grounds management show. This year, SALTEX was held at the NEC in Birmingham, UK, marking its 78th year running.
Bradley Tennant of IGFH attended the event as a visitor, taking advantage of the opportunity to spread the word about the IGFH mission, the services we offer, and our dedication to moving the sports and grounds care field forward. He was able to network with hundreds of industry professionals and key players in the industry—an experience that he deemed “invaluable”.
Bradley emphasized the significance of his interactions, stating, “SALTEX provided a unique forum for exchanging ideas, establishing partnerships, and learning from the best in the business. The connections we forged during the event are invaluable, not only in terms of business opportunities but also in driving innovation within our industry.”
The event’s status as Europe’s largest grounds management show was showcased by the fantastic turnout, with thousands of professionals, volunteers, and enthusiasts eager to explore the latest trends, technologies, and services in the field.
Beyond the exhibition floor, SALTEX 2023 offered a program of expert talks, seminars, and panel discussions. These learning opportunities are consistently a highlight for us, enabling us to gain insights into emerging trends, cutting-edge technologies, and evolving best practices in grounds management. We also enjoyed a firsthand look at the latest innovations in grounds management equipment, products, and services.
One of our highlight interactions was with Ikumi Murai, a greenkeeper from Japan who, with the help of IGFH’s resources, landed a job at Arsenal F.C. in the UK. This is the first time Bradley was able to meet Ikumi in person, who had attended the event with several members of the Arsenal F.C. grounds team. Our Meet The Members interview with Ikumi can be found in this issue.
Amongst the hundreds of other professionals he networked with, Bradley also had a great experience with representatives from Nottingham Forest and
Reading Football Club, and Cameron Hutcheon, Deputy Grounds Manager at Wembley Stadium.
Bradley has personally attended SALTEX on eight occasions already, and already has plans in place to attend next year’s event.
Summing up his experience at the event on the whole, he said: “Participating in SALTEX was a fantastic experience for us. The knowledge gained, the connections established, and the insights into industry trends position IGFH for continued success. We’re excited to leverage this momentum to contribute to the advancement of grounds management globally.”
You can learn more about SALTEX, including how to register as an exhibitor for next year’s event. on the official SALTEX website: https://www.saltex.org.uk
