On July 15 2025, Brad of IGFH attended the latest Melksham Oak Careers Fair, sharing the opportunities and pathways available in the sports turf industry with students from Melksham Oak Community School and Devizes School. Across the day, five sessions brought students from years 7 through sixth form face-to-face with employers and training providers from a wide mix of industries.
Sports turf was a completely new concept for many of the students Brad spoke to. Few had heard of it as a career choice, and even fewer understood what the work actually involved. To help bring the job to life, Brad brought along samples of synthetic fibres commonly used in reinforced natural turf pitches, explaining how FIFA pitches often have around 5% synthetic fibre stitched into the profile to help hold the surface together.
Brad used examples that connected with the students’ interests. He asked them about their favourite sports and which teams they followed, mentioning that the pitches at top clubs often rely on this very technology. He was keen for students to see that, beyond “just mowing grass”, sports turf is about delivering the quality surfaces that professional players rely on week in, week out.
Towards the end of the event, one student approached Brad with a clear interest in getting into the industry. They’d already started looking at ways to gain experience and were in touch with local clubs, but were struggling to get a response. Brad arranged for them to spend a day at Swindon Supermarine Football Club, learning the basics of pitch preparation and gaining a proper introduction to the world of sports turf. It’s exactly the sort of result these events are designed to achieve: opening doors and giving young people that all-important first step towards a potential career.
IGFH has attended several Melksham Oak careers events already, and the school has more planned for next year. This time, Brad also had the opportunity to bring Groundsfest Academy into his conversations. Brad was able to explain the different training options that the Academy provides, including sports turf introductions and practical courses that can help young people stand out when they’re applying for their first groundskeeping jobs or apprenticeships.
Attending careers events like these helps us spread the word about the opportunities available in turf. For students who like the idea of working a sports-related role outdoors, with the chance to progress from grassroots facilities to the biggest stadiums, our presence at these events gives them new career paths to consider that they may have otherwise not known about.
Being present and proactive in our industry, talking directly with the next generation, has more value than many of us realise. The more people who hear about sports turf, the more likely we are to see new faces stepping into the industry in the years ahead.
