Myerscough College proudly supports international Turf Business Summit

Myerscough joined industry leaders, practitioners, educators and suppliers in Madrid for the latest Turf Business Turf Summit, a premier event bringing together around 120 delegates from across the UK, Spain and beyond.

The summit provided an invaluable platform for networking, knowledge exchange and collaborative discussion on the key challenges and opportunities facing the sports turf sector.

The Myerscough delegation included Wes Johnson - Principal & Chief Executive; Paul McGrail – Assistant Principal Apprenticeships & Skills; Phil Helmn – Sports Turf Leadership & Projects Lead; past and present apprentices Phoebe Baker, Anna Nilsson and James Wade, and alumni from the recent Elevate Leadership initiative Peter Ashworth  and Andy Burke.

Paul McGrail, Executive Director  and Assistant Principal - Apprenticeships, Skills & Employer Engagement, said: ‘’As educational sponsor, Myerscough College was proud to play a key role in supporting an event that continues to drive innovation, professional development and industry-wide collaboration.

‘’The summit reinforced the importance of bringing together employers, educators, manufacturers and practitioners to share best practice, explore emerging trends and collectively develop solutions to some of the sector's most pressing challenges.

‘’From a Myerscough perspective, a particular highlight was the launch of the new ‘Hydrate’ Programme, developed specifically to address the industry's need for greater knowledge and practical expertise in water management.''

‘’The programme represents another example of how Myerscough continues to listen to industry needs and respond with targeted educational solutions that support both individual development and organisational performance.

‘’The summit also provided an opportunity to celebrate the continuing success of the Elevate Leadership Programme, delivered by Myerscough College in partnership with Turf Business and supported by John Deere. Elevate has quickly established itself as a flagship development programme, equipping current and future leaders with the skills, confidence and strategic mindset needed to lead successful teams and organisations within the sports turf sector.

‘’Throughout the event, Myerscough shared its vision to be the Centre of Sports Turf Excellence, outlining the breadth and depth of its specialist provision for the industry.

‘’Delegates heard how the College continues to invest in developing the next generation of sports turf professionals through an extensive range of apprenticeships, technical qualifications and professional development programmes.

‘’Particular attention was given to the College's award-winning apprenticeship provision, its outstanding achievements in employer engagement, and the recent recognition received through its highly successful Ofsted inspection outcomes.

The presentation also highlighted several exciting developments designed to meet evolving industry needs, including a suite of customised industry awards developed in partnership with Turf Business and new certificates of competence focused on emerging technologies.’’

One of the standout moments of the summit came when Phoebe Baker, currently in the final stages of her Level 2 apprenticeship in greenkeeping, took to the main stage to present the results a roundtable discussion focused on the development of an Employer Charter for the sector.

Phoebe's contribution was particularly significant as it demonstrated the value of giving learners a voice within industry discussions. Her confidence, professionalism and insights highlighted the quality of talent entering the profession and served as an excellent example of the positive impact apprenticeships continue to have in developing future leaders.

Paul added: ‘’For many delegates, seeing an apprentice confidently engaging with senior industry figures reinforced the importance of investing in people and creating clear pathways for career development within sports turf.

‘’By working alongside employers, professional bodies, manufacturers and fellow sponsors, Myerscough College will continue to play a leading role in ensuring that sports turf education remains at the forefront of industry development, helping to shape a skilled, sustainable and future-ready workforce.’’