SALTEX: Investing in Skills and the Future of Grounds Management

Every sport, from grassroots football to world-class tournaments, depends on one constant: high-quality playing surfaces and well-maintained green spaces.

Behind every single facility lies the work of a grounds professional or volunteer. Often unseen, but always essential. For nearly nine decades, the Grounds Management Association’s (GMA) flagship event, SALTEX, has been dedicated to supporting those people.

Taking place at Birmingham NEC on 12-13 November 2025, SALTEX is Europe’s cutting-edge grounds management show. But unlike commercial trade events, it stands apart for a unique reason: every surplus it generates is reinvested directly back into the grounds management industry, having a direct positive impact on the people that look after our green spaces.

A not-for-profit model with real impact

Revenue from SALTEX powers the GMA’s mission to elevate and advance the profession of grounds management. In the past year alone, funds from the show enabled the GMA to subsidise approximately 63% of its membership base, including grassroots volunteers, community clubs and students. By lowering financial barriers, the GMA is ensuring the sector remains accessible to all.

The same revenue also supports industry-leading training and qualifications. More than 2,000 subsidised courses and qualifications were delivered in the last financial year, with enrolment growing by 7% thanks to reduced fees. This investment means more groundspeople can access high-quality training, upskill, and deliver better results for their facilities.

The GMA remains the only sector body accredited under the Department for Education’s matrix Standard, reflecting the quality and credibility of its training offer.

A Free National Resource for Skills Development

A cornerstone of SALTEX is Learning LIVE, the UK’s largest free educational programme dedicated to grounds management. Following a record-breaking 2024 edition that delivered more than 19 hours of expert-led content to over 1,000 attendees, the programme will return with an even more ambitious agenda.

Learning LIVE is designed with accessibility and impact in mind. By removing financial barriers, the programme ensures that both professional grounds staff and community volunteers can access CPD-accredited training that can be applied immediately. Many visitors cite it as their primary reason for attending SALTEX.

The 2025 programme has been more precisely tailored than ever before, shaped by feedback from the workforce itself to meet the genuine needs of groundspeople. Topics will range from sustainability and data-driven turf care to irrigation and environmental management - all delivered by some of the sector’s most respected voices.

This year’s headliners include:

• Alan Ferguson, FIFA Senior Pitch Management Manager
• Graeme Beatt, Course Manager at Royal Portrush Golf Club
• Tony Hanson, Managing Director, Environmental Solutions International
• Roger Davey, Managing Director, Irritech Limited
• Mark Hunt, Technical Specialist, Prodata Weather Systems
• Jack Matthews, Director of Programmes, Football Foundation
• Lee Guerriero, Stadium Operations and Pitch Expert, UEFA
• Neil Rodger, Principal Project Manager, STRI Group
   

By providing free, high-quality, CPD-accredited learning opportunities to thousands of grounds professionals, SALTEX is directly contributing to workforce development of the nation’s sporting and community facilities.

Inspiring the next generation

Attracting young people into the industry is essential for long-term resilience. SALTEX plays a central role here too. In 2025, the show will feature its first ever NextGen Takeover of the Learning LIVE programme. Young ambassadors will lead sessions on diversity and youth engagement. An under-35s networking event and meet-up will further cement the pipeline of future leaders.

But the impact of SALTEX stretches beyond the show floor. The GMA’s annual #GroundsWeek campaign, which is made possible through show income, reached over 20 million people this year, raising awareness of the profession and inspiring future recruits.

Supporting national priorities

The importance of grounds management extends beyond sport. Well-maintained green spaces and parks support physical and mental wellbeing and strengthen the communities we all live in. By investing in training, resources and recognition for the sector, SALTEX directly supports national objectives around health and environmental responsibility.

SALTEX also provides a unique platform for collaboration between governing bodies and policymakers. For over a decade, the UK’s leading sports NGBs including The FA, Football Foundation, ECB, RFU and RFL have made SALTEX a permanent fixture in the calendar. Their involvement ensures alignment between strategy and delivery, with the show acting as a catalyst for raising standards across the country.

Innovation on show

Alongside its social impact, SALTEX remains the UK’s leading showcase for the latest innovation in grounds machinery and technology. Long-standing exhibitors such as Dennis Mowers, who have attended every single SALTEX show, will share the floor with first-time exhibitors such as Fendt, whose new e100 Vario electric tractor demonstrates how sustainable machinery is reshaping the sector.

A brand new feature this year, amongst many, is The Workshop, which will provide live, hands-on guidance from machinery expert Tom Stidder, offering practical training on everything from mowers to sprayers. For local authorities and community clubs, these sessions are designed to deliver immediate, real-world benefits that save money and extend the life of equipment.

A trusted national platform

SALTEX’s value lies not only in what happens over two days in Birmingham, but in the long-term benefits it generates. From everything we’ve covered so far, such as subsidised training - all the way through to national campaigns and industry awards, the exhibition remains the single most important driver of investment in the sector.

The message is clear: investing in grounds management means investing in health and sustainability. SALTEX shows just how a not-for-profit, industry-led model can deliver meaningful, measurable impact.

SALTEX 2025 takes place on 12-13 November at the NEC, Birmingham. Visitor registration is free at saltex.org.uk.