IOG Awards and Sports Turf Conference 2009

15th October 2009, The Emirates Stadium London

'Recognising the very best of our industry'

The IOG Annual Awards and Sports Turf Conference are being generously supported by:

IOG Annual Sports Turf Conference 2009:

Don't miss the educational event of the year - view the programme in full and book your places online.  Alternatively download a copy of the booking form here and return to us by post.

The programme for the Institute of Groundsmanship’s (IOG) inaugural Industry Sports Turf Conference at the Emirates Stadium addresses all the key issues being faced by the sports turf industry and will prove informative – and, in terms of business benefits, irresistible - to every grounds care professional.

Carbon footprints, lighting rigs, turf diseases and skills gaps are the top-of-the-agenda topics being discussed at the one-day National Conference.

There will also be an exclusive ‘this is our industry’ facts and figures insight into the UK grounds care sector, plus a hard-hitting ‘open discussion’ debate will feature a panel of experts from across all industry sectors.

In addition, break-out sessions will focus on, for example, pesticides, the volunteer sector and preparing for retirement, and there will also be a business advisory clinic.

Being staged at the home of Arsenal Football Club on Thursday 15 October 2009, the IOG Industry Sports Turf Conference “will be presented by some of the industry’s leading names and brains,” says Conference Director, Siobhan Harper.

“Spaces at the event are limited and will be available only on a first-come, first-served basis for the Conference that precedes the Oscar-style Industry Awards being held the same evening at the Emirates.”

IOG Annual Awards:

The IOG is delighted to host the first, all-encompassing awards programme recognising the very best of our industry.  The winners will be announced at a high profile awards night at the Emirates Stadium on October 15th 2009.  

The awards will recognise the high standards achieved by a wide range of volunteer and professional grounds care skills and facilities – both public and private – from grass roots to professional stadia level. 

Commenting on the launch of the IOG awards programme, Sports Minister, Gerry Sutcliffe MP, said, “I recognise the valuable contribution which grounds staff around the country, whether volunteers or professionals, make in keeping sports facilities well maintained.  Their hard work and technical knowledge helps make sport accessible to everyone and should be publicly acknowledged.”

The Emirates Stadium, the home of Arsenal Football Club and, in itself an example of the highest quality of grounds care maintenance, will be a fitting venue for the ceremony.  Paul Burgess, Arsenal FC head groundsman, who has been instrumental in establishing the inaugural Awards ceremony at the Emirates Stadium, comments: “An industry-wide Awards scheme has been long overdue, and the IOG is to be applauded for an initiative designed to recognise the dedication and expertise of grounds care practitioners from across the sector, both volunteer and professional as, most importantly, the younger generation.”  

Tim Lamb, chief executive of CCPR (Central Council of Physical Recreation), the national alliance of governing and representative bodies of sport and recreation in the UK, and which is sponsoring the Grass Roots Sports Ground of the Year Award, comments:

“Representing 150,000 clubs across the UK and around eight million participants, CCPR fully endorses these Awards that will give recognition both to people and to skills that are generally underrated by the public. We are especially pleased to be involved at the grass roots level since this is an area essential to the ability of our members to deliver high quality sport and recreation.”

Book your places now online for the IOG Annual Industry Awards - the event of the year!