Scotts Professional is sponsoring this year’s IOG Lifetime Achievement Award.

Scotts’ Business Manager for the UK and Ireland, Richard Walton, explained why the company is proud to sponsor the Award: “Scotts has a long heritage in turf care - the company was founded by Orlando McLean Scott in Ohio, USA in 1868. With more than 140 years’ experience, Scotts is one of the largest horticultural suppliers in the world and the name has become synonymous with quality and expertise.

“The company’s colossal investment in research and development has resulted in controlled-release technology that has set the benchmark for turf fertilisers. Our turf and amenity brands, such as Greenmaster and Sierrablen, have been used by UK turf professionals for decades. Indeed, the company’s product portfolio - fertilisers, plant protection products and grass seeds - feature cutting-edge technology to help groundsmen and greenkeepers produce some of the best natural turf surfaces in the world.”

He continues: “Many begin and end their careers using Scotts products because they trust our technology to help them produce first-class surfaces; a lifetime of use built on years of trust and superb results. We think it’s apt that Scotts should sponsor this prestigious award that recognises an individual’s commitment and contribution to groundsmanship over the course of his career.

“As an industry, we are fortunate to have a number of people who have not only had superb careers, but who are also prepared to share their knowledge and skills with the generation that will take our industry forward. It is fitting that we should recognise and honour their achievement, alongside those of their peers, at the IOG Awards ceremony.”

The IOG Industry Awards comprise categories of entry covering sport, grass roots, young people and the environment:

• The Groundsman’s Groundsman of the Year
• Spectator Sports Ground of the Year
• Independent School Sports Ground of the Year
• Best Maintained Artificial Pitch of the Year
• Professional Sports Grounds Management Team of the Year
• Public Sector Sports Ground of the Year
• Grass Roots Sports Ground of the Year
• Volunteer Sports Grounds Management Team of the Year
• Volunteer Sports Groundsman of the Year
• Most Promising Sports Turf Student of the Year
• Young Groundsman of the Year
• Environmental Project of the Year
• Employer of the Year
• Innovation in Grounds Maintenance
• Public Sector Outdoor Facility of the Year
• Lifetime Achievement of the Year
• The Professional Football Grounds Management Team of the Year – the Alex R Millar Award.