Establishing The Amenity Standard

This the first of three short opinion pieces on matters concerning the amenity sector and I am grateful to TurfPro for their publication. The next two will address the areas of integrated management and the recruitment and retention of staff. I hope that they create some reaction.

John Moverley writes . . .

I have been involved with the amenity sector for many years. I am passionate about the sector and the essential work it does in keeping the UK moving and providing safe and heathy amenity and sports spaces in a sustainable manner and fit for purpose. The standards within the sector are high but can still be let down by the few who do not operate at best practice. Also, the work undertaken can be largely unrecognised by the general public, despite much excellent work by organisations such as the UK Amenity Forum and others. I have long believed that the sector needs a scheme through which the sector can demonstrate to all, their professional standards of operation.

In my last years as Chairman of the Amenity Forum, we put such a scheme forward called the UK Amenity Standard. Whilst well received throughout the sector and support organisations, it has not got wide scale implementation. I believe the need to make it happen is now and we must all get behind it and support. Making it a requirement need pose no fear for any organisation in the sector already operating to best practice, and with a commitment to training and development. It would however further help drive out bad practice and give the public more assurance and profile of the quality of work undertaken.

So, what qualifies an organisation to hold such a standard. They would simply need to demonstrate that organisations they are operating, or providing services to, are at very best practice, using qualified staff and with a commitment to continuous professional development. If for example they are already a member of an assured scheme such as BASIS Amenity Assured, they would be able to display an Amenity Standard logo. In agriculture, the Red Tractor Scheme, is a requirement for farmers in provision of farm crops.  The logo is easily recognised. We can and should make such a standard for our sector  a requirement and easily recognisable.

Making it happen will require everyone to get behind it. When the last UK National Action Plan, relating to weed, pest and disease management, was under construction, government officials were very supportive of a UK Amenity Standard as a requirement. Sadly, with governmental changes, not least in the number of Prime Ministers, it got left out in the final document. I am aware that the Amenity Forum is continuing to drive forward to make this happen with discussions re-opened on Codes of Practice, long overdue. I hope all in the sector can support. I remain hopeful that in the near future, I can enter my local park or sporting event and see a logo demonstrating the Standard. I have that dream.