NETWORK FOR YOUNG INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS LAUNCHED

The Grounds Management Association’s (GMA) NextGen group has launched its very own NextGen Network, a free online community designed to connect and support the next generation of grounds professionals.

Hosted on WhatsApp, the NextGen Network is an extension of the GMA NextGen group, and is described as a "dynamic group of young professionals whose mission is to inspire and encourage younger talent into the grounds management industry."

With around 1,500 professionals expected to retire from the industry each year, GMA NextGen say they are committed to ensuring a vibrant future for grounds management by attracting and engaging the next wave of professionals.

The new NextGen Network intends to build on their mission by offering a space where people in the industry can exchange ideas and take part in two-way conversations with peers and established figures across the industry, all at their fingertips.

Liddy Ford, GMA NextGen member and groundsperson at Wembley Stadium, said, “The NextGen Network is a great opportunity to engage with other young members of the grounds industry. Whether you’d like to share your experiences of the grounds sector, build connections with likeminded individuals, or gain some top-dressing tips, this network provides the framework for you.”

The network is open to anyone aged 18 and over and intends to act as a go-to hub for those looking to build connections in the sector. For safeguarding reasons, under-18s will not be able to access the WhatsApp community. However, they can still be part of the wider NextGen Network by receiving the quarterly newsletter.

Entry into the NextGen Network is free, with sign-up available via the NextGen newsletter here.