IOG announce new pay scales and seminar news

IOG announces new salary bands for 2005

By Mike Beardall

THE IOG has adjusted its salary recommendations (from January 1^st) for the positions of Groundsman through to Grounds Manager.

The revised salary bands were prepared after reviewing data from other organisations within the industry and reflect pay movement in both the public and private sectors, which have generally been in alignment.

Each salary band has a minimum and maximum figure representing a 10 per cent spread either side of the mid point for all positions other than Grounds Manager, which has a 15 per cent spread either side of the mid point in order to reflect the varying extent of responsibilities.

The Institute recommends that experienced and competent job performers should be paid at the mid point and upper levels of the pay bands.

To accompany the revised recommended salary bands the Institute also publishes a set of generic Position Descriptions which reflect the typical job responsibilities for each level of position.

As it is not possible to have single position descriptions that would encompass all individual situations, these form 'standard' descriptions against which employers can evaluate the varying responsibilities and circumstances that are to be found in individual positions.

Such variables will relate to the number and level of sports being played, intensity of use, total acreage, staffing levels, budgetary responsibilities and qualifications.

The Institute of Groundsmanship 2005 Salary Bands are published in a leaflet which is available on application to the Institute's head office.

For further details please Tel: 01908 312511. Fax: 01908 311140. E-mail iog@iog.org.

IOG conference visit to Osborne House

THE IOG national conference and ECB Cricket Groundsmen's Seminar will be held in Portsmouth (March 19-22) and combines highly topical educational seminars with study tours to some of area's most prestigious grounds facilities - including Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.

Among many other leading speakers, Martyn Jones (National Turfgrass Foundation) will be making the case for natural turf and Doctor John Lamont-Black will be revealing the dramatic influence of electrokinetics on pitch maintenance.

Anne O'Brien from WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) will focus on practical ways of recycling green waste and using recycled products.

There will be a study tour of the grounds and gardens at Osborne House, led by head gardener Deb Goodenough, and delegates will also be taken on an exclusive private tour of the house and grounds.

On the third day, Nigel Gray, head groundsman at the Hampshire Rose Bowl (headquarters of the County Cricket Club) and David Roberts, grounds manager at Southampton FC, will share details of their maintenance practices and provide an exclusive look 'behind the scenes' at their impressive facilities.

The IOG annual general meeting will be followed by dinner and cabaret on Saturday March 19.

Mike Gatting at ECB cricket groundsmen's seminar

The final day of the programme (Tuesday March 22) at the Marriott Hotel will be dedicated to the ECB Cricket Groundsmen's Seminar.

Mike Gatting OBE will make the opening address and other well known faces from the world of cricket will deliver presentations on the key issues facing today's cricket groundsmen.