OVER the last year, the Institute of Groundsmanship have been working hard to gather insight on the industry’s future by conducting research and updating their strategy to highlight the vital role groundspeople play in sport.

And they are hoping that a name change will help them attract new individuals, clubs and businesses.

In a statement, CEO of the organisation, Geoff Webb, said: "In this month alone (due to the coronavirus pandemic), our industry has faced some of the toughest challenges and we’re all having to adapt very quickly.

"We continue to provide services and benefits to support and help guide our members during this unprecedented time.

"I want to personally thank all those that voted in our EGM. We value each member’s input and it’s great to see so much support for our proposed name change.

"We’re thrilled to announce that 84 per cent of votes were in favour of the name change from the Institute of Groundsmanship to the Grounds Management Association.

"On Friday, April 2, we transitioned to the new name and branding to help attract even more groundspeople to the sector and support future success of the industry.

"We know how important it is to retain and grow the pipeline of talent for the future workforce, as well as volunteers.

"I’m confident that our updated brand will help individuals, clubs, organisations, and businesses communicate all their hard work and passion.

"We’re excited to take this first step on our new journey while continuing to support our members, who make sport possible."