Feature areas
Head through the halls of the Harrogate Convention Centre and you'll find more than just our fantastic exhibitors at the show. Throughout the duration of BTME there will be various feature areas providing specific information to help you with whatever challenges or needs you face, whether it be accessing career development opportunities or moving towards a more sustainable future. Tap on the names of feature areas below to find out more.
BIGGA Stand
Hall 3
The real heart of BTME, the BIGGA stand is where our team will be based throughout the show and where you can come for help and advice on anything relating to your personal or professional development.
Chat to our regional team about getting involved with the association on a local level or sit down with a member of the Learning & Development team to learn about the exclusive career development opportunities available to BIGGA members.
You can have a chat about how you can optimise your BIGGA membership, renew or join the association, update your details, check out the career development area and get your face on the cover of Greenkeeper International.
On the stand will also be a number of approved training providers, who can guide you towards your career aspirations.
Seminar Theatre
Hall 4
Free seminars hosted by a selection of BTME exhibitors will be taking place in the Hall 4 Seminar Theatre of the Harrogate Convention Centre.
These ‘silent’ sessions will take advantage of technology that will allow you to hear the presentations without leaving the exhibition halls and will be held on Tuesday & Wednesday.
All visitors to BTME are welcome to attend these free seminars. If you’ve never been to BTME before, they may give you an insight to the great education that is on offer at the exhibition.
No pre-booking is required, just turn up at the start time of the session you’d like to attend.
Seating is available for approximately 120 people, with standing room also available.
Support and Welfare Hub
Hall 1
During BTME we will be joined by representatives from a number of BIGGA's wellbeing partners. Each is equipped to support BIGGA members through many of the challenges we all face on a daily basis.
Joining us at BTME will be:
Andy's Man Club
Andy's Man Club is a men's suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online. The charity wants to end the stigma surrounding men's mental health and help men through the power of conversation. #ITSOKAYTOTALK
HR Services Scotland
BIGGA has teamed up with HR Services Scotland to provide every greenkeeper member with access to free help and advice to make your workplace a more professional and positive environment. A team of qualified advisers is on hand to assist BIGGA members with any HR problems that arise, with instant advice just a phone call away. Head to the BIGGA website for more information.
Perennial
Perennial is the UK's only charity dedicated to helping everyone who works in horticulture and their families when time gets tough. Perennial provides free and confidential advice, information and support to people working in or retired from horticulture and their families.
Sports Chaplaincy UK
Sports Chaplaincy UK is here to help those involved in the community of sport or those who would like to help this community. There are hundreds of chaplains in the UK and Ireland, providing pastoral and spiritual care to professional and amateur sport. Sports Chaplaincy UK helps train and facilitate the appointment of sports chaplains.
Royal National Institute for Deaf People
Twelve million people in the UK are deaf or have hearing loss or tinnitus and greenkeepers are at particular risk given their prolonged exposure to loud machinery. The RNID works across health, employment, research, government and more to change life for the better. If you have any concerns about your hearing, speak to the team for help and advice.
Skcin
Skcin is the Karen Clifford Skin Cancer Charity and they work alongside BIGGA to raise awareness of the dangers of exposure to the sun's UV rays, not just in the height of summer but throughout the year. Skcin representatives can answer any tricky questions you may have about skin safety and offer advice to reduce your risk of suffering from skin cancer in future.
Sustainability Zone
Hall 5
The Sustainability Hub will bring awareness of the important role sustainable and ecologically-sound practices play in the operation of a successful golf club.
The hub is intended to be a solution-focussed area where attendees to BTME can get answers to sustainability-related questions.
Headed up by a combination BIGGA, The R&A and RSPB partnership, the GEO Sustainable Golf Foundation and England Golf, it will have acknowledged experts available to discuss a range of solutions.
New this year is a presentation area on which a series of talks will take place throughout the exhibition, touching upon key topics of discussion.
Owen James of England Golf will focus upon water resilience and will be asking visitors to the stand for their help as he seeks to gain an up-to-date understanding of the industry’s water usage and reliability on potable water.
James Hutchinson and Dr Marie Athorn will be on hand to provide essential guidance on ecological matters.
At its heart, sustainability is about creating golf businesses that are not wasteful, that don't pollute and that don't have an excessive carbon footprint. Ultimately this will lead to golf businesses that cost less to operate but that maintain the high standards that golfers have come to expect.
Education Hub
Hall 3
Are you looking to access development to advance your career, or are you looking to provide learning opportunities for your team?
Visit the Education Hub in Hall 3 and meet representatives of the Greenkeepers Training Committee, who will be accompanied throughout the show by representatives from GTC-BIGGA Approved Training Providers (ATPs). They will be happy to discuss education opportunities ranging from apprenticeships to degrees, short courses, part-time and full-time learning and everything in between.
GTC-BIGGA Approved Training Providers have met criteria designed to set a benchmark for quality greenkeeper education and training.
Come along and have a chat:
- to learn more about apprenticeships
- about your course work
- about end-point assessments
- about career progression
- or anything else relating to ongoing professional development
Confirmed to attend so far are:
- Askham Bryan College
- Hadlow College
- Oldham College
- Suffolk New College
- Berkshire College of Agriculture
- SRUC
- Capel Manor College
- Pershore College (no staff in attendance)
