Competent..Prove it!!

Competent ?? Prove it !

By Colin Stanfield

Myerscough College near Preston, Lancashire is now offering the opportunity for all ground staff and greenkeepers to prove their competence in the safe use and operation of mowers and turf care machinery.

Successful candidates will qualify for the award of a Certificate of Competence through the National Proficiency Test Council. With three members of the Myerscough Sportsturf Team qualified as N.P.T.C. assessors for these awards the College is able to offer both training and assessment packages. These are targeted at both the fully experienced employee needing to prove their competence and the new entrant needing to develop their skills as well as having their competence recognised.

"These new awards will prove to be a valuable asset to both new and experienced turf machinery operatives alike" commented Brian King, Lecturer in Sportsturf Machinery at Myerscough College. "We have detected an increased demand amongst employers, often driven by the insurance companies in respect of public and employer liability requirements, for evidence that all staff are trained and competent. Crucially they want documented evidence of this and these awards fit the bill".

Added Brian King," Myerscough College is ideally placed to deliver high quality training and assessment in sportsturf machinery with access to a range of state of the art equipment based at the College's Turf Technology unit".

For further information on N.P.T.C. and the wide range of Sportsturf courses on offer at Myerscough College contact Course Enquiries on 01995 642211/642222 or alternatively contact Colin Stanfield, Programme Leader for Sportsturf on (01995) 642305 or e-mail: cstanfield@myerscough.ac.uk.