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GroundsFest Academy: Raising the Standard of Industry Education
Practical, hands-on education has long been a missing piece in the grounds management sector. That is something GroundsFest Academy is actively changing and, judging by the response so far, the industry has been waiting for it.
Speaking to Bradley Tennant, Director of Education at GroundsFest Academy, it is clear that the initiative is built on a simple but powerful idea. It aims to deliver meaningful, practical learning experiences that professionals can immediately apply in their day to day roles.
A New Approach to Learning
“The feedback we have had from the four free events we delivered last year has been incredible,” Bradley explains. “This comes not just from attendees, but from across the trade as well.”
At the core of the Academy’s success is its commitment to hands on learning. Rather than traditional classroom style sessions, the events are designed to immerse participants in real world scenarios. These include identifying grass species, understanding irrigation systems, and exploring emerging technologies such as robotics and green innovations.
“It is education delivered in the way I have wanted to do it for many years,” Bradley adds. “It is practical, hands on, and delivered to a standard that I felt was missing in the industry.”
Broad Appeal Across the Sector
One of the standout features of GroundsFest Academy events is their broad relevance. Attendees range from local authority teams and school grounds staff to professionals working in elite sport across multiple disciplines.
For some, the value lies in exploring new areas of the industry. For others, it is about deepening existing knowledge.
“You might have someone with an irrigation background picking up new skills with different products,” Bradley says. “Or someone stepping into areas they would not usually work in, such as line marking or seed identification.”
This sharing of knowledge is further strengthened by strong industry partnerships, with suppliers and manufacturers actively involved in delivering sessions.
“To have 30 or 40 highly engaged people in a room, working directly with products and experts, has been amazing,” he reflects. “The positivity and drive from everyone involved has been incredible.”
Building Momentum in 2026
Following a successful launch year, GroundsFest Academy is expanding its programme significantly.
The first event of 2026, held in February at Wiltshire FA, focused on integrated weed management and continued the trend of strong engagement and positive feedback.
“It was another brilliant day,” Bradley notes. “It was delivered really well with our partners.”
Looking ahead, the Academy already has ten events planned for the year, with several now live on its website. Topics will cover a wide range of specialist areas, including a dedicated synthetic surfaces day.
One particularly unique upcoming event takes place at Mansfield Sand. It will offer attendees the chance to explore rootzones, soil profiles, construction methods, and materials such as gravels and fibre sands, alongside a behind the scenes quarry tour.
“That is not something that comes up often,” Bradley says. “So it is great for us to be able to offer that to the industry.”
A Collaborative Effort
Throughout the conversation, Bradley repeatedly emphasises the collaborative nature of GroundsFest Academy’s success.
“I honestly cannot thank everyone involved enough,” he says. “The support, the feedback, and the shared ambition to keep improving is what is making this work.”
With a growing calendar of events, increasing industry support, and a clear focus on practical learning, GroundsFest Academy is quickly establishing itself as a key player in professional development for grounds management.
For an industry that thrives on skill, precision, and innovation, initiatives like this are more than welcome. They are essential.
If early feedback is anything to go by, GroundsFest Academy is only just getting started.
