SALTEX PROGRAMME

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10:00
  1. Main Stage
    45 mins
    • Education
    • Community Sport
    • Professional Sport
    • Landscaping & Contractors
    This session will cover the results, outcomes, case studies and processes linked to the UEFA club season 2025/2026 and pitch preparations for EURO 2028
    Chairperson
  2. Spotlight Stage
    45 mins
    • Education
    • Community Sport
    • Landscaping & Contractors
    The European Turfgrass Society aims to bring together scientists, researchers, academics, consultants, turf managers, product manufacturers and solution providers – to help educate, innovate and meet …
  3. Community Sport Stage
    45 mins
    • Community Sport
    How to use your grant funding wisely - to protect your pitch against weather-related issues, including irrigation and drainage
  4. The Workshop
    30 mins
    • Machinery skills and maintenance

    A practical session designed to help volunteers and community grounds people build confidence when operating and maintaining tractors, mowers and attachments safely and effectively.

11:00
  1. Main Stage
    45 mins
    • Professional Sport
    This session looks at how FIFA 2026 World Cup tournament pitch consultants and grounds teams ensured excellent surfaces in challenging climate and topography condiditons
    Chairperson
  2. Spotlight Stage
    45 mins
    • Education
    • Community Sport
    An apprenticeship could be your ticket into the world of professional sport. Find out about how to apply to study for an apprenticeship and what this entails, and hear how apprentices are building car …
  3. Community Sport Stage
    45 mins
    • Community Sport
    As grounds teams and facility managers across the UK are having to deal with more regular flooding issues, and unpredicatable maintenance windows, Alex gives some sound drainaage advice to allow more …
  4. The Workshop
    30 mins
    • Machinery skills and maintenance

    A specialist session based on Euro stage 5 diesel engines including how they work, diagnosing faults and general maintenance procedures.

12:00
  1. Main Stage
    45 mins
    • Education
    • Community Sport
    • Professional Sport
    • Landscaping & Contractors
    A panel of GMA Industry Award winners share their strategies on building a positive team culture to encourage work / life balance, CPD, career progression and employee retention
    Chairperson
  2. Spotlight Stage
    45 mins
    • Education
    • Community Sport
    • Landscaping & Contractors
    This session discusses the reasons behind data collection on playing surfaces and the advanced techniques used to optimise both player and surface performance
  3. Community Sport Stage
    45 mins
    • Community Sport
    This session will inform you on why it is important to apply fertilisers to your pitches, the best type of fertiliser to use and what the numbers on the bag mean. The session will also help you to und …
  4. Clubhouse
    60 mins
    • Meet-ups
    An informal opportunity for mechanics and workshop professionals to discuss common challenges, exchange ideas and grow their network.
  5. Clubhouse
    30 mins
    • Meet-ups

    An informal opportunity for mechanics and workshop professionals to discuss common challenges, exchange ideas and grow their network.

13:00
  1. Main Stage
    45 mins
    • Education
    • Community Sport
    • Landscaping & Contractors
    With the climate rapidly changing, the management and growth of our urban forests and trees to make our towns and cities livable has never been more important. Good urban forestry management starts wi …
    Chairperson
  2. Spotlight Stage
    45 mins
    • Education
    • Community Sport
    • Professional Sport
    • Artificial & Hybrid Surfaces
    The Session offers a comprehensive guide to hybrid pitch installation - from playing surface benefits to the planning process, the cost, and the maintenance regimes to ensure a return on investment.
  3. Community Sport Stage
    45 mins
    • Community Sport
    Getting Your Playing Surface Ready for Play This session will cover the key considerations involved in preparing and maintaining a playing surface for the season ahead. Topics will include pre-season …
  4. Clubhouse
    60 mins
    • Meet-ups
    Meet the GMA NextGen team at SALTEX! Drop into the Clubhouse to meet other young grounds professionals, make new connections and find out how you can get involved with the NextGen community.
  5. The Workshop
    30 mins
    • Machinery skills and maintenance

    Covering essential sprayer set-up, operation and maintenance principles, this session will help attendees improve application efficiency and safety.

14:00
  1. Main Stage
    45 mins
    • Education
    • Community Sport
    • Landscaping & Contractors
    Dr Ruth Mann shares research findings into how new technology can assist and improve integrated turf management practices
  2. Spotlight Stage
    45 mins
    • Education
    • Community Sport
    • Professional Sport
    • Landscaping & Contractors
    • Artificial & Hybrid Surfaces
    Discussion on the treatment of end-of-life synthetic turf, legislation, options appraisal and SAPCA's protocol to ensure that compliant companies are used.
  3. Community Sport Stage
    45 mins
    • Education
    • Community Sport
    • Dealers
    • Landscaping & Contractors
    Electric technology is no longer the future of the ground care industry—it's here today. As batteries replace fuel tanks and high-voltage systems become commonplace, understanding how to work safely w …
  4. The Workshop
    30 mins
    • Machinery skills and maintenance

    Designed for experienced grounds professionals, this session will explore mower set-up and techniques for achieving consistently high-quality results.

15:00
  1. Main Stage
    45 mins
    • Education
    • Community Sport
    As pressure on water supplies grows, sports turf managers need practical alternatives to mains water and unsustainable abstraction. This session explores the emerging Problem to Resource campaign, the …
    Chairperson
  2. Spotlight Stage
    45 mins
    • Education
    • Community Sport
    • Professional Sport
    • Landscaping & Contractors
    • Artificial & Hybrid Surfaces
    Playing surfaces are expected to do far more than simply provide a place to play. They influence player comfort, movement efficiency, injury risk, ball behaviour, and the overall quality of competitio …
10:00
  1. Main Stage
    45 mins
    • Education
    • Community Sport
    • Landscaping & Contractors
    GMA member surveys show that climate-related pitch management, and effective long-term irrigation in particular, is a growing concern for clubs. Groundstaff must maintain consistent playing surfaces w …
    Chairperson
  2. Spotlight Stage
    45 mins
    • Education
    • Community Sport
    • Landscaping & Contractors
    A panel of experts discuss cultural practices and the use of chemicals to ensure safe amenity surfaces
  3. Community Sport Stage
    45 mins
    • Community Sport
    GMA Award winner community sports club volunteers share their experience and advice on how to secure funding and create long-term business plans to ensure a successful future
  4. The Workshop
    30 mins
    • Machinery skills and maintenance

    A practical session designed to help volunteers and community grounds people build confidence when operating and maintaining tractors, mowers and attachments safely and effectively.

11:00
  1. Main Stage
    45 mins
    • Education
    • Community Sport
    • Landscaping & Contractors
    An insight into the unique challenges of preparing and maintaining cricket pitches at test venues across the UK, exploring pitch preparation, weather, maintenance and the demands of international cric …
    Chairperson
  2. Spotlight Stage
    45 mins
    • Education
    • Community Sport
    • Landscaping & Contractors
    A panel of experts explore how Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can help the amenity sector achieve sustainable, effective pest, weed and disease control.
  3. Community Sport Stage
    45 mins
    • Community Sport
    Find out what support is available from sports governing bodies to help you develop and improve your community sports facility.
  4. The Workshop
    30 mins
    • Machinery skills and maintenance

    A specialist session based on Euro stage 5 diesel engines including how they work, diagnosing faults and general maintenance procedures.

12:00
  1. Main Stage
    45 mins
    • Education
    • Community Sport
    • Landscaping & Contractors
    With increasing pressure on adopting energy-efficient sustainable solutions, often with limited resources, turf management is shifting towards smarter, system-led approaches. We discuss proven practic …
    Chairperson
  2. Spotlight Stage
    45 mins
    • Education
    • Community Sport
    • Professional Sport
    • Landscaping & Contractors
    How to Ensure Nutrient Inputs Match Plant Demand
  3. Community Sport Stage
    45 mins
    • Community Sport
    Equipment theft is becoming a major issue at community sports clubs around the country, This session offers some helpful advice around tighter security to prevent this happening to you
13:00
  1. Main Stage
    45 mins
    • Education
    • Community Sport
    A strategic discussion on how to protect the natural environment and safeguard the horseracing and its operations against the effects of a changing climate - with specific reference to carbon, water, …
    Chairperson
  2. Spotlight Stage
    45 mins
    • Landscaping & Contractors
    Consumer protection is essential, but businesses also need to protect themselves. This practical session explores how robust contracts, clear terms and conditions, effective communication and well-doc …
  3. Community Sport Stage
    45 mins
    • Community Sport
    Grassroots sports clubs in the UK can access equipment grants ranging from £1k - £50k through regional and national programmes - this session gives a step-by-step guide to a successful application
  4. Clubhouse
    60 mins
    • Meet-ups
    Meet the GMA NextGen team at SALTEX! Drop into the Clubhouse to meet other young grounds professionals, make new connections and find out how you can get involved with the NextGen community.
  5. The Workshop
    30 mins
    • Machinery skills and maintenance

    Covering essential sprayer set-up, operation and maintenance principles, this session will help attendees improve application efficiency and safety.

14:00
  1. Main Stage
    45 mins
    • Education
    • Community Sport
    This interactive session offers practical advice on how to use the Grounds Management Framework, as well as a various of national and bespoke educational oportunities to achieve the pitch standard and …
    Chairperson
  2. Spotlight Stage
    45 mins
    • Landscaping & Contractors
    Industry standards are more than technical documents—they are the foundation of professionalism, quality and consumer confidence. This session explores the role of standards in raising expectations ac …
  3. The Workshop
    30 mins

    Designed for experienced grounds professionals, this session will explore mower set-up and techniques for achieving consistently high-quality results.

FREE EDUCATION. PRACTICAL INSIGHT. REAL-WORLD LEARNING.

Learning LIVE returns to SALTEX 2026 with a packed programme designed to help grounds professionals and volunteers develop their skills, earn valuable CPD and tackle the challenges shaping the industry.

Across three dedicated stages, hear from industry experts, leading grounds professionals and specialist organisations covering everything from sports turf best practice and workforce development to technology, climate resilience, water management and funding.

Whether you're looking to develop your career, improve your surfaces, discover new approaches or bring fresh ideas back to your team, Learning LIVE gives you access to expert-led education across both days of SALTEX.

And it's all completely FREE with your SALTEX ticket.

Join us at the NEC Birmingham on 11-12 November 2026 to discover new solutions, share knowledge, and be part of the conversations driving the industry forward.

THREE STAGES. MORE WAYS TO LEARN.

MAIN STAGE

Hear from leading grounds professionals and industry experts as they tackle the big conversations shaping the future of grounds management, from elite sports turf and workforce development to technology, sustainability and climate resilience.

SPOTLIGHT STAGE

Focused sessions tackling specialist topics and emerging issues, alongside dedicated takeovers from leading industry organisations sharing expert insight, research and practical guidance.

COMMUNITY SPORT STAGE

Practical support for the people responsible for maintaining and developing community and grassroots sports facilities, covering funding, grants, pitch maintenance, weather resilience, machinery and more.

8 THEMES. TWO DAYS. PLENTY TO DISCOVER.

🏟️ SPORTS TURF BEST PRACTICE
Discover practical approaches to pitch preparation, performance and management across the world of sport.

👥 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Explore career progression, team culture, apprenticeships and CPD to develop people at every level.

🌱 SUSTAINABILITY + CLIMATE RESILIENCE
Discover practical approaches to drought, extreme weather and a changing climate to build greater resilience.

⚙️ INNOVATION + TECHNOLOGY
See how technology, research and data are helping grounds teams make smarter management decisions.

💧 WATER MANAGEMENT + DRAINAGE

Explore practical approaches to irrigation, alternative water and drainage for more resilient surfaces.

🌿 SYNTHETIC + HYBRID SURFACES

Discover the latest thinking around installation, management, performance and recycling of modern surfaces.

🔍 WEED, PEST + DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Gain practical insight into integrated approaches to weed, pest and disease control across amenity environments.

💷 CLUB FUNDING + FACILITY SUPPORT

Explore funding and grant opportunities to support community sport, alongside practical guidance on developing and protecting facilities and equipment.

SALTEX at Windsor

 

7,463
GROUNDS PEOPLE

 

SALTEX at Windsor

 

30
HOURS FREE CPD EDUCATION

 

 

400+
INDUSTRY BRANDS

 

 

79
EXPERT SPEAKERS

 

£500 CASH PRIZE DRAW

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CELEBRATING 80 EDITIONS OF DRIVING INDUSTRY PROGRESS.
Join the grounds management community at SALTEX on 11-12 November 2026.