STRI Group

We had a fantastic day at the @wearetheGMA conference at @Edgbaston Stadium, home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club. It was great to see catch up with old and new friends, listen to the insightful presentations alongside the brilliant host @MarkClemmit and network with industry professionals. Thanks to the team at GMA for organising.

With the #CheltenhamFestival underway and the racing taking centre stage, it's crucial to remember the importance of safe and consistent surfaces. Gallops play a vital role in preparing racehorses for competition. Maintaining them requires a combination of technical knowledge, practical skill and a deep understanding of how surfaces influence performance and safety. We've been working closely with the @WelfareBoard to develop a training course on gallops maintenance at training facilities. Developed with industry expertise, funded by the The Racing Foundation and with insights from The Jockey Club Estates, the programme helps yard staff better understand surface composition, maintenance techniques and equipment used to keep training gallops performing at their best. At STRI, we're keen to support the sharing of best practice across racing surfaces, helping ensure the welfare of horses and riders while maintaining high-performance training environments. Watch the video below to hear more about how improved skills and knowledge in gallops maintenance are helping to raise standards across the industry, featuring our very own Sarah Hosmer. youtube.com/watch?si=Uzhuj…

@GlennKirby is on tour! Speaking at the upcoming @BIGGALtd conferences across the UK, starting in Yorkshire, Glenn will be discussing 'Mowing in frost', the focus of one of STRI's current in-house trials. 3rd March - BIGGA Sectional Education Day - Yorkshire & Sheffield 4th March - BIGGA Sectional Education Day - North West & North Wales 18th March - BIGGA Sectional Education Day - North East & Cleveland View the events here: bigga.org.uk/event-listing.… We look forward to seeing you there.

BASIS training dates 2026 dates are out now 📢 At STRI, education and knowledge-sharing sit at the centre of everything we do, and there really is no better place to learn alongside the experts. BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection in Amenity Horticulture (Turf or Hard surface skill modules) Teaching dates (9 day course): 5-9 October 2026 and 2-5 November 2026 Online written exam: 7 December 2026 ID test: 8 December 2026 Vivas: 9 December 2026 FACTS Turf Teaching dates: 20-23 October 2026 Online written exams: 10 December 2026 Viva: 11 December 2026 BASIS Foundation in Amenity Horticulture Teaching dates: 23-25 November 2026 Online exam: 30 November 2026 All courses are hosted at our Bingley HQ, so delegates can receive hands on experience on on our trials grounds. Email - enquiries@strigroup.com to book your place. Find out more here - strigroup.com/basis-and-fact… #BASIS

Last weekend we were delighted to be part of an outstanding @TheSaudiCup 2026 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse. It was a pleasure to work alongside the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA) once again for this event, and with excellent feedback on the performance of the track, it has been a fantastic few days and shines a spotlight on the technical work carried out by our team. Saudi Cup week was particularly significant this year, coinciding with the 41st Asian Racing Federation Conference, which brought together racing authorities, technical specialists and industry leaders from across the global racing community. STRI’s Colin Lyons and Sarah Hosmer attended the conference, reconnecting with long-standing collaborators and meeting new colleagues across the industry. Thank you again for all the hard work everyone contributed to achieve the high standards required for such an elite event. #TheSaudiCup

As Ramadan begins, we’d like to wish all those observing a peaceful and meaningful month. May this time bring reflection, wellbeing and connection with family, friends and community. Ramadan Mubarak. #Ramadan2026

We are looking for a groundsperson to join the trials team at our seven hectare sports turf research site. This is a turf role with a difference, preparing turf for research, trials and innovation. Sometimes that means producing high-quality turf. Sometimes it means stressing it, challenging it… and even killing it (and getting thanked for it). Apply if you're keen to pursue a role with a focus on a positive work/life balance which has often opportunities to develop into the wider business. To find out more and apply, click the link here: strigroup.com/job/groundsper…

A celebration of sport, entertainment and cultural experience, tomorrow sees the start of @TheSaudiCup. We're marking our seventh consecutive year working alongside the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA), providing agronomic and technical consultancy, and performance expertise for one of the world’s most prestigious racing events. The stakes are high, and the prize money is higher. Attracting international attention and top talent, our priority is to ensure the track is performing to the highest standards. We're looking forward to the event, and we're answering the question, how do you grow a natural turf racetrack in the desert? Insights into how we make this happen can be read here: strigroup.com/how-to-grow-a-…

We're delighted to welcome Ian Lacy as Senior Consultant to the Group. Bringing more than 40 years of international experience in design, construction, management and optimisation of sports surfaces, his appointment reinforces our commitment to delivering world-leading expertise to clients across football, rugby, tennis, golf and other elite sports environments. Welcome Ian!

This week, Sarah Hosmer and Colin Lyons will be attending the #AsianRacingConference 2026 taking place in Riyadh. Bringing together leaders in horse racing, we're looking forward to meeting new and old colleagues in the industry. If you're attending, write a comment below, it'd be great to catch up.

This week we were delighted to attend @TheRCA's Medical, Veterinary and Turf Management Conference, hosted at Lingfield Park Resort, with our objective being to provide helpful guidance for racecourse managers. We shared the Performance Quality Standards (PQS) framework, produced in collaboration with the @WelfareBoard and @TheRCA which takes a data-driven approach to understanding and managing a racecourse, helping to inform decision-making and management strategies. This was followed up by the launch of the Racecourse Water Management Guide, a document that provides straight-forward guidance on soil, water and irrigation demands. The best practice guide has been developed by STRI, The RCA, HWB, with support from the RCA Ground and Going Group, with funding provided by The Racing Foundation. We’ll be sharing more on this very soon. Watch this space! A huge thank you to all involved in this event, and to STRI's Christian Spring, Sarah Hosmer and Steve Gingell for their insightful presentations.

As the dust settles following a chaotic final, we’re celebrating the work of our consulting team who played a key role in supporting the delivery of an elite playing surface for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. Working alongside Valtech to help ensure the pitch delivered world-class performance, capable of transitioning from high-profile event use to match-ready conditions under demanding schedules. Have a read of our latest blog which details our work, and recognises the hard work of everyone involved. We’re delighted to contribute to such a prestigious tournament and to help create exceptional playing conditions on the global stage. Read more: strigroup.com/stri-consultin… #AFCON

Tough times can strike any time, but many people find January tricky. We're taking part in Brew Monday today, an event set up by the @samaritans , which aims to remind everyone to reach out for a cuppa and a catch-up with the people you care about. It's a reminder of how important it can be to check-in with those around you as it really can make a difference. We know there’s no such thing as ‘Blue Monday’ and that feeling low isn’t just something that happens on Mondays on a random day in January. ​So, we say out with the blue and in with the brew! ​ If you or anyone you know needs help: samaritans.org #brewmonday

Next week, Stella Rixon will be presenting her sold out class 'Grass Identification' at this year's Continue to Learn for BTME. 📍Queen's Suite 2 🗓️ 20th January, 1:15pm-4:30pm We're looking forward to another year attending and speaking at the exhibition, meeting new delegates and seeing colleagues within the industry. See you there!  More information on the talk can be found here: btme.org.uk/event/grass-id… See you then! #BTME26 @BIGGALtd

📢 We’re hiring a Senior Sports Design Technician We’re looking for a Senior Sports Design Technician to join our team at St. Ives Estate, Bingley. This full-time role is a great opportunity to work on exciting sports facility project, from community-level developments to elite competition venues, supporting design from concept through to construction. In this role you'll: • Lead technical design packages and coordinate detailed drawing outputs • Collaborate with project leads, consultants and clients • Support BIM workflows and mentor junior team members • Help shape design strategies that deliver high-quality, innovative solutions across sporting sectors Indeed Apply here if you have strong technical expertise, confident communication skills, and a passion for sport and design: strigroup.com/job/seniorspor…

Last night, the Winter Solstice STRIder, hosted by @Sue_Ryder charity, was held in St Ives Estate, starting and finishing at our Bingley HQ. The weather held off and approximately 500 people raced through the woods, guided by their head torches. The charity supports people who are living with a terminal illness, a neurological condition or those who are bereaved, and we're delighted to have supported the event for another year 👏

Last week we held our annual company day, bringing together Group companies STRI, @EPGLimited , and @CarrickLimited. As well as reflecting on a successful year, we spent time focusing on the identity of the different brands within the Group and what makes them stand out, as well as discussing the qualities of a great leader. With 143 colleagues across the globe, it's great to take time out to celebrate our incredible teams and the individual and collaborative achievements across the Group. Thank you to @JamiePeacock10 MBE, our guest speaker, who shared some inspirational insights into high performance, including surrounding yourself with positive influences, being self-disciplined and pushing beyond your comfort zone. Here's to 2026!