Estates’ Grounds team scores an industry double win

The University of Warwick’s Estates’ Grounds team is celebrating a remarkable double success after winning two national honours at the 2026 Grounds Management Association (GMA) Industry Awards.Link opens in a new window

The team was named University & College Grounds Team of the Year, while also securing a win for the Best Managed Artificial Surface of the Year.

The awards were announced at a ceremony held at Edgbaston Stadium last week, in which grounds professionals from across the UK celebrated excellence and highlighted the vital role grounds teams play in keeping sport thriving at every level.

Charlie Yeomans, Estates’ Operations Manager (Grounds), is delighted for the team.

“Winning this award was something we were really aiming for,” he said. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate to the sector just how strong our team is. Ultimately, it’s about sharing best practice with fellow grounds colleagues. Winning is great, of course, but contributing to the industry by sharing good ideas is even better.”

This year’s awards also saw the team named runners‑up for the Environmental and Sustainability Impact Award. Charlie added: “That recognition across multiple categories shows the strength and breadth of what we do.”

What makes Warwick’s pitches award‑winning?

Estates’ Grounds team manages a 118.7‑acre portfolio of natural and synthetic sports surfaces.

These include 3G football and five‑a‑side pitches, a fully re-laid water‑based hockey pitch, polymer-based netball courts, a world‑class Mondo athletics track, clay tennis courts and multiple natural turf areas used for football, rugby, American football, frisbee, lacrosse and cricket.

The team itself is made up of seven full-time grounds staff and an apprentice, supported by a wider cohort of 40 gardeners who maintain the rest of the University’s landscape. Much of the Grounds workforce has come through Warwick’s own apprenticeship pathways, something Charlie is especially proud of.

“What makes Warwick Team of the Year? It’s everything working together,” he said. “The commitment of the staff, the machinery, tools, technology, the quality of the pitches and the ability to deliver consistently for both students and the wider community. People travel from across the country to use our facilities, so we have to be prepared at all times.

“Our team’s skill is outstanding, and what I’m most proud of is that many of our staff are former apprentices.

“We’ve developed homegrown talent here at Warwick, and their dedication and expertise are what bring awards like this back to campus.”

• Find out more about the Grounds & Gardens team in Estates.