TurfTrax Ground Management Systems

What TurfTrax Ground Management Systems does

TGMS (TurfTrax Ground Management Systems) is an independent UK sports surface consultancy founded in 2008 by Dr. Richard Earl following a management buy-out of TurfTrax Ground Management Systems Limited. The firm advises on the design, specification, project management and performance testing of natural and artificial turf sports pitches for community and professional sports clubs, local authorities, schools, contractors, developers and universities across the United Kingdom. Its senior team includes chartered engineers and turf-science specialists drawn from Cranfield University and professional golf course management, with credentials spanning PhD-level agronomy, sports turf science, and Ryder Cup tournament preparation.

The firm's core technology stack combines specialist civil engineering and agronomic expertise with precision surveying hardware — Leica Viva GPS and TPS instruments for topographic and OSGB-datum surveys, and an in-house XTI Drainage Camera for CCTV assessment of piped drainage — alongside a seven-stage Key Stage Testing protocol and PQS performance testing against governing-body criteria (infiltration rate, gradient, evenness, hardness, traction, ball rebound and ball roll). TGMS works within Sport England's Design and Technical Assurance Framework and fulfils performance criteria for The FA, Football Foundation, ECB, RFL and RFU; it has co-developed industry protocols including the Equivalent Quality Assessment and the Natural Turf for Sport Design Guidance Note.

TGMS generates revenue through professional-service fees on a project-by-project basis, structured into discrete stages from feasibility and survey through detailed design, tender management, construction supervision and post-completion performance testing, with multi-year contract cadences typical. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Distribution is direct-to-client (phone, email, online enquiry) with marketing primarily via website case studies, a LinkedIn presence, and corporate memberships of SAPCA and the GMA. A specialist sub-brand, TGMS-Cemeteries, extends the same consultancy methodology into cemetery development, but no funding rounds, acquisitions or geographic expansion beyond the UK have been disclosed.

Name

TurfTrax Ground Management Systems

Legal name

TGMS Ltd

Website

https://tgms.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TGMS is an independent UK sports surface consultancy providing surveying, design, project management and performance testing for natural and artificial turf pitches to community clubs, professional clubs, local authorities, schools, contractors, developers and universities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ampthill

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Sports Surface Consultancy Services: TGMS provides technical support and consultancy services from project inception through to completion. Services include surveying, conceptual designs, feasibility studies, detailed designs, technical specifications, bills of quantities, construction drawings, project management, contract administration, agronomic advice, and performance testing. Revenue is generated through professional service fees for these consultancy engagements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

TGMS provides independent sports surface consultancy services covering the design, specification, and project management of natural and artificial turf sports pitches. The company delivers services from feasibility studies and surveying through to detailed design, construction administration, agronomic advice, and post-completion performance testing (PQS and Key Stage Testing) for clients including community sports clubs, professional clubs, local authorities, schools, contractors, and developers across the United Kingdom.

Product overview

TGMS (TurfTrax Ground Management Systems) is an independent sports surface consultancy practice offering a comprehensive suite of services for the design, specification, and project management of natural turf and artificial sports surfaces. The core offering consists of consultancy services structured into discrete project stages: surveying (topographic, soil, and asset), feasibility studies, detailed design and technical specifications, project management, and post-construction performance testing. The main service modules include Natural Turf Sports Surfaces, Artificial Sports Surfaces, Surveying Services, Key Stage Testing, PQS Performance Quality Standard Testing, Agronomic Advice, Drainage Camera Surveys, and Equivalent Quality Assessments. These services support clients across community sports clubs, professional clubs, local authorities, schools, contractors, and developers from project inception through to completion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TGMS-Cemeteries: Specialist advice and consultancy for cemetery developments.

Products and services

• Sports Surface Consultancy Services Comprehensive consultancy services for sports surface design, specification, and project management covering natural turf and artificial surfaces from feasibility through to completion, delivered to community clubs, professional clubs, local authorities, schools, contractors, and developers in the United Kingdom.
• Natural Turf Sports Surfaces Consultancy Specialist consultancy for the design, specification, and project management of natural turf sports surfaces including football pitches, rugby pitches, and cricket wickets.
• Artificial Sports Surfaces Consultancy Specialist consultancy for the design, specification, and project management of artificial sports surfaces including 3G pitches, MUGAs, and synthetic surfaces.
• Surveying Services Pre and post construction surveying services including topographic surveys, soil surveys, asset surveys, levels surveys, drainage camera surveys, setting out, and as-built surveys.
• Drainage Camera Surveys CCTV drainage surveys using the XTI Drainage Camera to assess piped drainage condition, identify blockages or breaks, and determine outfall connections for sports surface clients.
• Feasibility Studies Technical feasibility studies for sports facility improvements including site investigations, soil profiling, drainage recommendations, and construction cost estimates.
• Project Management and Contract Administration Project management services from contract award through to completion including site visits, quality monitoring, and contractor coordination for sports surface construction projects.
• PQS Performance Quality Standard Testing Performance testing service to demonstrate compliance with governing body criteria including infiltration rate, gradient, surface evenness, surface hardness, traction, ball rebound resilience, and ball roll.
• Key Stage Testing Testing service during construction of artificial pitches checking compliance against design specifications through 7 key stages including formation surface, stone foundation, dynamic base, shockpad, carpet installation, and final snagging.
• Agronomic Advice Agronomic consultation services including grass establishment, maintenance programs, and ongoing agronomic management plans for natural turf facilities.
• Equivalent Quality Assessments Benchmarking assessments to ensure new sports facilities are equivalent or better than existing facilities, commonly required as a planning condition for new sports facility developments.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3-6 hours per week of usage capacity achievable with improved drainage for community football pitches
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sport EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008TGMS provides technical support to Sport England through their Design and Technical Assurance Framework. Worked with Sport England to develop protocols for Equivalent Quality Assessment and the Sport England Design Guidance Note – Natural Turf for Sport.
• The Football Association (FA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative approach fulfils performance criteria of The FA. Feasibility reports used as basis for attracting Football Foundation funding.
• The Football FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeasibility reports used as basis for attracting Football Foundation funding for football pitch upgrades and construction.
• England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative approach fulfils performance criteria of the ECB for cricket surface specifications.
• Rugby Football League (RFL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative approach fulfils performance criteria of the RFL for rugby league surface specifications.
• Rugby Football Union (RFU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative approach fulfils performance criteria of the RFU for rugby union surface specifications.
• The Sport and Play Construction Association (SAPCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member of SAPCA. Association provides industry credibility and networking within sports construction sector.
• Grounds Management Association (GMA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member of GMA (formerly IOG). Association provides industry credibility and professional development connections.
• BSolve ITminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWebsite development partner that collaborated with TGMS to update and redesign the company website, making it mobile-friendly and more intuitive.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• STRI (Sports Turf Research Institute): STRI is the UK's most established independent sports turf research and consultancy practice, offering testing, agronomy, design, and project management for natural and artificial surfaces — a direct like-for-like competitor for TGMS across NGB, stadium, and community-club mandates.
• Labosport: Labosport is a Europe-based sports surface testing laboratory providing laboratory and on-site performance testing (PQS, FIFA Quality, World Rugby) for artificial and natural pitches — directly comparable to TGMS's PQS and key stage testing services.
• Sports Labs: Sports Labs is an independent UK sports surface testing and inspection firm offering performance testing and quality assurance for synthetic and natural turf — a direct functional peer to TGMS's PQS and key stage testing work.
• Intelligent Sport Surfaces (ISS): ISS is a UK sports surface consultancy providing testing, inspection, and design services for artificial and natural pitches, directly overlapping with TGMS's testing and quality assurance offerings.

Broad incumbents

• FieldTurf: FieldTurf is a global manufacturer and installer of synthetic turf systems with a broad product portfolio across sports and landscaping. Comparable at the specification/standards level (PQS testing interacts directly with FieldTurf product compliance) but operates at vastly larger scale as a manufacturer.
• SIS Pitches: SIS Pitches is one of the UK's largest synthetic sports pitch installers and providers, operating a vertically integrated model across design, supply, installation, and maintenance. Overlaps with TGMS at the design and specification stage but competes as a much larger incumbent with manufacturer-installer economics.

Others

• SAPCA (Sport and Play Construction Association): SAPCA is the UK trade association for sport and play facility constructors, of which TGMS is a corporate member. Comparable as a peer organisation within the same ecosystem that connects TGMS to contractors, NGBs, and funding bodies.
• White Horse Contractors: White Horse Contractors is a UK sports turf and amenity construction firm delivering natural and artificial pitch construction. Comparable as a contractor-side partner for TGMS-led designs, particularly on community-club and local authority projects.
• Charles Lawrence Sports Surfaces: Charles Lawrence is a UK artificial sports pitch contractor cited on the De Montfort University case study. Comparable as a downstream contractor that TGMS specifies and oversees, rather than a direct service competitor.
• S&C Slatter: S&C Slatter is a UK specialist sports facility design-and-build contractor delivering artificial pitches, MUGAs, and athletics facilities. Tangentially comparable: TGMS often acts as consultant on projects S&C Slatter builds, making them a frequent downstream counterparty rather than a head-to-head competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/tgms-uk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TurfTrax Ground Management Systems