Grounds Management Association
Grounds Management Association (GMA) is a UK not-for-profit membership body, founded 1934 and based in Milton Keynes, that supports grounds professionals, volunteers, sports clubs, and corporate suppliers through tiered memberships, training, and Europe's largest groundscare trade exhibition, SALTEX.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1934
- HeadquartersMilton Keynes, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Grounds Management Association does
Grounds Management Association (GMA) is a UK not-for-profit membership body founded in 1934 (as the Institute of Groundsmanship, rebranded to GMA in 2020) and headquartered in Milton Keynes. It serves three distinct constituencies — individual grounds professionals and volunteers, sports clubs and educational organisations, and corporate suppliers — through a tiered membership structure spanning Individual (Pro, Student, Retired, Volunteer), Organisation (Community £93, Standard £196, Advanced £376), and Corporate Supporter (Bronze £335 to Platinum) tiers. 63% of memberships are provided at subsidised rates, consistent with its sector-support mission.
GMA operates three core product surfaces: membership services; the GMA Learning platform delivering 2,000+ training courses and qualifications annually; and SALTEX, Europe's largest dedicated groundscare trade exhibition, held annually at NEC Birmingham (7,463+ attendees, 400+ exhibitor brands, 79 expert speakers, 30 hours of free CPD). Adjacent offerings include the multi-sport Pitch Advisory Service (delivered jointly with ECB, RFU, RFL, Football Foundation, Sport England, and Cymru Football Foundation across England and Wales), TurfCare Advisory consultancy, the Grounds Management Framework (PQS + Skills & Knowledge Matrix), interactive planning calculators, and digital compliance documents (Risk Assessments and Safe Systems of Work).
Revenue is generated predominantly through recurring annual membership subscriptions across the three pillars, supplemented by SALTEX exhibition-floor-space sales (400+ brands), professional services fees (site audits, training needs analysis, TurfCare Advisory), and one-time digital document licences. Distribution is digital-first via the MyGMA portal and GMA Learning platform, with SALTEX and regional GMA Connect events functioning as flagship GTM channels. GMA employs 11–50 staff, operates as a private non-profit (Grounds Management Association Limited, company number 00553036), and does not publicly disclose financial figures.
Grounds Management Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Grounds Management Association
- Legal name
- Grounds Management Association Limited
- Website
- https://thegma.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1934
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Grounds Management Association (GMA) is a UK not-for-profit membership body, founded 1934 and based in Milton Keynes, that supports grounds professionals, volunteers, sports clubs, and corporate suppliers through tiered memberships, training, and Europe's largest groundscare trade exhibition, SALTEX.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Grounds Management Association industry classification
Industry- NAICS
- Landscaping Services (561730)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Turf Management (Sports Fields, Golf Courses) (BPABADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Groundskeeping, Landscaping & Snow/Ice Management (EDALALAB), Landscape, Turf & Groundskeeping Trades (EDAOAOAC), Turf Care (Fertilization, Aeration & Weed/Pest Control) (IMAIAIAD), Commercial Landscaping & Grounds Maintenance (BPABADAA)
Keywords
Where Grounds Management Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milton Keynes
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Grounds Management Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Individual Membership Subscriptions: Annual subscription fees from individual members including Pro, Student, Retired, and Volunteer tiers providing access to technical resources, magazine, training discounts, and SALTEX benefits.
- Organisation Membership Subscriptions: Annual subscription fees from sports clubs, schools, colleges, universities, and local authorities at Community, Standard, and Advanced tiers.
- Corporate Supporter Memberships: Annual corporate memberships at Bronze (£335), Silver (£670), Gold (£2,060), and Platinum tiers providing supplier directory listings, event benefits, and marketing exposure.
- SALTEX Event Revenue: Revenue from Europe's largest trade exhibition for groundscare, including exhibition floor space sales, with all proceeds reinvested into the sector.
- Professional Services: Fee-based services including Site Audits, Training Needs Analysis, TurfCare Advisory, and Pitch Advisory Service for organizations seeking specialized grounds management consultancy.
- Document Products: Digital document sales including Safe Systems of Work and Risk Assessments templates for health and safety compliance in grounds management.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Pro membership for working grounds professionals |
| Freemium | Annual | Student membership - free for full-time education students |
| Subscription | Annual | Retired membership - discounted PRO for retired professionals |
| Subscription | Annual | Volunteer membership - discounted PRO for volunteers |
| Subscription | Annual | Community Organisation - for grassroots/amateur sports clubs |
| Subscription | Annual | Standard Organisation - for amateur, educational or professional organizations |
| Subscription | Annual | Advanced Organisation - for elite professional or educational organisations |
| Subscription | Annual | Bronze Corporate Supporter |
| Subscription | Annual | Silver Corporate Supporter |
| Subscription | Annual | Gold Corporate Supporter |
| Subscription | Annual | Platinum Corporate Supporter - highest value tier |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels13 records
Grounds Management Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Grounds Management Association is a not-for-profit membership organisation that delivers tiered individual, organisational, and corporate memberships to the UK sports grounds sector. It also provides professional advisory services (TurfCare Advisory, Pitch Advisory, Site Audits, Training Needs Analysis), training courses and qualifications via the GMA Learning platform, and operates the annual SALTEX trade exhibition for groundscare.
Product overview
Grounds Management Association operates as a not-for-profit membership body offering a portfolio of membership tiers (Individual, Organisation, Corporate Supporter), professional services (TurfCare Advisory, Site Audit, Training Needs Analysis, Pitch Advisory Service), educational programmes via GMA Learning platform, and the annual SALTEX exhibition. The organisation provides digital tools including interactive planning calculators and compliance document templates, all designed to support grounds professionals from grassroots to elite level.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use Grounds Management Association
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Grounds Management Association technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Grounds Management Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.
- Sport EnglandcoreNational strategic partner supporting grassroots sports development and funding, collaborating with GMA on Pitch Advisory Service initiatives.
- Football FoundationcoreMajor funding body for football grassroots facilities, working with GMA on Pitch Advisory Service for football and funding coordination.
- Rugby Football Union (RFU)coreNational governing body for rugby union in England, collaborating with GMA on Rugby Union Pitch Advisory Service delivery.
- England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)coreNational governing body for cricket, partnering with GMA on Cricket Pitch Advisory Service and club support initiatives.
- Rugby Football League (RFL)coreNational governing body for rugby league, collaborating with GMA on Rugby League Pitch Advisory Service delivery.
- Cymru Football FoundationcoreWelsh football foundation supporting community football development, partnering with GMA for Pitch Advisory Service in Wales.
- Premier LeaguecoreTop-tier professional football league, supporting SALTEX exhibition and industry education initiatives.
- Wimbledon (All England Club)strategicPrestigious tennis championship sharing expertise through SALTEX speaker programme and CPD education.
- Lord's Cricket GroundstrategicHome of cricket, contributing expert speakers to SALTEX CPD education programme.
- Wembley National StadiumstrategicNational football stadium, providing speakers for SALTEX education and supporting industry standards.
- UEFAstrategicEuropean football governing body contributing expert speakers to SALTEX CPD education sessions.
- ICLminorCorporate supporter listed in GMA supplier directory, providing products/services to grounds management industry.
- GKB Machines LtdminorCorporate supporter listed in GMA supplier directory for grounds maintenance machinery.
- ISEKI UK & IrelandminorCorporate supporter and machinery supplier in GMA supplier directory.
- Cramer ToolsminorCorporate supporter and tool supplier in GMA supplier directory.
- KubotaminorCorporate supporter and machinery manufacturer in GMA supplier directory.
- Howardson Group LtdminorCorporate supporter and equipment supplier in GMA supplier directory.
- Wales Football AssociationcoreNational football governing body for Wales, partnering with GMA through Cymru Football Foundation for Pitch Advisory Service.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Grounds Management Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Customer concentration
Grounds Management Association social profiles
Digital presenceGrounds Management Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Grounds Management Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Grounds Management Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Grounds Management Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Grounds Management Association
What does Grounds Management Association do?
Grounds Management Association is a not-for-profit membership organisation that delivers tiered individual, organisational, and corporate memberships to the UK sports grounds sector. It also provides professional advisory services (TurfCare Advisory, Pitch Advisory, Site Audits, Training Needs Analysis), training courses and qualifications via the GMA Learning platform, and operates the annual SALTEX trade exhibition for groundscare.
Is Grounds Management Association a public or private company?
Grounds Management Association is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was Grounds Management Association founded?
Grounds Management Association was founded in 1934. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Grounds Management Association based?
Grounds Management Association is headquartered in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Grounds Management Association make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Individual Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are organisation Membership Subscriptions, corporate Supporter Memberships, SALTEX Event Revenue, professional Services and document Products.
Does Grounds Management Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for Grounds Management Association.
What industry is Grounds Management Association in?
Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPABADAC, Turf Management (Sports Fields, Golf Courses), with a secondary code of EDALALAB, Groundskeeping, Landscaping & Snow/Ice Management. Its NAICS code is 561730 and its SIC code is 8600.