Setting The Standard
Amenity management is the description encompassing all aspects of the management of public and sports
spaces, keeping them safe, healthy and fit for purpose.
It includes parks, green spaces, transport networks, domestic lawns, and golf and sports surfaces.
Those employing organisations for amenity management and
those using and enjoying such spaces quite rightly look for assurance that those undertaking the operations
are at a UK recognised professional level just as if they were employing an electrical or similar trade
contractor. In terms of weed, pest and disease management, the Amenity Standard provides that
assurance. It indicates that the organisation responsible for that work is a member of an approved
assurance scheme ensuring operators are fully qualified, committed to best practice and updating and
using authorised products and equipment.
The UK Amenity Standard was launched in January 2020 and has rapidly developed with many now
insisting that the Standard is met to provide full assurance of professional standards. It is a UK Standard
and is independently managed and overseen by the Amenity Forum. Given below are some comments
from the sector about the Standard. If you require more information please go to the website
www.theamenitystandard.co.uk or contact Kate at admin@amenityforum.net
Tom Arnold, Vice Chair of the UK Lawn Care Association (UKLCA) says ‘’ We became involved in the Amenity
Standard as part of a programme of continuous professional development in the lawn care sector. Our
main use of plant protection products is in the area of selective weed control within lawns and this is a
critical tool in improving people’s lawns that is impossible to achieve effectively by other methods. Our
members are already qualified to apply products via the Government’s recognised qualifications and the
Amenity Standard offers us a UK recognised way of showing that our members engage with a recognised
assurance scheme ( in our case Lawn Assured) that demonstrates their professionalism and that they are
upholding the high standards we expect of them. The UKLCA is pleased and proud to promote the Amenity
Standard.’’
Steve Hodgson, CEO of the Property Care Association says ‘’ The public is right to be cautious about the use
of plant protection products and need assurance that they are being applied by trained, qualified and highly
skilled individuals who will utilize them in a measured and targeted way. As a responsible Trade
Association, we share this view. The Amenity Standard empowers professionals and consumers to
recognise and choose organisations that operate far beyond basic legal requirements. In so doing we make
visible those who have demonstrated their operational track record and a willingness and to work safely,
sustainably and responsibly. Property Care Association and its members have welcomed the creation of the
sector wide Amenity Standard. Our members are proud to be amongst the first to adopt the Standard and
display this independently assessed accreditation. We hope that it soon becomes the Standard that all
those who control plants and pests in our open spaces will be forced have to measure up to.”
Duncan Jones, Director at Hortech says ‘’Hortech where the first company to gain the Amenity Standard
and we are very proud of that. For me it is vitally important that Hortech can demonstrate to clients and
the general public that we are working to the highest possible standards. When it comes to undertaking
vegetation management, whether by cultural means or using herbicides there is no room for error or
complacency. The Amenity Standard ensures that we maintain those high standards year on year. It is my
hope that all procurement teams across the UK set the Amenity Standard as a must have for tender pre-qualification’’
Ian Graham, MD of Complete Weed Control says ‘’ Complete Weed Control for decades has aimed to deliver
the highest of standards within our service provision, key in that endeavour is the support of the
organisations that exist to improve the industry as a whole such as the Amenity Forum. The Amenity
Standard is without question the single most important initiative. The Amenity weed control industry has
never been under greater scrutiny than currently. Spraying operations that take place in public places are
naturally and quite properly questioned. Being able to demonstrate that operators conform to a recognised
and well-structured Standard is extremely important. The sooner that organisations are compelled to meet
the Amenity Standard the better
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