Call 01359 259361 or email us
Agrostis
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Agrostis people
    • Professional Affiliations
    • Expert Witness
    • Writing and Publications
  • Agronomy
    • Golf
    • Football Rugby Cricket
    • Polo and Equestrian
    • Lawns and Other Surfaces
  • Project Design and Management
    • Site investigation
    • Designing for the Environment and Communities
    • Getting a project going
    • Contract Management and Supervision
    • Artificial and Hybrid Surfaces
  • Technical Services
    • Surface Testing
    • Soil Testing
    • Subsoil Strength Testing (CBR)
    • Spectre - Drone services
    • Sustainable Drainage (SuDS)
    • Other Technical Services
  • Examples
  • Contact Us

The Importance of Independence in Consultancy

9/3/2018

1 Comment

 
Feeling slightly saddened by the news that my former employer, STRI, has seemingly abandoned its claim to be an independent consultancy.  Its directors have chosen to form a turf construction company, Carrick Sports Construction Ltd, to run alongside the renowned institution.  Obviously, their consultants and agronomists will now be channelling design specifications towards this company which will consequently enjoy a huge advantage in competitive tendering situations (if tendering is allowed to take place at all).  This will be very much at the expense of all the other construction companies.  The development surely casts doubt over the independence of STRI’s technical advice and their specifications in other areas.

When I joined STRI in 1989 the pursuit of the science of sports turf for the good of the industry was very much the main objective of the organisation.  I was very proud to be a part of this.  RIPTA, the Register of Independent Professional Turfgrass Agronomists, was founded in 2002 with a membership that included many of STRI’s agronomists, including me.  It was started largely to counter the growing number of so called ‘agronomists’ who were in fact technical sales representatives for companies supplying the sports turf industry. 

I left STRI in 2005 but remain in RIPTA to this day having held the position of Treasurer for some years now.  In 2016, however, the STRI’s agronomists resigned from RIPTA en masse.  It is clear now that the company could no longer satisfy the strict requirement among RIPTA members to be independent.  In retrospect, this will have saved us the embarrassment of having to ask them to leave which we would have had to do in the light of the formation of CSC Ltd.

Consultant independence is vital if our clients are to receive the highest standard of technical advice and information, entirely uninfluenced by our own financial dealings.  Clearly, the only reliable source of such advice is now from RIPTA members such as Agrostis.

1 Comment
Bob Smith
1/6/2018 08:05:27 am

You appear to be bang on the money Tim. Carrick sports have their first major contract at Hearts FC. Consulting on the job STRI, and I believe Carrick were not the cheapest option.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Tim Lodge.  Founder and director of Agrostis Sports Surface Consulting.  Welcome to my blog!

    Archives

    June 2018
    March 2018
    April 2013
    January 2013
    August 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

© Agrostis Turf Consultancy Ltd.  Registered office: Eldo House, Kempson Way, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP32 7AR. 
 Company No: 6675140.  VAT Reg No: 889 4960 43.  Site by Drydesign.
Cookies policy