On Friday 25 September, NG Academy officially inaugurated its school in Marchésieux, Normandy. Nearly 120 guests gathered to discover the facilities, meet its first cohort of students and discuss a shared challenge: training the next generation of professionals specialising in natural grass sports surfaces.

A school created to meet the needs of the industry

The quality of a sports pitch is essential to sporting performance. Behind every grass pitch are professionals who understand soil, grass, climatic conditions and the specific requirements of each sport.

Yet companies in the sector continue to face difficulties recruiting people with the specialised skills required for these highly specific roles.

NG Academy was created in response to this challenge. Based in Marchésieux, the school has been designed to provide training that is directly connected to the realities of the job and the needs of employers.

At the inauguration, Loris Lecostey, Managing Director of TSE, reflected on the origins of the project and the importance of training for the industry as a whole.

“Training a young person is about more than simply meeting the needs of a company. It means preparing the future of an industry, supporting local employment, passing on expertise and offering someone a sustainable career path.” Loris

Lecostey

Working in partnership with MFR Coutances, NG Academy welcomed its first cohort of 8 apprentices in September. They are training for careers in natural grass sports surface maintenance as part of the Specialist Certificate in Grass Sports Surface Maintenance (Certificat de spécialisation Sols Sportifs Engazonnés).

120 guests discover NG Academy

Industry professionals, partners, companies, training organisations and local representatives: nearly 120 people attended this first inauguration.

The day began with a tour of the Academy led by Magali and Loris. Guests were able to discover the training facilities, the equipment available to apprentices and how the school operates.

The tour also featured a photographic exhibition dedicated to groundsmen. Through portraits and photographs taken on the job, it showcased the people, skills and daily work of professionals who often operate behind the scenes of major sporting events.

The aim was to shine a light on a profession that remains relatively little known and highlight the wide range of skills it requires.

Training curious, dedicated and committed professionals

The inauguration also provided an opportunity to hear from those leading and supporting the project.

Magali Menant, Head of NG Academy, addressed the apprentices in the first cohort directly. Hard work, punctuality, curiosity and attention to detail will be central to their training, guided by three core values: excellence, respect and humility.

Excellence means constantly striving to deliver high-quality work. Respect means valuing human relationships, respecting those who use the facilities and protecting the environment. Humility reflects the fact that groundskeeping remains closely connected to the living world.

“Even with experience, we never stop learning, observing and questioning our own practices.” Magali Menant

Beyond teaching technical skills, NG Academy aims to train professionals who can understand their environment, adapt to changing conditions and continue to develop their practices throughout their careers.

A project supported by local stakeholders

Several local representatives and project partners also addressed the audience during the morning.

Among the speakers were Anne Hébert, Mayor of Marchésieux; Jean-Marie Poulain, President of the Côte Ouest Centre Manche Community of Municipalities; Sylvain Letouzé, Regional Councillor; and Philippe Gosselin, Member of Parliament.

Their speeches were followed by the ribbon-cutting ceremony, officially marking the opening of NG Academy and bringing to life a project developed in collaboration with training organisations, industry professionals and local stakeholders.

Imagining the groundsman profession ten years from now

Following the ceremony, guests were invited to take part in an initiative specially designed for the inauguration: the creation of a time capsule.

Everyone was invited to share a few thoughts on what they believe the profession will look like in ten years’ time: the changes they anticipate, their expectations for the industry or a message for future groundsmen.

Bertrand Picard, Founder and President of Natural Grass, summed up his vision in three words that reflect TSE’s values: Transmission, Science and Excellence. Transmission means passing on expertise from one generation to the next. Science means continuing to deepen our understanding of soils, grass and their environment.

Excellence represents the ongoing pursuit of quality and improvement.

All the messages were collected in the capsule, which will be kept for ten years before being opened in 2036. This will provide an opportunity to compare the predictions made in 2026 with the reality of the profession and assess how the industry has evolved.

From speeches to the playing field

After lunch, the inauguration continued outdoors at the Academy, where guests were invited to take part in a golf competition.

It was a fitting way to conclude the first day, out on the course, before the prize presentation and closing remarks from Loris.

With this inauguration, NG Academy has reached a new milestone. Following the arrival of its first cohort in September, the school is now fully embarking on its mission: to raise awareness of the groundsman profession, pass on industry

expertise and train the professionals who will maintain tomorrow’s sports pitches.

NG Academy at a glance

Based in Marchésieux, Normandy, NG Academy provides training in natural grass sports surface maintenance. Its teaching approach combines classroom-based learning, work-based apprenticeships and practical training using professional

equipment.

The school welcomed its first cohort in September 2026 and draws on a network of industry professionals and partners to deliver training closely aligned with the realities of the profession.