For Tom Weaver, Area Sales Manager at Agrovista Amenity, a career in the turf industry began with a simple choice driven by a love of golf.
“Coming out of school I didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” he says. “I played a lot of golf but wasn’t good enough to make it as a pro, so the next step was to get on the tools and get into greenkeeping.”
By the age of 25, Tom had become a head greenkeeper while completing his degree in Turfgrass Science and Management. Shortly after, he was tempted into the commercial side of the industry. It was at this point that Tom joined Maxwell Amenity, later part of Agrovista Amenity, beginning a new chapter in sales and technical support.
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“I’ve come through the ranks,” he says. “I started as a turf team technical advisor, then moved to team lead, managing Pitchcare, and eventually into Agrovista managing the external sales team.”
Now approaching his tenth year on the commercial side, Tom leads Agrovista Amenity’s central sales team, covering a broad region.
“My area runs from the top side of Leeds down to Northampton, across to Lincolnshire and into North and Mid Wales,” he explains.
Tom manages a team of 12, including himself, with a focus on teamwork and support.
“I try to get out with the staff as much as I can,” he says. “I like to know them personally as well as professionally. I want to understand who they’re dealing with, their customers and the challenges they face.”
“My job is really about supporting the guys on the road as best as I can,” he adds. “Sometimes that’s commercially, sometimes technically, sometimes just being a second pair of eyes. Occasionally, you’re also the person they can vent to.”
Alongside management, Tom maintains his own customer base while staying connected to the wider business.
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“I try to see my customers regularly, get into the office a couple of times a week, and spend the rest of the time on the road supporting the team,” he explains. “It’s also important to stay connected to accounts, customer services, warehouse, and marketing. That infrastructure is a huge part of what makes the business work.”
Tom has also helped expand Agrovista Amenity’s reach. Golf remains core, but the company has strengthened its presence in professional football and education.
“Over the past few years, we’ve made a real push into the stadium market, particularly football,” he says. “We now deal with a lot of Premier League and Championship teams and have exclusive deals with some of the biggest names, which is a massive coup for us.”
“Private schools is another sector we identified a few years ago where we saw real opportunity, and it’s been great to see that side develop.”
With thousands of products available across Agrovista Amenity’s portfolio, Tom believes the key to success lies in understanding the specific requirements of every customer and tailoring solutions accordingly.
“It’s our job as agronomists to understand the end user’s needs, budgets, and environmental constraints. From there we can build a programme that’s commercially and ethically right for them.”
For Tom, however, the technical side of the role is only part of the picture. Building strong relationships with both customers and colleagues is something he considers fundamental to success in the industry.
“I believe everything in this industry comes down to relationships. Whether with customers or within the team, if I had to pick a strength, it’s man-management and building those connections.”
Another key factor behind Tom’s long-standing commitment to the business is the culture within Agrovista Amenity, which he says gives individuals the freedom to develop their own approach while still benefiting from strong support.
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“We’re given the freedom to express ourselves and run our division how we see fit. There’s trust and support, and that makes a big difference.”
Ultimately, it is that combination of people, culture and industry passion that keeps Tom motivated in his role.
“This job is almost like a hobby that I get paid to do. If it doesn’t feel like a chore and it’s something you enjoy, that’s a huge bonus. I really believe Agrovista is trying to make a difference in the industry, and it’s good to be a small part of that.”