Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable

Action Plan 2015 – 2020

Helping the UK ornamental horticulture industry reach its full potential.

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Colleges & Training Providers Contact Details.pdf

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New “Trailblazer” apprenticeships

Employers are being encouraged to have their say on the first draft apprenticeship standards for the arable and horticulture sectors to ensure they meet their future requirements.

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), has joined forces with EDGE Apprenticeships, Lantra and the NFU to develop the draft standards, which are based around three core areas of skills, knowledge and behaviours.  In all a total of nine sets of standards for agriculture and horticulture apprenticeships will be developed under this Trailblazer scheme.

The idea is to simplify the standards and ensure young people, parents and employers can understand what is expected of an apprentice.  Following each consultation, the standards will be sent to the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills for approval.

Richard Longthorp, Agriculture & Horticulture Trailblazer Apprenticeship Bid Lead Employer asks: “Employers are looking for knowledge, skills and appropriate behaviours from their staff.   That’s what the Trailblazer Apprenticeships will deliver. So if you are an employer or someone looking at a career in the industry it will make sense to check out these standards.”

The survey on the draft standards can be found at http://lantra.co.uk/careers/trailblazer-apprenticeships-2015/agriculture-and-production-horticulture. The survey should take no more than 20 minutes to complete and closes on April 6.

Tess Howe, Industry Skills Project Manager at AHDB says, “This is a great chance for SMEs in particular to input into the apprenticeship process, and we really would encourage people to take part and help influence the future of agricultural apprenticeships.”

EDGE project manager Richard Self adds, “These changes will make sure that apprenticeships meet the needs of employers going forward and will help us to attract the best possible candidates into land-based careers”.

For more information on Trailblazer Apprenticeships visit the Lantra website at www.lantra.co.uk  or for more information on current apprenticeships visit the EDGE website: www.edgeapprenticeships.org or contact the EDGE team on 01603 881979.