• WSGA •
Education Engagement
Attracting The Next Generation
In 2022, WSGA concluded that one of the biggest threats to the sector was the lack of young talent embarking on careers in horticulture. Research showed that there was a lack of understanding about our industry and in many cases, people did not know what was “beyond the gate”. So we started work to showcase our sector, improve understanding and educate local young people about the breadth of careers in horticulture.
To date, we have spoken to over 8000 students in Y7 and Y8 at secondary schools in West Sussex to tell them about our sector. This is what we tell them.
Introducing Horticulture in West Sussex Secondary Schools
Discover how horticulture combines the art and science of growing crops and plants in West Sussex’s unique maritime climate.
1. What Is Horticulture?
Definition: the growing of edible crops (fruits and vegetables) and ornamental plants (flowering plants, shrubs and trees) in either a glasshouse, polytunnel or open field setting
West Sussex Chichester is a very special area and one of only a few areas in UK which favour horticulture due to our sunny maritime climate
2. Why might you be interested in horticulture?
People working in horticulture are passionate about plants and proud to be growing fruit and vegetables to feed our nation and improve our food security. And also for growing flowering plants, shrubs and trees for gifts, for people’s gardens and for our local parks.
Horticulture is the biggest industry in the Chichester district and employs over 10,000 people
The size and complexity of horticultural businesses varies from small family businesses through to large international operations with farms all over the world
There is scope for many roles from growers and harvesting staff, through to engineers and agronomists; human resources to finance; food scientists to IT specialists; commercial to supply chain management; sustainability to data analytics. The roles are endless.
3. How can you access a career in horticulture?
There are many different routes that those working in horticulture have taken:
1. Before you decide on whether horticulture is for you, we recommend you come and see what we do. Please talk to us about possible work experience taster days or consider getting a part-time job with us in the summer holidays when most of our growers are in their peak season
2. L2, L3 and T level qualifications in Horticulture are taught at a number of local colleges including Brinsbury, Plumpton and Merrist Wood, along with a Foundation degree in Sustainable Horticulture at Plumpton
3. Apprenticeships – many of our member businesses offer apprenticeships in a range of disciplines and from Level 2 to degree including engineering, HR, finance
4. Graduates – we welcome applications from people with lots of different types of degrees to join us in a variety of roles
MDS and WSGA Apprenticeship
MDS is well known for its graduate trainee scheme for the horticulture and agricultural sectors and many WSGA members started their careers through this route. But in 2024, we joined forces with MDS to pilot an 18+ MDS & WSGA Apprenticeship scheme which would offer 4 x 6 month placements in 4 different businesses whilst working toward a L3 Supply Chain qualification.
After an assessment day, Aaron Copeland from The Regis School was successful and became the first MDS and WSGA apprentice in October 2024 when he joined Tangmere Peppers for his first 6 month placement. Aaron performed various roles during his time at Tangmere from learning about growing to topping pepper plants; working in the packhouse to engineering; learning how biocontrols are used in the glasshouses rather than chemicals to presenting school assemblies. Aaron started work with Wicks Farm in blackberry production in April 2025 where he supervises a small team and is honing his team management skills.
West Sussex County Council Careers Hub
We work closely with Sian Lewis and her team at the WSCC Careers Hub together with Careers Leaders in 12 of our local secondary schools to ensure students know about the opportunities in horticulture.
We have a special relationship with The Regis School where Rachael Williams is an Enterprise Advisor. Marie Harding, formally Head of Careers, helped us pioneer our Education Engagement project and has been instrumental in helping us tailor the material used to be both educational and entertaining for students
We organised a visit for Careers Leaders to visit us in summer 2025 and showed them around Vitacress Herbs and Hills Plants so they too can describe to students what is “beyond the gate” and understand the breadth of careers available.
In 2025 we are working with some of the specialist schools in our area and also offering horticulture-themed lesson material for Maths, Food Tech, Biology, Geography and other lessons.
