The approval of a
horticulture/landscaper supervisor apprenticeship is the latest in a suite of
new standards which are revolutionising careers for the future in
arboriculture, forestry horticulture and landscape industries.
The new
apprenticeship, announced by the arboriculture, forestry, horticulture and
landscape apprenticeship trailblazer group will provide the technical and
supervisory skills for those who are maintaining and installing parks, gardens
and commercial landscapes.
This apprenticeship
joins the arborist, forest operative and horticulture / landscape operative
apprenticeship standards that were approved in the summer of 2017.
Designed by employers working together as the trailblazer group, they contain
the skills, knowledge and behaviours that will provide the industry with
highly-qualified workers.
All these
apprenticeships contain the key practical skills required for workers in their
respective roles – from tree climbing, planting and felling to soil cultivation
and hard landscaping. Successful candidates must pass rigorous end tests
that demonstrates they have not only reached the standards required by
employers, but also that they can put their skills and knowledge together and
do the job effectively.
In their first year
of being available for delivery, 127 candidates registered on the arborist and
507 on the horticulture / landscape operative apprenticeships. This
represents a solid start for these new programmes and the trailblazer group is
committed to working with training and assessment providers to make these
programmes successful.
The employers in the
trailblazer group are now discussing future applications for further
apprenticeship standards, based on the findings of a recent survey of relevant
businesses.
Bartlett Tree
Experts has stepped down as the lead employer for the trailblazer group and we
would like to thank them for their tireless leadership throughout the
project. They remain Chair of the arboriculture sub-group and are
succeeded by Ground Control Ltd, who have been Chairing the horticulture
sub-group since the start in 2014.
This work would not
have been possible without the hard work, investment and persistence of
employers and trade organisations from the industries concerned, which shows
how important it is that we work together to ensure the supply of skilled and
motivated new entrants to our respective sectors.
