Heats for the
Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) WorldSkills Landscaping
competition took place around the country throughout May and June for the
landscapers of the future to compete for their place in the final national
heat.
Taking part were
competitors from College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE),
Gadd Brothers Trees and Landscapes, Highgrove Landscaping Ltd, Myerscough
College, Reaseheath College, Warwickshire College - Pershore College, Wiltshire
College and Writtle University College.
The 14 competitors that have qualified through to the APL WorldSkills
final national heat which will take place at Myerscough College at the end of
July are:
- Daniel
McCullough, College of Agriculture, Food & Rural Enterprise (CAFRE)
- David
Jamieson, College of Agriculture, Food & Rural Enterprise (CAFRE)
- Eliot
Johnson, Reaseheath College
- Harry
Creek, Warwickshire College - Pershore
- Harry
Funnell, Myerscough College
- Jack Hinks,
Myerscough College
- Jamie
Franklin, Wiltshire College - Lackham
- Joshua J
Reid, Warwickshire College - Pershore
- Lewis
Sharp, Myerscough College
- Llewelyn
Durrell, Warwickshire College - Pershore
- Marc Brown,
College of Agriculture, Food & Rural Enterprise (CAFRE)
- Nick Bundy,
Gadd Brothers Trees and Landscapes
- Patrick
Neild, Warwickshire College - Pershore
- Toby
Mcleay, Myerscough College
The competitors
selected from over 30 shortlisted entrants had three tasks to complete at the
heats. These were completed over the course of a day in timed sessions and were
marked on the quality of their work, attention to detail and work practice
including health and safety. Tasks included building a decked timber frame
within two hours, followed by a block paving exercise to specification,
finishing off with a plant identification test. All marked against some very
exact scoring sheets and where appropriate millimetre tolerances.
The competitors will
go to Myerscough College for the national final heat. This year the three days
will see our competitors take part in industry led training sessions alongside
building test pieces, including tests on paving, disc cutting, setting out and
a plant ident. The test pieces will directly assess the competitors on what
they have been taught, which will focus on the latest developments and
innovations in the industry. There will also be theory lessons, extra
training and information given with industry representatives on setting out,
pricing & procurement over the three days.
This year’s national
final will once again be held at WorldSkills UK Live at the NEC Birmingham from
the 21-23 November.
The APL would like
to thank sponsors Dickies, Makita, Marshalls, J A Jones and Landscapeplus for
their support of the APL WorldSkills Landscaping competition.
