Lantra and the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), are sharing the interim findings in a research project that looks to explore the barriers to the uptake of apprenticeships by landscaping businesses across the UK.
The interim findings from the project are as follows:
- 80% of respondents expect to hire staff within the next 12 months; 68% expect to do so within the next six months. More than half of those expecting to hire staff believe the positions might be suitable for an apprentice.
- 6 in 10 would like to know more about how funding works when employing an apprentice and 5 in 10 want to know how apprenticeships work.
- 80% of respondents said it was difficult to recruit an apprentice with 16% saying it was very difficult.
The first phase of the research project was in the form of a survey, launched in October 2024. As part of the launch Lantra, BALI, and landscaping businesses took part in a discussion around some of the challenges that are known to be facing the industry currently.
The survey findings highlight the challenge of recruiting apprentices into the landscape industry with 8 in 10 reporting they found the process difficult.
The research project comes at a critical time as the industry looks to the future and identifies skills and labour gaps and establishes potential solutions on how to address the issues being faced.
Becky Jones, Research and Engagement Manager at Lantra said: “Through Lantra’s work with stakeholders in the landscaping industry, we are aware of the immediate and near-term pressures the industry faces in relation to skills and labour.
“Our findings show that more than 40% of businesses would look to employ an apprentice to support the labour and skills needs of their business but noted there to be additional challenges in the process of recruiting an apprentice.”
Also commenting on the interim findings, Jonathan Pettit, Head of Skills, Careers, and Certification at BALI, said: “The interim findings of our research project highlight that more knowledge and information about apprenticeships needs to be shared across the sector, for apprenticeships to be a solution to the rising demand for labour, and skills, across our sector.
“We know through BALI’s GoLandscape Careers initiative that apprenticeships can be a good way to bring new entrants into the sector.”
The research now moves into its second phase which comprises a series of focus groups. The groups will discuss in more depth some of the experiences landscaping businesses have had and the immediate challenges they face with regards to apprenticeships being a route into the sector.
Once the project is complete, Lantra and BALI will report on the full findings over the project, planned to be announced in the Summer. Furthermore, the partnership will develop materials to support landscaping businesses and employers to help them address the challenges currently faced, which will be released later in the year.
