This year, East Sussex-based Plumpton College celebrates its centenary year. One of nine independent, land-based colleges across the country, it was set up primarily to feed the nation by teaching people how to feed themselves. 

100 years later, the hub of education, history and community now hosts approximately 3,500 students across a broad provision type. From offering butchery, agriculture and bakery to subjects such as maths and English, the college also offers a blend of countryside management, forestry and horticulture.

Teaching across foundation degrees, bachelor degrees and master’s, alongside 21 different apprenticeship standards in terms of pathways and specialisms, Plumpton really tends to the needs of the community, all the way from 14-year-old students to adult learners. A strong advocate for creating accessible opportunities for apprentices of any age, director of business services Dan Karlsson encourages employers to look out for apprenticeships. 

“Apprenticeships play a critical role in strengthening an organisations workforce, providing a cost-effective way of turbo charging employee productivity. Suitable for enhancing the skills and knowledge of existing employees as much as a tool for attracting and equipping new talent within a business,” explains Karlsson.

Professional legislative training and assessment courses are delivered by a brand called Land Pro Training, led by Sinead Elford. 

The training service operates across a team of internal and external trainers and assessors. Working with Lantra, NPTC City & Guilds and BALI qualified trainers, LandPro provides extensive industry experiences to attendees. Held at either Plumpton College or associated woodland training sites, courses run throughout the year while also offering a mobile service to train employees. 

Boasting an eight-strong forestry and arboriculture team, it’s one of the biggest in the country. “People come in from the industry to pass on their knowledge and skills,” explains Elford. A unique experience, each course is tailored across arboriculture, horticulture and landscaping.

In addition to this, Plumpton College is in the process of setting up East and West Sussex Skills Bootcamps. Fully funded, advanced training programmes, the bootcamps give people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and fast-track career progression. Now open to interest, the bootcamps attract businesses “as a cost effective way to identify and hire new staff or even upskill their existing workforce,” says Karlsson. 

Nestled within Stanmere Park, Brighton, Plumpton College has restored and manages One Garden Brighton, with the help from its students. “A place for everyone,” the walled garden is open to the public offering a cafe, market, the urban garden, frequent events and a soon-to-be butterfly garden. 

Opening on Saturday 23 May, Sussex Butterfly Gardens will officially welcome the public into the estate’s historic Palm House thanks to Matthew Simmons, founder of Middleton Common Farm Butterfly Gardens and London Butterfly Gardens. 

The climate-controlled gardens are designed to sustain hundreds of exotic butterflies, moths and invertebrates. “For visitors, the Gardens offers a unique educational experience with the opportunity to learn about climates, animals and different horticultural environments,” says the college. 

“We have been looking for the right collaboration in which to bring this space at One Garden Brighton back to life for some time,” explains Plumpton College principal, Jeremy Kerswell, adding:

“We look forward to welcoming the wider community to the Sussex Butterfly Gardens including schools and our own students.”

Keeping itself busy, Plumpton College is also opened its doors to the public on Saturday 9 May for its annual Open Day & Spring Fair. From unique activities and displays, the day also gave an insight into the courses Plumpton offers.