Why are apprenticeships so important? With Plumpton College
Based in East Sussex, Plumpton College offers a whole realm of apprenticeships related to land-based sectors. From arborist to forestry, and horticulture to golf greenkeeper, the college is a huge support to the entire industry.
In a Q&A with director of business services, Dan Karlsson, he dives into why apprenticeships are important, why they aren’t just for young people and why employers should be encouraging them.
What is Plumpton College’s relationship with the Royal Horticultural Society?
The relationship between the college and the RHS is incredibly important because it brings together the UK’s leading horticulture charity and one of the country’s strongest horticulture training providers together.
The RHS trusts the college as its exclusive national apprenticeship partner for horticulture operative and that close collaboration means that their apprentices benefit from not only working in their world class gardens but also the expert teaching.
It is a truly joined up training experience as a number of our tutors are ex-RHS staff.
Why are apprenticeships important?
In terms of the RHS, apprenticeships enable the RHS to build not only a skilled pipeline of horticulture professionals if they’re talking specifically around horticulture. They support the society’s charitable mission as well to inspire a passion for gardening and to ensure the UK’s green spaces are cared for by world-trained and a future-ready workforce.
Anyone gets an opportunity to apply for employment after their apprenticeship programme, but even to secure an apprenticeship with the RHS says a lot about that individual.
So what the RHS is doing and through our partnership is not only supporting the organisation to build that skill pipeline, but it’s also raising the skill level of the sector as a whole. Many people who complete the apprenticeship program will then go on and work for other organisations, or maybe go and set up on their own.
Are apprenticeships just for young people?
No. I think the word ‘apprenticeship’ is quite misleading. It’s a recognised training program specifically linked to a specific job role or type of job role, and it’s an opportunity. It’s government-funded. It’s an opportunity for businesses to look at their workforce development and identify where the gaps are and then use government funding to train either existing staff or new recruits to develop those specific skills that they need.
There is a push to try and provide greater opportunities and step into employment for youngsters, but it’s important to highlight that it’s not exclusively to them.
There is so much government funding there to support businesses fulfil what their specific needs are whether that is and they have a capacity to support as someone a new entrance or a career changer or to upskill an existing employee into a into you know a more senior role, and that’s what I love about apprenticeships. Is that flexibility that it provides um based on their specific needs of a business.
Do you think we need more apprenticeships across the industry? Could we do more?
I’m slightly biased but I would say absolutely. I think that every organisation should be considering apprenticeships as part of their workforce development and future talent pipeline. We need employers to invest in training.
There’s still more to do. The RHS and the Plumpton partnership is such a strong model that it provides great exposure to smaller independent horticulture businesses.
As climate, biodiversity and sustainability issues continue to grow we need more skilled horticulturalists than ever. What’s really important is how we continue to shout about the fabulous opportunities that are available not just across horticulture, but in forestry, in arboriculture, in land management, in agriculture and across all landbased sectors; that’s really key.