Approaching 100 distinguished guests, from the worlds of landscaping and horticulture gathered at the premises of TASK, the new landscape training academy near Pershore, Worcestershire.
Guests were invited, on the 10th September, to view the purpose built facilities which include indoor and outdoor class rooms, building areas, offices and student facilities, and to see a commemorative plaque unveiled to mark the launch by TV gardener, Frances Tophill.
TASK [Training, Academy, Skills, Knowledge] founded by Rupert Keys, a highly respected landscaper who has built his reputation in the horticultural industry over the past 30 years, including creating many award winning show gardens at some of the top gardening shows in the country.
Through practical, hands on learning days, in small groups, spanning one to four days, students, some new into the sector and many already working in landscaping can hone their skills in all aspects of landscape work. Currently courses include bricklaying, deck installation, laying block and porcelain paving, dry stone walling and garden design. Run by multi award-winning professional, Rupert with a specially curated cohort of industry professionals, the training is supported by APL (Association of Professional Landscapers). The TASK Academy offers a broad range of LANTRA accredited landscaping courses, some of which are also available to the public who want to tackle their own DIY tasks.
Rupert said: “As a team, we have a huge range of experience within the industry and we’re keen to share that with students and employers to address the industry skills gap. Our focus is to improve the expertise of current and future generations to ensure the standards and longevity of our industry”
Like all sectors of horticulture, landscaping is struggling to find sufficient skilled professionals, and as colleges struggle to attract students, the industry is finding the best solution is to ‘train your own’. We have seen GCA members do it with their highly successful GROW (Garden Retail Online Workshop), Wyevale Nurseries who have set up their own training scheme to grow their own future staff and Majestic Trees have set up an in-house apprentice scheme.
Of course, all of these are still reliant on attracting the best people into the sector in the first place. As an industry we need to change the public image young people, their teachers and parents have of careers in horticulture. We need them to realise the value of the profession, and that fun, financially secure and worthwhile opportunities, across all avenues of the industry, are open to young talent.
You can read more about TASK or make contact with them through their website. https://www.taskacademy.co.uk/
