The Horticultural Trades Association has committed to sponsoring the Young People in Horticulture Association to attend a horticultural future careers showcase, which is hoped to be launched at an educational science festival later this year.

As part of an industry-wide collaboration, the planned interactive exhibit, ‘Our Green Planet: Roots for the Future, Skills for Today’, aims to reach more than 26,000 visitors, including 6,000 students attending New Scientist Live at London’s Excel Centre from 10 to 12 October 2026.

Thanks to HTA sponsorship, the YPHA will be able to raise the profile of environmental horticulture and bring the sector centre stage, showcasing the variety of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) careers on offer, from plant health scientists to environmental consultants. The HTA is one of the first sponsors of this cross-sector collaboration, but more sponsors are now sought.

Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), commented: “We are pleased to support this initiative, which will play an important role in positioning environmental horticulture as a dynamic, skilled and future-focused career choice. The YPHA are powerful ambassadors for our sector, bringing energy, credibility and lived experience to conversations about careers in STEM. I know they will be able to promote horticulture and demonstrate that it is a profession grounded in science and innovation with a measurable impact.

“The opportunities in environmental horticulture are endless, ranging from propagation and soil science to crop technicians, plant breeders and even emerging robotic technology. Cutting-edge research, coupled with practical application, opens a breadth of possibilities for climate resilience and biodiversity, as well as for the UK’s future wellbeing.

“If we want to secure the talent pipeline our sector depends on, we must raise visibility and articulate the opportunities to inspire ambition in the next generation. It will be our future horticulturists that will shape the world we live in with greener, stronger communities and a more resilient economy.”

The environmental horticulture industry supports 722,000 jobs across the UK and contributes £38bn to the UK economy. However, HTA research shows that only around a third of the garden centre, grower and landscaping workforce are under the age of 35.

Natalie Boynton, co-founder of the Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA), said: “Horticulture sits at the centre of some of the biggest challenges we face, from climate and biodiversity to food security and wellbeing. Working in this industry is not a niche choice; it is a way to make a real, measurable difference. If horticulture is barely visible beyond primary school, we cannot keep being surprised that fewer young people choose it as a career in later life. We must start signposting its relevance, impact and opportunity much earlier.”

At a focus group event held last week in London, the HTA joined representatives from the YPHA, other sector organisations and members of New Scientist Live to discuss how it can support and continue collaborating with the wider industry to attract the next generation into environmental horticulture.

Christina Walker is behind the initiative: “Thanks to Fran Barnes for joining the focus group and contributing so powerfully to the discussions. I welcome the HTA’s announcement of support, which will enable YPHA members to be at the very heart of the 'Our Green Planet' project, inspiring the design and helping to staff the collaborative exhibit in October. But we need more industry support to make this happen. The project needs stand sharers and sponsors to commit funds ahead of the 24 March deadline to make it a reality.”