The Horticultural Trades Association has opened applications for Broad Horizons, a new fully funded development programme designed to build the skills, knowledge, experience and confidence of people working across environmental horticulture.

Applications for the first cohort open on 5 October 2026, with the programme running from January to December 2027.

Broad Horizons will bring together a small cohort of 8–10 participants from across the HTA membership, where they won’t just learn – they will experience. The selected group will come from different parts of the industry, including growers, garden centres, landscapers, suppliers and manufacturers. It will give participants the opportunity to see parts of horticulture they may not normally encounter in their day-to-day roles.

The programme combines practical workshops, behind-the-scenes visits to member businesses, networking and insight into how the sector operates and engages with government and policymakers.

HTA Chief Executive Fran Barnes said: “We know that our industry has ambitious people who are ready to take their next step, but the opportunity to step outside your own part of the business and understand the wider industry can be harder to find.

“Broad Horizons has been created to open up that opportunity. It will give participants the chance to learn directly from businesses across our membership, develop practical skills and build relationships with people they might not otherwise meet.

“For employers, it is an opportunity to invest in people with the potential to make a real contribution to their business in the years ahead. And for the industry as a whole, it is about building a stronger pipeline of people with the knowledge, confidence and connections to help shape what comes next.

“We are particularly pleased that the programme brings together people from right across environmental horticulture. There is enormous value in understanding how the different parts of our industry connect, and in sharing ideas and experiences across those boundaries.”

The 12-month programme includes 6.5 development days across the year; participants will gain insight into different parts of the industry through:

• Launch event and Communicating with Impact workshop in London on 21 January 2027, building confidence to speak to customers and teams and to promote your business publicly. This will be followed by an official dinner where participants will meet with industry leaders.
• Parliamentary tour and workshop: 22nd January. A highlight of the programme, giving a rare opportunity to enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of Parliament and an interactive session learning how Parliament works and how industries can interact with Government.
• Horticulture business visits: Four visits across two days seeing suppliers, growers, retailers and landscapers to build knowledge of the sector and explore how different parts of the horticultural supply chain work together.
• A Workforce Development workshop in June, covering recruitment, team development, leadership and building positive workplace cultures.
• A Business Operations Day in July, exploring finance, supply chains, operational decision-making, measuring and improving business performance.
• A Policy and Public Affairs workshop in December, looking at how government policy affects businesses and how businesses can engage with policymakers to influence change and raise awareness of key issues.
• A graduation afternoon and celebratory dinner, where participants will present their end-of-course activity and celebrate their development alongside fellow participants, industry leaders and programme supporters.

The programme is fully funded by the HTA as a member benefit, including workshops, site visits, programme activities, reasonable travel expenses and overnight accommodation where required.

As well as developing individual skills, Broad Horizons is designed to deliver benefits back into participating businesses. Participants will return with practical knowledge and ideas they can apply in their organisations, a broader understanding of the sector and its future challenges, and new connections across the industry.

The programme is aimed at people with at least two years’ experience in their current organisation who are committed to building a long-term career in environmental horticulture, demonstrate ambition and potential, and are eager to learn and develop. Applicants must have their employer's full support and be able to commit to all programme activities throughout the year.

Only 8–10 places are available for the first cohort, with no more than one participant accepted from any individual member organisation. The HTA will seek to create a balanced cohort representing different sectors of its membership.

Applications open on 5 October 2026 and close on Friday 23 October 2026. The first cohort begins in January 2027.

For more information and to apply, visit the HTA Broad Horizons webpage or email broadhorizons@hta.org.uk.