Raoul Curtis-Machin (below, right), Head of Horticulture at the HTA, has taken over the chairmanship of the GROW Careers initiative from Leigh Morris (below left), who has held the post for eight years.

Leigh Morris says the initiative, launched in 2006, was designed to create an industry wide movement to promote horticulture and the many varied careers within it. “This could truly only ever be achieved by the industry working together and I'm delighted that during my almost eight years as the chair of Grow Careers, I have seen an increase in support for the initiative and a great expansion in the service it provides through schools packs,  Grow Careers Days around the UK and Ireland,  traffic to the web portal, use of social media and now adoption of Grow Careers by the Chartered Institute of Horticulture,” he said.

He added: “We are now entering the next exciting phase, with the dynamic #YoungHort initiative and the industry-wide Horticulture Matters Campaign again raising the profile of horticulture.”

The GROW Careers initiative is the umbrella body for promoting careers in the industry and is backed by many horticultural organisations.

www.growcareers.info