Apprenticeships are a great way to attract new talent to any industry. The combination of hands-on experience and classroom learning helps individuals understand what it takes for a business to succeed. 

Many businesses consider apprentices a key part of their recruitment strategy as they provide an avenue for attracting interested workers and offer development opportunities to those already working in the team.

The Environmental Horticulture Group recently reported that the sector supports 722,000 jobs and contributed £38 billion to the UK economy in 2023. However, the average percentage of the environmental horticulture workforce employed as apprentices in 2023/24 was only 3% for landscapers and 1% for retailers and growers. As a sector with a majority of SMEs, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) seeks to remove any barriers to apprenticeship take-up and recognises the sector's current significant shortfall.

The HTA has welcomed the government’s commitment to reforming the apprenticeship levy and creating a flexible Growth and Skills Levy but asks that the needs of environmental horticulture and broader land-based sectors be considered when developing the policy details. It is vital that a wider cohort of businesses can access these funds, and that they genuinely work for the industry.

To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, the HTA asked its members about the benefits apprenticeship schemes have had on their businesses and their importance in ensuring the next generation in horticulture.

Jai Patel, Operations Manager, Tristram Plants/ The Farplants Group, said: “Apprenticeships play a vital role in developing the next generation of horticultural talent, bringing fresh ideas, energy, and a passion for the industry. We’ve seen first-hand how apprentices contribute to innovation and long-term growth, with over 40 apprentices joining us in the past six years through schemes like MDS and Pershore College. The blend of practical experience and structured learning helps equip apprentices with the skills needed to drive the future of our sector. Investing in apprenticeships isn’t just about workforce development – it’s about securing the future of horticulture.”

Karl O’Neill, Technical Production Manager, Bransford Webbs, added: “We have been running a successful apprenticeship program for many years, and we view our apprentices as vital to the future of the business.  With recruiting skilled horticultural staff becoming ever more challenging, our apprenticeship program has enabled us to fill many permanent vacancies over the years, with a good proportion of our current Team Leaders, Supervisors, and Managers being former apprentices."