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Lecturer says courses must change to meet employer needs

Friday, 14 January 2011

 

Training must match the needs of horticulture, garden retail and landscape employers more closely, according to a course leader who wants to launch an industry forum.

Barrie Duesbury said students were leaving college ill-equipped for life in the business world and needed "bolt-on" modules.
The horticulture course manager at Berkshire College of Agriculture (BCA) recently hosted a BALI and turf supplier Q Lawn presentation day to help graduating students.
"I want to bring together our college and industry to build courses around what the industry wants," he said. "Employers say they do not want brickwork skills but people who know about maintenance and plants. We must give them that."
He added that bolt-on courses could include those in being on site, handling machinery, first aid, spraying and chainsaws.
Duesbury proposed starting a forum for colleges and businesses to help shape training. He recently spoke with Hillier director Richard Barnard, who said he wanted career starters with health and safety, first aid and competence certificates.
"Employers seem to be saying the same thing but not to the colleges," said Duesbury. "When I go to garden centres, basic skills are not evident. Meanwhile some retailers, like Wyevale, have training but it's not recognised."

What does the industry require

After 38 yrs in Horticulture, working in the landscaping industry I can't help noticing how the standards from employee has dropped over the years, in some cases I have seen for myself the lack of pride and standard of work from some people who work in the industry, I have seen in the past that some people who have done a little home gardening claim now to be professional gardeners with no formal training.

Its time we all work together, the colleges and the horticulture Industry work together and set the standards for people coming in the industry.