Capel Manor College apprentices showcased their skills on Monday 1 February at the start of Apprenticeship Week to Shadow Skills Minister, John Hayes MP.
With 110,000 new entrants needed in the environmental and land-based industries over the next decade apprenticeships are becoming a top priority in developing the workforce of the future. 

Apprenticeships offer a great way for the current workforce to develop their skills and knowledge, gain nationally recognised qualifications and progress in their chosen career.  John Hayes MP visited the College to meet horticulture and arboriculture apprentices for whom an apprenticeship has been a life changing experience.

For 27-year-old ex-offender Lee Catterick who works for Serco in the London Borough of Newham and attends college one day a week at Capel Manor’s centre in Enfield, the horticulture apprenticeship is more of a milestone that has become the foundation of a new life: “When I was in prison I realised it wasn’t the place for me but I made the most of it.  I did a lot of courses and talked to people about what I could do next.  I enjoy gardening but this is better because as an apprentice I’m learning a skilled trade – a recognised trade – and earning while I’m learning.”

Natalie Small, 17, a trees and timber apprentice at Capel Manor’s Horsenden Farm centre works for Anther Tree Services in Hertfordshire.  She said: “The apprenticeship is a great way of learning because you get hands-on experience as well as college.  It’s the reality and the theory at the same time.”

Natalie’s employer, tree surgeon Simon Holyes, also commented about the benefits of apprenticeships, “We need lots of skilled arborists so the apprenticeship training is good for the industry.”

John Hayes MP said:  “Land-based training is vitally important.  There is increasing interest within many areas of the land-based industries including garden design, animal care and arboriculture – they are all important, and not just to the countryside.  Meeting these apprentices has shown how the college offers lots of opportunities and practical skills which are immensely valuable and make a difference.  Land-based training has always been relevant but it is now more relevant than ever.”

Dr Stephen Dowbiggin, Chief Executive of Capel Manor College said:  “Capel Manor has developed its apprenticeship scheme in association with employers and they offer opportunity for individuals to change their lives.  In horticulture and arboriculture (Trees and Timber) many of the entrants are adults alongside younger entrants.  The adult apprenticeship scheme offers potential to reengage people for worthwhile and engaging long term careers.”

However Lantra’s Chief Executive Peter Martin expressed concern: “The inspiring individuals that John Hayes met today have all demonstrated that apprenticeships are a valuable stepping stone to a career.  We would like to offer this opportunity to even more people.”

One key problem is that over 96% of environmental and land-based businesses employ fewer than 10 people and are increasingly specialist in nature. They cannot therefore offer the range of experiences needed to cover an apprenticeship programme.

Over the years, the network of land-based colleges and specialist providers have developed many innovative approaches to overcome this, such as programme-led apprenticeships.

Peter continued:  “Much as our businesses would like to offer more apprenticeships, it is becoming increasing difficult for them to do so. From next year for example, all new apprentices will have to be employed directly by an employer which means that these innovative schemes will no longer be funded.”

“This vital sector which manages our natural environment and produces the food we eat, needs a policy framework that is responsive to employers needs and not restrictive.”

Click here  to read more about some of our case study apprentices and their employers that met John Hayes on Monday.