Get Britain working - outside!
Today the government has announced plans to get more people, particularly young people, into work. While details of the reforms necessary to make this happen have not been revealed, we’d like to advocate for practical, supportive solutions to unemployment that go hand in hand with addressing skills shortages.
Bankside Open Spaces Trust has for seven years run a successful horticultural training scheme aimed at those out of work or wanting to make a career change. Our Future Gardeners course is designed to help people enter the horticultural industry and was created alongside industry leaders who were concerned about skills shortages and the future of the horticultural workforce.
Future Gardeners is free for students and gets them work-ready in just 10 weeks through hands-on and classroom-based learning, careers support and work experience in quality outdoor spaces.
Future Gardeners - model of success
With 76% of our graduates taking up horticultural jobs, apprenticeships or further training, Future Gardeners is a model of success that has the potential to inspire other programmes of its kind. We are already expanding Future Gardeners – a central course runs three times a year with others at Queen Elizabeth Country Park and, starting in 2025, Thamesmead.
A recent graduate said, ““I've really enjoyed being on Future Gardeners because of the range of education and experience you get. The training greatly increased my gardening knowledge, and the garden visits and industry talks has improved my understanding of how the horticulture industry works. I didn't realise the number of different sectors that fall under horticulture.”
Addressing employment with practical solutions
Our advice to those looking to address unemployment, particularly among younger people and those with additional needs would be to work hand in hand with industries, to focus on barriers to entry, often cost and location, and to demonstrate the broad range of roles available to people.
At our most recent Future Gardeners graduation, 16 people celebrated their entry into the horticultural industry alongside experts from places like The RHS, Kew and Chelsea Physic Garden. We’re proud that our graduates can be found working across London’s top horticultural locations, changing lives and boosting an industry worth over £9 billion to the economy.
