To consolidate and celebrate the Level 2 Horticulture apprentices learning this year, they visited University of Bristol. Assessor & Trainer Jayne Alcock said, “This trip provided learners with an opportunity to explore different aspects of the horticulture industry and to discover how diverse the knowledge and skills within the sector. Supporting learners to make connections with theory and its application in the workplace is an essential part of the apprenticeship process.”

The apprentices work for a variety of employers including nurseries and garden centres, landscapers, designers, hotel and restaurants. They receive on-the-job training, one-to-one support and teaching in the workplace, and have the opportunity to attend workshops covering a wide variety of horticultural topics.

In the morning the students visited Goldney Hall, a halls of residence situated in a stunning eighteenth century garden. They were shown around by two members of the gardening team who explained how the gardens are maintained and being developed. In the afternoon there was a visit to the Life Sciences Building where state-of-the-art laboratories are being used to research food crops and how to combat pest and disease.

Apprentice Sam Rigby commented, “The trip was both educational and inspirational. I learnt about different aspects of design and enjoyed the opportunity to look at plants that I had not seen before.”