A Nantwich college is backing calls for Government action to address a skills shortage in the horticulture industry.
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) presented a hard-hitting “Horticulture Matters” report to the House of Commons.
It identifies an alarming shortage of skilled professionals within UK horticulture and demonstrates how the skills gap is threatening Britain’s economy, environment and food security.
Among key findings are more than 70% of horticultural businesses cannot fill skilled vacancies and nearly 20% are forced to recruit overseas.
The report asks the Government to prioritise horticulture and other research funding areas to equip Britain with skilled professionals to tackle threats posed by pests and diseases and climate change.
Horticulture bosses at Reaseheath College in Nantwich have backed the calls.
Reaseheath head of horticulture Iain Clarke said: “We will be extremely interested to see the Government’s response to the Horticulture Matters report.
“The need to inspire young people to choose horticulture as a fantastic career opportunity has never been greater.
“We must engage secondary pupils in this highly technical and science based industry.
“This is the only way of addressing future skills shortages, particularly in the tackling of big issues such as water and food security within the UK and on a global scale.”
The college is currently consulting industry professionals as it plans a £3 million new build for its horticulture department.
Reaseheath Horticulture trains professionals to work in a range of jobs such as head greenkeepers, garden centre managers, head gardeners, landscape designers and managers of commercial food and amenity operations.
(Pic: Iain Clarke in Reaseheath’s commercial glasshouses)
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