Guernsey horticulture apprenticeship is suspended

Jack Etheridge said there was "absolutely oodles of work" for anyone "half-decent"

The Guernsey Institute (TGI) has suspended its horticulture apprenticeship due to a lack of interest in the course.

Bosses said the decision was taken after a steady decline in students enrolling and feedback from industry leaders.

Those working in the industry said there was a six to 12-month waiting list to employ anyone with landscaping or gardening skills.

TGI said it would offer the course again in the future if demand increased.

Chris Torode said the apprenticeship had gone into a "fallow period"

The apprenticeship was re-established at the college six years ago, when 14 students enrolled.

Only three students completed the course last year.

TGI director of apprenticeships Chris Torode said his team engaged with the horticultural sector to talk about curriculum regularly.

Following the decline, he said he received feedback from industry members who said their needs had changed, moving away from production horticulture to landscaping and the architectural side of the industry.

He said it was agreed the institute would enter the apprenticeship into a "fallow period" and would look at continuing it if demand increased.

He said: "Horticulture was the lifeblood of Guernsey and we were keen to support development in the sector. But the industry hasn't materialised in the way we expected it to."

'Oodles of work'

Jack Etheridge trained in the UK but has owned Auburn Gardens in Guernsey for 10 years.

He said: "There's absolutely oodles of work. For anyone half-decent, there's a six to 12-month waiting list."

He said horticulture had a reputation for not being a real trade, but it needed people with a wide range of skills.

He said: "To be a good landscaper, you have to be able to put your hand to a lot of things in one day.

"That's what attracted me to it - it's varied, you're outside and you get to see parts of the island others don't get to see."

While he said he did not look only for qualifications when employing staff, he said he thought a "really strong" knowledge of plants was important.

He said: "At the end of the day, landscaping is all about creating gardens, and plants are at the core of gardens."