ENTER THE INDUSTRY!

Teagasc as an organisation is strongly invested in the training needs of the horticulture sector, through the formal QQI courses that we offer in our two horticultural colleges in the National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, and Kildalton in Co Kilkenny.

Both colleges offer full and part-time engagement for people who want to enter the industry or are already employed therein. Each year we train people from all aspects of the sector in both amenity and commercial horticulture.

Readers will be aware of the breadth of the horticulture sector and the challenges it faces in terms of recruiting and retaining staff. In the second half of 2023, Teagasc will be involved, along with the horticulture sector, in rolling out and promoting the new apprenticeships in horticulture scheme, which has been in the works for the last few years. This scheme marks a new opportunity for all stakeholders, be they employers, current employees, or new applicants to the sector.

Apprenticeships are big news these days in lots of employment arenas, as the fundamental model of ‘earning while you learn’ becomes a practical alternative for people entering the workforce and gaining valuable training while employed.

We in Teagasc have been informing interested parties from across all sectors of horticulture that apprenticeships are coming down the line. Teagasc has been actively gathering and collating data from interested applicants and employers as expressions of interest. Safe to say that interest is substantial and growing.

LOW-DOWN ON THE SCHEME

In summary, our proposed apprenticeship model is a two-year paid apprenticeship leading to a Level 6 QQI Higher Certificate in either Sportsturf Management or Applied Horticulture, with the latter having streams available in landscaping, nursery, garden and parks management, garden centres, vegetables and fruit.

Progression routes to the Bachelor of Science Level 7 degree in Horticulture with our university partner, South East Technological University (SETU), will also be possible for suitably-qualified apprentices when they successfully complete their training.

Apprentices will spend 80 per cent of their time across the two years of their apprenticeship in what we term ‘onthe-job’ training (with their employer), and 20 per cent of their time in what we term ‘off-the-job’ training (with the training provider, Teagasc).

Specific syllabi for different subjects across the streams have been developed. Students will be offered block and day release for the off-the-job elements with Teagasc. This will involve face to face learning and online delivery in certain circumstances.

Normal assessment of all modules will apply. Apprentices will have the opportunity to complete projects and reflective diaries; carry out skills assessments; and complete end of stage exams to fulfil the requirements of the award.

The on-the job-elements of the programme will be supervised by the employer, who will be responsible for training and mentoring the apprentice in their business.

For entry to the scheme, applicants should be over 17 years of age and have either a leaving cert or a minimum QQI level 5 in Horticulture. Experience working in the horticulture sector will be taken into account also.

If you’re interested in horticulture as a career option and are contemplating an apprenticeship in horticulture, but have no prior relevant experience, the following are some considerations:

● Do you have a good level of fitness, and do you enjoy physical activity in your work?

● Are you interested in horticulture and all things plant-related in the outside environment?

● Do you have good literacy, verbal and numeracy skills?

● Do you have good computer skills?

● Do you have good interpersonal skills, and are you happy to work as part of a team?

To take on apprentices, employers who wish to be part of the new apprenticeship scheme need to be registered with SOLAS, the state agency that oversees the Irish further education and training sector. SOLAS will conduct site visits to assess suitability for training apprentices.

The Generation Apprenticeship website (www.apprenticeship.ie) will be the go-to portal for providing information to both apprenticeship-seekers and employers on how to get started.

Expressions of interest can still be sent to the Teagasc national apprenticeship specialist, Marcella Phelan, at marcella. phelan@teagasc.ie. ✽

JOHN MULHERN has worked with Teagasc for almost 30 years, primarily in an educational capacity. He is the current principal of the College of Amenity Horticulture, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin.