Two young gardening enthusiasts have attended their graduation ceremony after a completing a four-year horticultural apprenticeship with Cardiff Council Parks Services.
The ceremony took place at Cardiff Castle and was attended by Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells who presented each graduate with their certificate.
The scheme aims to develop skills through an in-house programme of practical training, combined with day release study. The scheme addresses the current skills gap in the industry and contributes to promoting career development and retaining a highly skilled workforce in the Parks Service.
Ben Light, 30, and Alex Sibley, 26, joined the training scheme in 2007 and embarked on a learning programme which combined on-the-job training as well as academic studies for their National Certificate in Horticulture (NCH) and Higher National Certificate (HNC), undertaken at Pencoed College.
As part of the programme, the apprentices benefited from a diverse range of activities and operations associated with horticulture including plant production and propagation, plant identification, conservation and tree management, and training in fine turf.
Both apprentices travelled to Nantes as part of a work exchange placement. They were also actively involved in recreating Cardiff Council’s 2009 Chelsea Royal Horticultural Show exhibit at the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells and assisted in creating the Captain Scott exhibit at this year’s 2010 Chelsea Flower Show.
Cllr Howells said: “I am pleased to have presented Ben and Alex with their certificates which marks the hard work and enthusiasm they have demonstrated whilst completing their horticultural apprenticeship.
“The scheme provides a successful and credible training programme providing candidates with academic and hands-on practical experience so they may establish careers in the industry”.
Ben and Alex are the latest of six individuals to have successfully completed the apprenticeship programme and secured permanent posts. They are also both involved in mentoring the new apprentices presently employed by the Council’s Parks Services.
