Do we want or need Certification in our industry?
For some in our industry this topic can / will be quite divisive - so I apologise in advance as I am airing views that I know some have been against.
We have so few benchmarks in our industry for the knowledge we have to & do gain to perform our work. As individuals (and this applies for most Sole Traders) we/they are generally very well motivated to learn, gain experience and use that to benefit the ability to gain work and thus generate a profit for themselves...and like many, I've been there and got the tee shirt.
We gain that experience generally on the job or by attending colleges for NVQ based qualifications. However, it's a fair view that these are now failing our industry. Many courses do not reflect the realities of the current landscape business environment. The quality of the courses seem to have fallen and thus struggle to get bums-on-seats when so much else is placed in front of prospective trainees.
So, where does that leave businesses who need to recruit, retain and offer career advancement to employees ?
It's clear that Sole Traders / Business Owners are motivated differently.. I've spent many hours talking to and sharing experiences on why we lack the ability to attract the current & next generation to our industry. I've spoken to other LJN members and many others through networking, contacts and just catching up with like minded souls. Same few topics come up - lack of earning potential, limited career recognition / progression. This is key to attract employees.
How about Lantra/NPTC training ?
Ok, it's there. I call it 'spot' training. It fills a specific requirement (often regulatory). Its very expensive but is it just me or does it lack cohesion / continuity and ability to provide continuous personal development?
Can 'Associations' help ?
Currently, they are what they are. The landscaping associations (...and I've no gripe with them per se - despite what some elsewhere try to imply...), where people feel they are right for them, is mainly a 'Company' closed-shop based environment with limited access to further recognised training. I've read in recent publications about the differences at the top in AGMs on their outlook. One has to make a personal choice as to whether the cost justfifies the decision to join. Many do join, feel they gain benefits and security and stay members - which is great. Many join, struggle to see the end game and realise they can't change them & leave. Many just leave at renewal time.
Some association try to provide further stand-alone training/briefing sessions - which many find useful. However, what do the employees gain here? Maybe the recognition and self belief by working for an accredited badged business. What do the employees carry forward career wise - especially if they want to move on - maybe to a non-accredited business?
Can/should they do more/better ? Yes, but a radical change would be needed. Without a doubt and some are trying to...
Is there an answer ?
It has to be a Yes, otherwise we might as well pack up and go home! I still fully support the concept in the US of being able to study further and gain practical experience on the job, with the individual (whether a Sole Trader, Director or an Employee) gaining a centralised industry peer recognised certification that stays with the individual. Over in the US, one can leverage the experience gained to become a:
Landscape Industry Manager - designed for landscape contractor business owners or managers.
Landscape Industry Technician (exterior) - designed for exterior technicians in softscape installation, hardscape installation, turf maintenance, ornamental maintenance or irrigation.
Landscape Industry Technician (interior) - designed for interiorscape technicians.
Landscape Industry Horticulture Technician (exterior) - designed for green industry professionals looking to expand or reinforce their knowledge of landscape plant life.
Landscape Industry Lawn Care Manager - designed for lawn care professionals wanting a well-rounded foundation in warm- and cool-season turfgrass establishment, growth, maintenance, troubleshooting, and customer relations.
Landscape Industry Lawn Care Technician - designed for lawn care professionals focusing on lawn and grounds management.
All these are typically, self paced learning (ie remotely), followed by a serires of touch screen tests (ala PA1/PA6) and recognised across the US. The lawncare sections are even backed by one of the large State Universities that specialise in Turf Care.
Options?
The problem is bigger than LJN, BALI, APL, SGD et al. So who can pull this off ? Would it mean combining all our resources? Could it be done ?
I am not suggesting any wholly compulsory nature etc, but think past yourself, the current status quo and think of what it could do for the future of the industry.....
We all complain about low rates of pay, lack of recognition or how we are held in low esteem when compared against other certified trades.
Now, wouldn't that be a great ability to offer to someone to entice them into our industry - a structured career environment !
Can it be done ? I would love to hear everyone's views......
Replies
i wish they would id happily pay would stop the dilution of the industry
The landscape industry is a mess, isn't it?
The trouble is there is no centralised force - whether that's a national recognised qualification/certificate (call it what you will). All industry groups are selfishly trying to grab the attention (and cash) of industry practitioners. So many groups, so much distraction, so much dilution and inevitable so much discontent.
What's probably the most worrying is that all the industry groups are - despite how they promote themselves otherwise - are profit making organisations. Their need is self-preservation. They don't have the need or the will to see a cohesive union. If that were ever to exist, present industry groups will be no more.
Some of these organisations are supported with cash from other organisations - be that product suppliers, training providers, magazines and (individually( colleges - that are, frankly, scared of a free market should they not be able to enjoy their perceived monopoly.
Until the landscape industry is faced with maintaining a compulsory centralised industry register and a set of entry level standards (both business and educational) I fear the landscape industry will continue to drift along.