lantra - LJN Blog Posts - Landscape Juice Network2024-03-28T10:23:29Zhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/lantraFOCUSING ON HISTORIC AND BOTANIC GARDENShttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/focusing-on-historic-and2010-08-17T15:16:04.000Z2010-08-17T15:16:04.000ZLantra Sector Skills Councilhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/LantraSectorSkillsCouncil<div>Horticulturists working in England’s historic and botanic gardens are being called upon by Lantra Sector Skills Council to speak out in the second round of its industry research.Following on from the research into the size and scope of the industry the second phase will talk to groups of garden staff about their careers, job roles, skills and training, future aspirations and how we can attract the next generation of horticulturalists.Leading the research is Lantra’s Historic and Botanic Garden Training and Development Officer Pam Smith who said: “Being part of this research is crucial if we want the industry to be appreciated for its vital role in protecting our heritage. Those that work in these gardens have an increasingly significant role, often beyond the work in the garden, so the more people we talk to the more evidence we have to show just how important the industry is.”“The half-day focus group sessions will take place in September in venues across England. If you can’t attend one of these but want to take part then we can talk over the phone as well.”For more information contact Pam Smith on 07708 248333 or email pamela.smith@lantra.co.uk.</div>COMPETITION SEEKS TOP LEARNERS FROM THE HORTICULTURE WORLDhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/competition-seeks-top-learners2010-08-09T15:17:39.000Z2010-08-09T15:17:39.000ZLantra Sector Skills Councilhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/LantraSectorSkillsCouncil<div><b>The best students drawn from the nation’s parks, gardens and sports grounds are set to compete in Lantra’s Welsh Land-based Learner of the Year Award.</b>Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for the environmental and land-based industries, has called for nominations for its annual awards to recognise those developing their skills.Kevin Thomas, Lantra’s National Director for Wales, said: “These awards honour the best gardeners, greenkeepers and groundsmen Wales has to offer. Land-based industries are the backbone of the Welsh economy and this is your chance to recognise the people that work hard everyday to keep it together.”You can nominate a young land-based learner (16-26), a lifelong learner (27+) or someone who has used Farming Connect’s Skills Development funding to develop their skills.The winners will be announced at a high profile event at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair on 29 November.Kevin continued: “The deadline of 30 September for nominations is fast approaching. Anyone can nominate, so do it now – they might just be our next top land-based learner.”To nominate now and for more information visit <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lantra.co.uk/land-based-learner-wales">www.lantra.co.uk/land-based-learner-wales</a>, call 01982 552646 or email wales@lantra.co.uk.</div>A SAFER WORKPLACE FOR GROUNDS MAINTENANCEhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/a-safer-workplace-for-grounds2010-07-28T14:33:57.000Z2010-07-28T14:33:57.000ZLantra Sector Skills Councilhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/LantraSectorSkillsCouncil<div><b>With a horrifying average of three deaths a year in the grounds maintenance industry, Lantra Sector Skills Council and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have today (28 July) united with industry representatives to tackle the issue.</b>The workshop, held at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, focused on health and safety issues such as mowing on slopes, exposure to noise and vibration and safe use of pesticides. Specialist consultants, advisors, training providers and trade organisations in attendance used their industry experience to discuss the health and safety issues facing the industry.Lantra’s Industry Partnership Manager, David Winn, said: “With an estimated workforce of 172,000 the fatal incident rate is on par with the construction industry. Clearly we need to address the dangers people working in the industry face in their day to day jobs.”Research carried out by the HSE reports that there were almost 10,000 injuries between 2001 and 2008. Alan Plom, Head of Safety for the Agriculture and Food Sector at the HSE, said: “Grounds-keeping is not ‘just mowing the lawn.’ Health and safety is a serious issue that’s been overlooked by industry for far too long. Lantra should be commended for organising this event to emphasise the importance of health and safety in the workplace.”David added: “This workshop was a great opportunity to highlight the life-threatening and life-changing dangers of cost-cutting on health, safety. This will help us to work together to develop key recommendations and reduce the risk of accidents in the workplace.”For more information about health and safety in the workplace visit <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.hse.gov.uk">www.hse.gov.uk</a> or call 0845 345 0055.</div>LANTRA SKILLS AMBASSADOR THRIVES AT CHELSEAhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/lantra-skills-ambassador2010-05-26T15:53:42.000Z2010-05-26T15:53:42.000ZLantra Sector Skills Councilhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/LantraSectorSkillsCouncil<div><b>Skills are in the spotlight this week as the ‘horticultural Olympics’ are in full bloom. The prestigious Chelsea Flower Show, which has been taking place for almost a century, recognises horticulture’s greatest talents including this year, Lantra Skills Ambassador Susan Stuart, who helped horticultural therapy charity Thrive win gold and best urban garden.</b>The winning entry of the urban garden category, called by Thrive ‘The Unexpected Gardener,’ is aimed at the mature gardener who is reluctant to compromise on style or design and yet has less time and energy for gardening.A small national charity that operates in the field of disability and gardening, Thrive provides information and specialist services, training and structured horticultural programmes which help thousands of disabled people.Lantra’s London Partnership Manager, Jonathan Pettit, said: “It’s fantastic to see Susan along with Thrive win such a prestigious award. The garden shows how age or disability need not mean an end to gardening.”UK Skills, the not-for-profit organisation that champions skills and learning for work through competitions and awards, can also boast a Chelsea silver medal for its garden ‘Growing World Class Talent: celebrating the workforce of tomorrow.’ The garden promotes excellence in vocational education and training whilst illustrating how greater investment in skills and development will help lift UK industry out of recession.</div>INDUSTRY BIG HITTERS JOIN LANTRA’S NEW ENGLAND COUNCILhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/industry-big-hitters-join2010-04-06T08:50:25.000Z2010-04-06T08:50:25.000ZLantra Sector Skills Councilhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/LantraSectorSkillsCouncil<div>In these challenging economic times employers from across the environmental and land-based sector have joined forces with Lantra Sector Skills Council to ensure that industries’ voice is heard and sector needs are met.An impressive list of leading industry figures in the environmental and land-based sector has been revealed today by Lantra Sector Skills Council with the announcement of their new England Council.Chaired by Yorkshire farmer Richard Longthorp the obvious strength of Lantra’s new Council indicates the depth of the employer – led body’s ambitions in influencing England policy and skills development in 2010 and beyond.Set to meet for the first time on 12 April 2010, the Council for England includes representatives from ten of the sector’s industries as well as Landex and Unite the Union. Some of the leading industry figures come from Prospect, RSPCA and the Agricultural Engineers Association including Paul-Anthony Campbell from Design for London representing the landscaping industry.An urban and landscape designer, Paul is an expert advisor to the National Trust and Landscape Mentor with three university degrees.The National Council for England will make a significant contribution to Lantra's work as a strong employer-led body that can steer policy decisions and seek to influence developments on behalf of the sector at both a national and regional level.Chair, Richard Longthorp, said: “I will be encouraging a robust but constructive relationship between industry and Lantra with Council members challenging Lantra and in turn Lantra challenging industry.“This is an exciting opportunity for industry to work together to help raise the profile of skills provision throughout England, at a time when better skills and training support are so important for the whole sector. The voice of employers together with Lantra is critical if we are to make the environmental and land-based sector a priority.”Together the Council members will work with Lantra’s National Director, Madge Moore, providing strategic leadership to develop and deliver a national plan for England that ensures Lantra is not only sensitive to businesses needs but also provides a strong governance structure.Madge Moore added: “As so many education, skills, rural and sustainable development policies are developed nationally but delivered at a regional level, Lantra must make sure it is at the heart of the national decision-making process’ whilst also being able to influence regional delivery mechanisms to get maximum benefit for our sector.“This exciting new Council brings together representatives from a range of industries all with a wealth of experience and knowledge that will influence government and regional agencies and be beneficial in raising the important role our industries play in meeting the challenges of climate change, food and fuel security and sensitive countryside management.”Today’s announcement of Lantra’s England Council follows the successful launch last year of the UK body’s Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Councils. Gordon McGlone Lantra’s UK Chair summed up: “In these challenging economic times it's even more important our industries' voice is heard and we meet the needs of the sector. Bringing together such a passionate group of employers and industry representatives provides us with a great platform to really influence policy, lobby for change and work to secure funding and provision to meet industry needs. With so many education, skills and rural policy decisions now made at country-level, the National Council for England will work with Lantra to make sure we are at the heart of the whole decision-making process and can ensure the right policy outcomes are adopted which benefit the sector.”To find out more about Lantra in England visit <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lantra.co.uk/England">www.lantra.co.uk/England</a>.</div>Conkering a new careerhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/conkering-a-new-career2010-03-08T09:49:16.000Z2010-03-08T09:49:16.000ZLantra Sector Skills Councilhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/LantraSectorSkillsCouncil<div>For garden designer Penny Rushby-Smith family circumstances followed by the recession were the catalyst for a change in career. Through an innovative scheme called Forest Schools she’s been able to marry her love of the outdoors and working with children whilst also being awarded as the Women and Work Landscaping Learner of the Year.Since 2007 Lantra’s Women and Work programme has helped 2423 women to improve their lives, careers and businesses. To celebrate the end of the programme’s third phase and women like Penny who have flourished, Lantra has organised the first ever Women and Work Awards to be held at Nailcote Hall, Warwickshire, on 10 March 2010.“Women and Work funding came along at just the right time for me,” says Penny, “with the recession biting at my garden design business and a desire to broaden my skills I came across the Forest Schools scheme.”Forest Schools is an innovative educational approach to play and learning through positive outdoor experiences.It involves taking a class or group of children to visit the same local woodlands on a regular basis and through play to learn about the natural environment, how to handle risks and most importantly to use their own initiative to solve problems and co-operate with others.“Forest Schools opened up a whole new way of working for me in particular the opportunity to work in a team,” she said.“As a garden designer I would often be in a supervisory role of trades people or working through a clients’ brief with them but this isn’t the same as a really supportive and creative collaborative working relationship.”Because of her ability to adapt to challenging times and develop a new business through the skills she has accessed Penny has been shortlisted for the Women and Work Landscaping Learner of the Year Award. Penny will be presented with her prize by Labour Peer and Women and Work Champion, Baroness Prosser OBE, at the luncheon.Penny, who lives in Hackney, London with husband Tim, became increasingly interested in working with children since having their daughter Rosalie five years ago.“I went through two life-changing experiences in 2005,” says 36-year-old Penny. “Firstly Tim, who had trained as a tree surgeon fell from a tree while we were working on a clients’ garden.“He broke his back in the fall and was subsequently in hospital for almost four months. I put our gardening business on hold, took early maternity leave and visited him every day in hospital. Rosalie was born a week after Tim was discharged from hospital and there I was with Tim in a wheelchair, our baby and a 14-month wait to get back to our London flat which needed adapting.”While Tim carved out a new career in writing and caring for Rosalie Penny continued with the garden design and maintenance business while searching for something new, which turned out to be Forest Schools.The £450 training grant provided by the Women and Work programme meant Penny could afford to go on a course with Sheffield-based Archimedes Training last October.“I have absolutely no doubt I did the right thing. I’ve got some more practical work to do to achieve my Forest Schools Level 3 Practitioners’ Award and I need to develop a business plan but I know I am definitely on the right track.“I’m at the beginning of a new career path that will not only be better in terms of potential earnings but I feel sure it will give me greater job satisfaction.”Women and Work Programme Manager, Lyndsay Bird, said: “We are pleased to hold the first ever Women and Work Awards and celebrate the achievements of women, such as Penny, who have benefited from the funding available. Penny is a great example of how life changing events and the recession don’t mean the end of your career or business. Investing in skills using Women and Work funding can help women to find a new direction and these Awards recognise these achievements.”Penny will join six other finalists who have benefited from Women and Work in male dominated environmental and land-based industries, and will be in the running for the Outstanding Women and Work Learner of the Year Award, which will be announced at the Awards luncheon.For more information about Women and Work or to register your interest visit <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lantra.co.uk/WomenandWork">www.lantra.co.uk/WomenandWork</a> or call 0845 707 8007.</div>Green Flag judges’ skills recognisedhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/green-flag-judges-skills2010-02-22T15:00:00.000Z2010-02-22T15:00:00.000ZLantra Sector Skills Councilhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/LantraSectorSkillsCouncil<div><p align="left"><b><font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">The skills of 800 Green Flag judges will now be recognised against national</font></font></b> <b><font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">standards as they adopt the use of the online tool greenSKILL.</font></font></b></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"><font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">Developed by Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for environmental and land-based</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">industries in partnership with GreenSpace, the greenSKILL tool is being adopted as a</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">continued professional development tool for the judges involved in the Green Flag</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">Award scheme.</font></font></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"><font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">Lantra’s UK Head of Business Development, Tony Bird said: “greenSKILL records</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">and monitors skills, qualifications and continuing professional development (CPD) – a</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">clear must in a sector where skills are often developed in the workplace rather than in</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">the classroom. greenSKILL is the tool to use to provide a structure for the green</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">space sector, which will benefit the Green Flag Awards by providing a roadmap for</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">skills development.”</font></font></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"><font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">The Green Flag Awards scheme is the benchmark national standard for parks and</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">green spaces demonstrating that not only is the park / green space environmentally</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">sound, but is well used, managed and held in high regard.</font></font></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"><font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">Skills Development Manager of The Institute of Parks and Green Space, Stuart</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">Mansbridge, said: “greenSKILL has been adopted by the Green Flag Award scheme</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">to record, track and plan the professional development of its judges. The</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">management team wanted a bespoke system in place and the greenSKILL system</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">could be tailored to our specific needs, allowing all judges to record their practical</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">skills against national standards and offer a structured approach to continued</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">professional development.”</font></font></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"><font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">The scheme, managed by the Green Flag Plus Partnership (Keep Britain Tidy, British</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">Trust Conservation Volunteers and GreenSpace), is reliant on its team of dedicated</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">volunteer judges to assess sites and provides the crucial link between the park /</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">green space users and the managers of the scheme itself. In return judges are</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">offered a unique opportunity for professional development and the dissemination of</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">expertise.</font></font></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"><font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">Stuart continued: “We will be working with Lantra to implement greenSKILL and once</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">judges receive their login details and are trained to use the system, it will become an</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">excellent career management tool for them and provide the sector with a real</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">indicator of its skills base.”</font></font></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"><font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">For more information on greenSKILL contact Lantra on 0845 707 8007 or The</font></font> <font face="Arial" size="3"><font face="Arial" size="3">Institute of Parks and Green Space on 0118 946 9069.</font></font></p></div>Get your fingers green with a career in Londonhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/get-your-fingers-green-with-a2009-12-16T12:00:00.000Z2009-12-16T12:00:00.000ZPhil Voicehttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/philvoice<div>[PRESS RELEASE] <img width="200" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314140383?profile=RESIZE_320x320" alt="" width="200" height="144" style="float: right;" />Londoners will soon be able to find out how to get their fingers green as a new website is set to be launched to promote the number of green career opportunities available in London. Growing Awareness, developed by Lantra Sector Skills Council with support from the London Development Agency (LDA), aims to raise the profile of careers in the environmental and land-based industries, provide information on the types of jobs available and direct people towards training and volunteering opportunities. Lantra’s Partnership Manager for London, Jonathan Pettit, said: “We’re pleased to be working with the LDA to showcase the wide range of career opportunities available in London especially as we are preparing to host the London 2012 Games, which will bring a whole host of opportunities, particularly with the development and legacy of the Olympic Park.” Careers in environmental and land-based industries are often not seen as high level but according to recent Lantra research, the London region has a greater concentration of skilled trades (e.g. horticulturalist, floral designer, tree surgeon, groundsman, greenskeeper), technical occupations (e.g. fencing contracts manager, woodland officer, parks development officer, green space officer) and elementary roles (e.g. general labourer), than any other region in England. Horticultural, landscaping and sports turf Partnership Manager at Lantra, David Winn, added: “With around 750 businesses and 23,300 employees, the horticultural, landscaping and sports turf industry in London offers a wide selection of career opportunities and so websites such as Your browser may not support display of this image. Growing Awareness and the already established Grow Careers are valuable tools for those looking at a green career. Careers advisers will also benefit by finding the information they need to give their students an insight into the number of opportunities available in the capital.” Jonathan continued: “With a number of Royal Parks, botanic gardens, sports arenas such as Wembley and Wimbledon not to mention the development of the Olympic Park, London is well and truly a green city with a lot to offer potential employees and Growing Awareness will make it even more accessible for those to find out more about what’s on offer.” Website: <a href="http://www.growingawareness.co.uk/" target="_blank"><b>http://www.growingawareness.co.uk/</b></a>
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