Tag Archives: training

Hillier recruits trainees

Hillier Nurseries has taken on four new trainee growers as part of its ongoing investment in its production team.

The trainees, who have been selected based on their horticultural skills and passion to learn, are now working across the entire Hillier nursery business. As well as practical skills, their training includes internally delivered modules such as Plant Physiology & Nomenclature, Pest & Disease Recognition, and Control, Crop Irrigation and Nutrition.

Inspiring future generations is a key aim for the company and its Nurseries trainee grower programme allows passing on of age-old growing techniques and experience as a foundation to develop the latest technologies and innovations.

Charles Carr, Head of Wholesale Nurseries at Hillier, said, “We strongly believe in investing in people, which is why our team is constantly evolving. Our four new recruits have made a great start and we look forward to helping their horticultural careers grow.”

Sarah Mills, Head of Wholesale at Hillier, commented, “Hillier is proud of our new trainee growers who all bring with them enthusiasm, horticultural knowledge and the ambition to do a great job. They will work, learn and develop alongside our already strong and focused nursery team.”

Photo caption: The new Hillier Nurseries trainees

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The post Hillier recruits trainees appeared first on Hort News.

New training course on minimising pesticide residues

Ian Finlayson, CEO of Practical Solutions International Ltd, is to run a new course for horticultural training provider ARTIS on managing pesticide residues in fresh produce.

Ian, who has extensive technical experience in the industry, served as a member of the government’s advisory Pesticide Residue Committee for seven years. The next course will be run in Cambridge in November, and will cover topics such as the principles of pesticide residue testing, designing a residue testing programme, and sampling for laboratory analysis. As well as covering UK and EU legislation, the course also looks at areas such as risk assessment, best practice and managing ‘restricted lists’.

John Owles, Sainsbury’s Technical Manager for East Africa, who attended a previous course, said, “The course was very relevant to the ever-changing requirements in the industry, and provided an excellent up-date as well as a refresher of the requirements needed for Maximum Residue Levels in a very understandable way.”

More details can be found here.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons

The post New training course on minimising pesticide residues appeared first on Hort News on 5 Oct 2017.

New flexible training opportunities for agri-food professionals

A new AgriFood Training Partnership (AFTP) has been launched which claims to build on the three previous Advanced Training Partnerships (ATPs) in agri-food, food and pasture. These former partnerships were all funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) with the primary aim of translating cutting edge research into applied industry expertise within the agri-food sector. Since 2012, they have delivered short course training and postgraduate qualifications to over 1,500 individuals from more than 700 businesses.

The new AFTP combines skills and knowledge from six different university partners and is collectively offering more than 150 courses and workshops in all areas of agricultural production, environmental protection, food manufacture and scientific research.

Carol Wagstaff, Professor in Crop Quality for Health and Director of the AFTP commented, “We are delighted to be in the privileged position of receiving a further £1.5 million from BBSRC to enable unification of the AFTP and expansion into new markets both at home and overseas. In an era of climate change, food insecurity and an ever growing population, the AFTP is helping the industry’s best talent to deepen their knowledge, advance their skills and progress their careers through flexible training opportunities and continuing professional development.”

Photo Credit: BBSRC

The post New flexible training opportunities for agri-food professionals appeared first on Hort News.

Free summer school for aspiring crop protection students

BBSRC is funding a week long Crop Protection Summer School (CROPPS) in July at Harper Adams University for undergraduates in their first or second year at universities in the UK or Ireland.

There are 15 places available on the course, in which participants will be able to immerse themselves in the areas of entomology, plant pathology, weed science, nematology, applied ecology, fieldwork and networking.

Professor Simon Leather, one of the event organisers, said, “Each day during the week we’ll be looking at a different aspect related to crop protection. There’ll be a large emphasis on practical experience; going out into the field and doing practical lab work. There’ll be some lecture-style sessions, but the majority will be hands-on.”

There are just 15 places available and the deadline for applications is 7 April 2017. The application form can be found here. For more information, contact sleather@harper-adams.ac.uk.

The post Free summer school for aspiring crop protection students appeared first on Hort News.

AHDB calls for studentship proposals

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) is inviting applications for a slice of £1 million in funding for postgraduate studentships.

A call for proposals for up to 15 PhDs has been issued to UK universities, colleges and research institutes as part of work to develop a new tranche of agricultural and horticultural scientific expertise. The funding supplied by AHDB equates to £70,500 per studentship, which can be split over three or four years, and this is the first time that studentships in every AHDB sector have received the same level of funding.

Applicants must detail how the proposed research will help meet the priorities of one or more of the six levy sectors – Beef & Lamb, Cereals & Oilseeds, Dairy, Horticulture, Pork and Potatoes. They must also demonstrate how projects will deliver useful and relevant research outcomes.

AHDB’s Kim Matthews, who chairs the studentship programme, said, “Once again we are seeking the best and brightest of the UK’s scientific talent to bring innovative research ideas to the table. We want to see practical, applied scientific solutions to the challenges facing industry, whether affecting one particular sector or with applications across the piece.”

Photo Credit: AHDB

The post AHDB calls for studentship proposals appeared first on Hort News on 15 July 2016.

Nuffield announce new award for horticulture

The Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust has announced a new award aimed at the horticultural sector.

Sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Gardeners the unique award aims to promote education within horticulture by giving an individual the opportunity to research a key issue and make long term change within the industry.

Mike Vacher, Nuffield Farming director explained that the opportunity offers a carefully selected, well-respected individual the chance to make a valuable contribution to a subject of key importance to the UK horticultural industry and society at large. “This is an exciting and positive development for the Nuffield Farming Trust and promises to give the industry valuable insights into global trends and opportunities for UK farmers,” he said.

Bruce Harnett, who studied intensive horticulture for his 2014 Nuffield Scholarship added, “We work in a fast changing global sector, and this opportunity offers a suitable candidate, the chance to broaden their horizons, appreciate the complexity of the industry, witness new and alternative ways in which to succeed, and gain confidence in the way they work in the sector. I would highly recommend individuals to apply.”

Anyone aged between 25 and 45 is encouraged to apply, with a pre-requisite that you must work within the United Kingdom horticulture or related industry.

Photo Caption: Mike Vacher

Photo Credit: Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust

The post Nuffield announce new award for horticulture appeared first on Hort News on 29 June 2016.

Thanet Earth hires staff following scheme with Hadlow College

A second group of students from Hadlow College in Kent have graduated from the Movement to Work initiative at Thanet Earth, which is run in conjunction with the College’s Apprenticeships, Business and Community section.

Five of the participants, all of whom were selected for the scheme from the local area by Job Centre Plus, were offered full-time roles with the company after graduation. During the four week course the students to spent time working in all operational areas of the Thanet Earth business, together with in-house HACCP food safety training and sessions on interview skills and preparation of a CV with tutors from Hadlow.

Lesley Gregson, Hadlow College’s Lecturer in Employability Skills, said: “It’s been hugely rewarding to see the academy members’ confidence increase as the course progresses and the end result is fantastic: five people given the boost they needed to enter employment with a highly reputable local business.” The first group of five students graduated from the scheme last December.

The post Thanet Earth hires staff following scheme with Hadlow College appeared first on Hort News from 23 March 2016.

Nematicide Stewardship Programme announces new training

The Nematicide Stewardship Programme (NSP) used the BP2015 event in Harrogate on the 12th November to announce a new training partnership with ARTIS.

“We are excited about the training partnership with ARTIS,” said NSP Chair, Dr Sharon Hall. “The use of Nematicides remains critical to many growers in producing a quality product and maintaining current rotations and this new partnership will deliver high quality training on a sustainable basis to the industry.”

The NSP group is a joint initiative that brings together different industry organisations and companies to ensure these vital products remain available for future use on potatoes and other key root crops.

“It’s crucial for all operators to attend,” added Dr Hall. “Industry has requested that Red Tractor Assurance incorporates a requirement into its standards specifying that all staff applying nematicides must have completed the course by March 2017.”

The winter programme of operator training workshops takes place in throughout the country and will be provided for free of charge while funding is available. Places can be booked at www.artistraining.com.

Photo Credit: AHDB Potatoes. Andy Alexander (NFU); Neil Beadle (Dupont); Sharon Hall (Potato Processors’ Association); Alan Horgan (Certis); Mark Britton (Syngenta); Sue Cowgill (AHDB Potatoes); John Keer (Richard Austin Agriculture Ltd).

The post Nematicide Stewardship Programme announces new training appeared first on Hort News on 17 November 2015.