Future Gardeners

The Future Gardeners project has been one of the most successful of the Gardeners Company initiatives in the last few years and we look forward to growing this exciting project further over the next five years

Beginning as an idea formed by Paul Rochford and Mike Fitt some six or so years ago its aim is to provide horticultural and “work ready” training to people who have been long-term unemployed or who have faced challenges in their lives and would benefit from gaining confidence, skills and the opportunity of training and employment.

Training involves acquiring horticultural skills, having work experience with some of our wonderful partners, garden visits, demonstrations and talks and lectures as well as practising interview technique and CV writing. Graduates receive a City and Guilds Level 2 qualification in horticulture to aid their job search.

Future Gardeners has run 13 courses so far, with FG 14 beginning soon and has a rate of over 80% of those graduating gaining employment, most within the horticultural sector. Many have gone on to further their horticultural education and careers by becoming apprentices and there is a steadily growing number making names for themselves in the world of horticulture.

Future Gardeners has been funded on a 50-50 basis by the Gardeners’ BOST up until now and has a full year budget of approximately £100,000.

In order to grow the project to a level not possible with the limited funds available from the Company and BOST. Future Gardeners is now a registered charity with the number – 1191623 and seeks to raise funds for this exciting and successful project.

We have proved that the concept works and now hope to expand the offering in partnership with BOST to other areas of London.

The report on the fifth year of the project is below.

We all look forward to seeing this great idea continue to blossom.

Rex Thornborough
Chairman
Future Gardeners

20th April 2022