Focus. Apprenticeship. Capel Manor College. March 2013

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1 Capel Manor College Apprenticeship Focus March 2013 National Apprenticeship Week, which is the week commencing 11 March, we have decided To celebrate and recognise to create a special newsletter. We hope that the newsletter will give you a flavour of how employers value the apprenticeship programme and how the training has enabled apprentices to successfully further their careers. Capel Manor College has been offering apprenticeship programmes for nearly 10 years and over the course of that period the number of apprentices has grown considerably. Currently we have 101 on the Horticulture programme; 71 on the Trees and Timber programme; 5 on the Animal Care programme and 3 on the Environmental Conservation programme. Our success rate of 80% is above the National Average and our employer surveys indicate a high level of customer satisfaction. We are the Horticulture and Animal Care Apprenticeship training provider of choice for The Royal Parks and London Zoo as well as for other prestigious horticulture and trees and timber employers. Apprenticeships continue to be a flagship training programme for consecutive governments. Employers who have not previously had an apprentice within the last 12 months but employ an apprentice aged can currently access funding of Most of our programmes run throughout the year in response to employer demand. To find out how the apprenticeship programme can benefit your business please phone Employer Services on ext 1245 Linda Hope - Employer Services Manager

2 Success stories Joanne Winters Gunnersbury Park centre a love of flowers developed during her A Level Photography course. Doing an apprenticeship appealed because it enabled her to earn money whilst pursuing her growing passion for plants and working outside. To develop her career in horticulture further she hopes to undertake the Kew Diploma, which offers the opportunity to study top-level scientific and technical subjects whilst undertaking paid work at Kew Gardens. Joanne Winters a 19 year old Level 2 horticultural apprentice at Capel Manor College was recently nominated as one of Great Britain s top five horticultural apprentices - an outstanding achievement. As a finalist of the national APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) Apprentice of the Year awards 2012, Jo attended a prestigious award ceremony in Leicester where she was awarded a runner up medal and 50 cash prize. As an apprentice Jo studies horticulture at Capel Manor College, Gunnersbury Park, Acton, one day a week. The remaining four days she works for London Borough of Brent s Parks Department, who nominated her for the award. As part of a team of six, Jo shares responsibility for maintaining Roundwood Park, on the border of Harlesden and Willesden, West London and a number of other parks and public spaces in the area. She does everything from mowing lawns, pruning, hedge cutting to litter picking. After completing A Levels in Photography and English Language, along with a BTEC Art and Design course, Jo was inspired to consider horticulture by two key experiences. The first was a school visit to Kew Gardens and the second was I really love my job which is why I am prepared to travel up to an hour and a half to get both to and from work, from my home in Upminster. After leaving school I knew I wanted to go down the plant route but I wasn t sure about my options. I didn t think seriously about university. I don t think I could have afforded it but after a year as an apprentice not only have I qualified but I also have a full-time job. You gain a lot from the people you work with, everyone has different skills and experience and it all comes together. I enjoy being able to indentify a range of plants, understanding their classification and knowing their characteristics. You can sound really intelligent when you re out with people and able to name the plants around you. I think the APSE awards scheme is good. It recognises trades people of the future, like me, as well as organisations like local councils, that provide the training opportunities that help you get on a career path. I am absolutely chuffed to have been nominated. I didn t expect it at all but it s nice to have the recognition and to have got dressed up to go to a posh do with a nice meal and then to stay overnight in a nice hotel. There are many opportunities for work out there in this industry so I feel confident about my future in horticulture. I would also like to further pursue my plant photography, now that I know more about the plants that I am photographing.

3 Success stories Trees and Timber Apprentice wins prestigious prize Capel Manor Apprentice wins a STIHL chainsaw in APF felling techniques competition. In November 2012 Anthony Samuel-Harper won The Worshipful Company of Gardeners Apprenticeship prize. This was awarded at a black tie dinner held at Haberdashers Hall, London on 13 th November. The prize was the culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication by Anthony who continues his training on the Advanced Level 3 Trees and Timber Apprenticeship programme. Anthony Harper works for Glendale Countryside Ltd and would be the first to say that the apprenticeship programme has changed his life and enabled him to achieve far more than he ever thought possible. He successfully completed the Intermediate Level 2 Trees and Timber apprenticeship programme in April 2012 and had the right can-do attitude from the very start. He tries hard at everything he attempts, shows a keen enthusiasm to learn and is full of questions. Anthony s progression to the Level 3 Apprenticeship programme has allowed him to align his ever improving practical skills with a very good theoretical knowledge of the industry. Anthony is very well supported within Glendales Countryside and has become both an invaluable member of the team and an asset to the company. Anthony is an example of what can be achieved on the apprenticeship programmes through hard work and commitment. Capel Manor College Trees and Timber Apprentice Nick Hayes won first prize in a felling techniques competition, which was part of the Health and Safety Executive s (HSE) Safety Village stand at the APF 2012 show which took place at the Ragley Estate in Warwickshire. Nick Hayes, 23 from Hertfordshire, was presented with the first prize of an expensive STIHL chainsaw at the event. Nick worked for the City of London Corporation as a conservation arborist during the apprenticeship programme, which he completed successfully in October UPM Tilhill and STIHL UK organised the competition which had 119 entries. Competitors were asked to name and describe the benefits of the different types of felling cuts on display and state when they may be used. Entrants were also asked to identify bad practices or faults on a range of the demonstration cuts. Nick used the knowledge and skills he had acquired when achieving his Chainsaw Operator and Tree Felling Certificates of Competence on his Level 2 Apprenticeship to answer more questions correctly than any other entrant. Martin Lennon, UPM Tilhill s Skills and Training Manager and competition co-ordinator, said It s great to see a modern apprentice winning what was a difficult competition and I think this shows the high quality of apprentices these days.

4 Capel Manor College Work Based Assessors Jamie Myers, Work Based Assessor on the Trees and Timber apprenticeship programme assesses the importance of his role. From the employer perspective we need to have credibility and a wide industry experience and most of all great passion for the job the young people are embarking on. How do we work? We try and get as close as possible to both the apprentice and employer. We help the employer to understand the role they play in the success of the apprentice. Getting to know each other opens the lines of communication and we can work together for a successful outcome. We encourage the employer to come into college and see for themselves how as a team we provide the highest quality training possible, this gives an inclusive feel to the apprentice and helps them to understand that we are all on the same side. When asked to write a small piece about my job it really got me thinking about what we as Work Based Assessors really bring to the programme. The Work Based Assessor role is a multi-faceted one; we wear a lot of hats. Firstly we have the responsibility to ensure the integrity of the programme we offer as without this the qualification is worthless. We validate all the work done by the tutors at college through assessments both in the college and the experience they gain in the work place, working closely with their employers to ensure they receive the exposure to the entire syllabus. We have to be the first point of contact for both the employers and the apprentice in dealing with issues arising both in the work place and college. We constantly monitor the progress of the apprentice and this enables us to tailor the learning to cover any parts of the syllabus they might be struggling to get evidence for. In conclusion we are the rope that pulls the programme together. Without the Work Based Assessor there would be a danger of the Them and Us attitude developing. We feedback to the college on what is happening in the workplace and likewise back to the employer on what is happening at college. What does a Work Based Assessor need to be? They need to be a mentor, teacher, parent, confidant and support to the apprentice; a team player who will give honesty to all sides of the triangle (apprentice-employer-college).

5 Profiles Bradley Gangadeen The College has four centres across the London and the students attend the closest one. For Bradley, this is Gunnersbury Park. Whilst at College Bradley and his colleagues have formal teaching backed up with practical sessions both within the centre grounds and offsite. They also have the opportunity to go on outside visits and have recently been to RHS Gardens Wisley and Kew Botanical Gardens as well as conducting a rose pruning practical at a local cemetery. They also have the chance to join a week long study tour of some of the large gardens in Cornwall during May. On Tuesday s Bradley works with volunteers at Walpole Gardens; Wednesday s he has his own tasks and works with the Youth Offending Team; Thursday s with more volunteers in the gardens and on Friday s he joins the social enterprise gardens at Accession in Enfield working with West London Mental Health volunteers. Bradley transplanting a Hebe from an over-crowded shrubbery Bradley is a nineteen year old horticulture apprentice with Walpole Gardens in Ealing having joined the gardening team in March Currently studying for a Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship Bradley has his sights on a full career in horticulture. I started to develop an interest in horticulture in my first year at High School, Bradley said, and the opportunities available as an apprentice are absolutely phenomenal! For Bradley, finding an apprenticeship placement was very straightforward, applying for a place spotted on the National Apprenticeship Service website, and being successfully interviewed at Ealing and Capel Manor College. Being an apprentice gives me a much easier way of learning it s brilliant! For two weeks in February I was able to take part in work experience at Kew Gardens, working in the tropical propagation nursery and attending lectures in the evenings. I now know I want to apply to do the Kew Diploma as I ve really enjoyed my time there. Bradley s working week starts with a day at Capel Manor College with a group of other apprentices from all horticulture backgrounds; garden maintenance, formal urban parks, small local businesses and large national contractors.

6 Profiles Matthew Ogunmokun Matthew is a young man who has always had an interest in arboriculture but could not find an access route into the industry. He found that all employers were asking for certificates of competence and he could not get these unless he was working in a company where he could get the training and experience. He found out that the apprenticeship scheme offered by Capel Manor College would allow him to achieve his goals and after enquiring about the course he secured a placement with City Suburban Group where he could work whilst being trained. Matthew also gained his chainsaw license very early in the course and has reaped the rewards of his hard work as the roles he is allowed to carry out at work expand due to his success in his apprenticeship. Matthew is looking forward to the climbing and pruning units later in his course as these will allow him to gain the industry qualifications he needs to develop his chosen career path as an arborist. Fiona Verhagen Fiona has spent her working life in an office environment but has always had an interest in trees and woodlands. She has secured an apprenticeship placement with City of London Corporation at Epping Forest and is enjoying working outside and protecting the ancient woodlands. She has already achieved her chainsaw license in the first 3 months of her time at Capel Manor College and worked successfully to maintain ancient woodland by selective felling of unwanted tree species. She is currently under training to gain her elevated working platform ticket to enable her to work on the veteran trees in Epping Forest. Fiona has a genuine passion for arboriculture and is looking forward to beginning her climbing training which will allow her to be involved in the aerial pruning and maintenance of the trees in and around Epping Forest.

7 Employer views City Suburban City Suburban Tree Surgeons Ltd currently has 5 apprentices at Capel Manor College and CSG Ushers currently has 5. How long have you had apprentices in Trees and Timber? Why is City Suburban committed to the apprenticeship programmes? City Suburban Group, which incorporates City Suburban Tree Surgeons Ltd and CSG Ushers, is committed to the apprenticeship programme to aid in helping young people into the work force. These young people have a chance to gain specific skills and qualifications, therefore offering long term employment within the industry. City Suburban Group is a specialist Arboricultural Contractor servicing both Public and Domestic sectors. An additional benefit of being committed to the programme is that this can provide a long term recruitment policy for the group. City Suburban is committed to the Apprenticeship scheme to help young people gain a skill and potential career within Arboriculture. As long standing Contractors for Islington Council Tree Services, City Suburban is working with Islington to employ Apprentices and put something back into the community. Simon Lant, Equipment Manager How many apprentices does City Suburban currently have at Capel Manor College? The Group currently employs 10 apprentices. The group first began with the apprenticeship programme in 2010 employing 2 apprentices. In 2011 a total of 7 apprentices were employed of which 5 are still continuing with their training. 2012/2013 has seen another 5 apprentices employed by the group, who are all currently doing well within the programme and work place. Have you retained any apprentices once their apprenticeship has been completed? The 2 apprentices employed in 2010 are still currently employed by CSG Ushers, having completed their apprenticeship, and both hold full time climbing positions. The other 10 apprentices are continuing with their apprenticeship training with the 5 employed in September 2011 being very close to completion. What do you like about apprenticeship programme? Contract Manager: Gillon Laidlaw I was interested to become involved with the Apprentice programme in When the apprentices first arrived at City Suburban in October 2012 they were bright eyed and enthusiastic. As managers we attended an introduction to the scheme at Capel Manor College, where we met Mac and other people involved with the programme. This was very beneficial as it gave us an insight into the course. It gave us a clear

8 Employer views idea of how and where our apprentices would need support and guidance. Since their arrival I have taken them out for training in various disciplines. They are always keen to learn more and apply themselves to improve their skills. They are really helpful in City Suburban s bigger jobs that need extra man power. The first big job I took them on was a tree removal on Duck Island in St James Park in December. The task to complete was the removal of an extra large poplar. The crown was dismantled using advanced rigging by two senior arborists, then walked out of site and chipped by our apprentices. They got to see the skill level involved in a technical dismantling Arboricultural operation and it inspired them to further their skills. From talking to the apprentices I think they all want to stay on with City Suburban Group after they have completed their training. They enjoy the industry and will be an asset to the firm. I think the main advantage to the scheme is that as a company there is a constant need to find new staff. When recruiting, it can be challenging to find staff with the relevant qualifications and experience. Once the apprentices have completed the course they will be ideal junior members of staff that are used to our company policies and procedures. More importantly the apprentices will have a solid foundation in the world of Arboriculture, giving them the potential to flourish in the industry no matter which branch they wish to follow. Contract Manager: Nick Souter I am happy to be associated with the Trees and Timber Apprenticeship Programme as I feel that the combination of education and vocational skills is ideally suited to an industry like arboriculture. Being an apprentice allows valuable insight into the realities of working life and allows the apprentices the chance to practise and sharpen some of the skills started at Capel Manor. It also helps them to understand the connection between tree biology and the practicalities of tree work. The apprentices work with a wide range of people, some of whom have an extensive knowledge and range of skills that it is not possible to teach in a classroom. Communication skills will also benefit from working with other crew members, and dealing with members of the public. Sometimes the apprentices may feel a little overwhelmed by the physical nature of the work, but this will benefit them in the long term as their fitness and stamina improve. They will also understand more about team working and the need for them to work hard, so that crew leaders will start asking for apprentices to be involved in particular jobs because they know that they will be willing and useful. The combination of what is learned at City Suburban and Capel Manor should give them the range of skills needed to be valuable employees in the future. Equipment Manager: Simon Lant I believe the Apprenticeship programme benefits not only the employee but also the employer. The employee gains knowledge, skills and experience through the programme; and the employer can train the apprentice to the Company standards and procedures whilst gaining a qualified Arborist.

9 Employer views Feedback from existing crews about the apprentices is very positive as it gives the skilled arborist an opportunity to mentor, therefore strengthening their personal skills and expanding the strength of the crew and productivity. Planting Manager: Adam Jory I see the main benefit of taking on apprentices is the way we get to mould these young people into the type of people who can reach the highest level of our industry. Too often the young people who are employed get focused on just earning money, and do not see the benefits of continuing their development and education within tree surgery. The focus on the apprenticeship is all about education, a continual learning process and instilling a good work ethic. It has been extremely satisfying to see the development and confidence of these young people flourish. It is rewarding to take an apprentice out with me planting for the day and see a real interest in how we plant a tree, why we are planting this species in this location and what the next steps are to seeing it fully mature. In one case they even took a photo of their first tree planted to show their Grandfather that they are now doing something positive with their life. We all had to start somewhere, and I find working and teaching the apprentices extremely satisfying. Most of the senior staff in our company are more than happy to spend the time training the apprentices as we realise they are the lifeblood of our company. My senior plants men are now requesting to work with apprentices as they enjoy their enthusiasm and willingness to pitch in. I m sure the extra management that is involved in educating the apprentices will pay off as we get to shape and develop these young people into the type of employees we want. Have they brought any benefits to your existing work force? The apprentices bring both short and long term benefits to the work place, work force and industry. Providing senior members of staff the opportunity to train and mentor the apprentices which can have very rewarding results personally and at the same time enforcing the working relationship between staff. We would anticipate there will be more long term benefits from the apprentices as they become qualified and apply their skills and knowledge gained from the apprenticeship programmes and work place into the work force and arboricultural industry. It is clear and satisfying to see the development of the apprentices who are further along the Trees and Timber programme from those who have just begun. To summarise: The Trees and Timber Apprenticeship programme at Capel Manor College is demonstrating the benefit of these programmes to the community, individuals, work force and industry. City Suburban Group will remain committed to the apprenticeship programme in assisting young people into the work force and a great industry which all will benefit from.

10 Partnerships City of London Corporation continues to value the Trees and Timber Apprenticeship Programme City of London Corporation at Epping Forest is at the start of the fourth year of their five year commitment to the employment of apprentices. Each year three apprentices have been recruited and trained by Capel Manor College on the Level 2 Trees and Timber Apprenticeship programme. On completion of the apprenticeship programme the apprentices seek employment within the industry and many have taken the opportunity to work abroad. Overall, at the end of the five year project 15 apprentices will have completed the apprenticeship programme and gained valuable skills to take out and continue to develop within the industry. The article below is taken from the City of London Epping Forest Newsletter and gives a good insight into the benefits of the apprenticeship programme to the existing workforce. New arborists for old forest Conservation Arborist Team Leader, Richard Edmonds, says Good bye and good luck to the class of 2012 and welcomes the new recruits. With thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund, Branching Out Project, the 2011/12 Conservation Arborist Apprentices Dan Martin, Steve Cozens and Nick Hayes have gained new skills and qualifications, showing a great deal of determination to succeed. With the guidance and mentoring provided by their Team Leaders, and a good sense of humour, they have made huge progress and are now able to work confidently and safely in their chosen field. Each of the Apprentices has impressed us with their different personal qualities. Steve has great determination and spent many break times practicing his climbing, not giving up until he confidently achieved his goal. Nick has shown that he is a very driven individual and will push himself on to perform better and better each time he tries something new. Dan has shown a great deal of natural ability and has been able to master most things quickly, really impressing our regular staff. We Team Leaders enjoy mentoring and coaching the Apprentices; it gives us a great feeling of pride when they master a skill from our teaching. It is fantastic that the very skilled, experienced members of staff we have at Epping Forest are given the opportunity to share their knowledge and stories with green individuals who are enthusiastic to learn. In our own way, we are helping to shape the future of arboriculture.