Skills to Grow

Whilst researching on MetaboliCity we found ourselves questioning and rethinking our urban workforce and especially the new modes of work created from urban greening and farming. There are some great apprentice schemes and opportunities to setup social enterprises that take on council contracts to manage local green spaces.

There is a really good report on the CABE website about their Skills to Grow strategy that has identified apprenticeships as an important route into green space careers.

According to the latest estimates, green space apprenticeships in urban authorities rose from 31 per cent in 2008 to over 50 per cent in 2009. Thanks to Communities and Local Government grants of £1
million, an initial 60 green space apprenticeships were awarded in
March 2009.

More than half of urban local authorities took on green space apprentices last year, offering a boost to the Skills to grow strategy addressing the shortage of skills in the green space sector.

A PDF of the report can be downloaded here:
Skills to grow: seven priorities to improve green space skills (PDF, 815.83 kb)