pitchcare TRAINING & education Getting Started
David Golding (left) is the Greenkeepers Training Committee’s (GTC) Education Director. Here he shares his experience with us and explains why the sports turf sector has so much to offer young people who are looking for a career in the great outdoors.
sector, may well be a route by which we attract youngsters into the industry.
He also explains the training options available and how the traditional land-based colleges have moved to meet industry’s needs.
LET US have a look at the opportunities available to young people today and the one thing that has not changed since the 1960s is the starting point – an apprenticeship scheme.
Unlike years ago when the apprenticeship scheme involved working on a golf course to the specific standards set down by the individual Head Greenkeeper/Course Manger and a week at the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI), we now have a structured programme based on a range of skills required, underpinned by the relevant knowledge and the basic skills of numeracy, literacy and communication. It is a sad fact that many leaving school today still do not have the basic skills and we as a sector have a duty to ensure that as we are giving them occupational skills we also ensure they have the life skills.
The apprenticeship scheme is based on the National & Scottish Vocational Qualifications (N/SVQ’s) in Sports turf and is designed to be work-based. However, there is also a more college-based option, albeit the courses are all geared to the needs of the employers or employment.
Centres, often Further Education colleges, offer the apprenticeship scheme and, at this point, a word of caution not every college has the expertise to offer every apprenticeship, so be very careful when choosing your provider. To become an apprentice you will need to be in employment and, as the majority of the scheme relates to on-the-job skills, it is advisable to contact prospective employers before leaving school. Employers, especially Stadium and Course Managers, must be prepared to offer more placement opportunities and ensure youngsters are given an induction, which hopefully will leave them hungry to join our great profession. The Government is also about to launch a Diploma route for 14 - 19 year olds which, for the sports turf
Schools will be working closely with Further Education colleges to implement the Diplomas. Alternatively, college based courses are available offering the recently accredited National Certificate (NC) in Sports & Amenity Turf (Level 2) and the Advanced National Certificate (ANC) in Sports & Amenity Turf (Level 3). These college-based courses have been agreed with industry and are underpinned by the National Occupational Standards, which are more commonly referred to as the National & Scottish Vocational Qualifications (N/SVQ’s). Hopefully, what is becoming clear is that there are two options to learn - on and off the job! It is this partnership approach, which has held the sector together for many years and, with the new Diploma on the horizon, the partnership will be further strengthened. The GTC has always chosen colleges to be classed as an Approved Centre but, in recent years, private providers have been added to our list. The purpose of an Approved Training Provider list is so we can work closely in partnership to ensure the education and training provision meets industry needs and we can direct employers and students to these Centres. All Centres offering the formal Government qualifications and apprenticeship schemes receive funding support to make education and training affordable.
In the near future we are hoping that funding support will also be available for short courses or ‘bite size learning’, which will be good news for the learners and employers. It is not everyone who requires a full N/SVQ or NC, and all concerned should welcome the introduction of this new funding strategy. NPTC Certificates of Competence (CoC’s) have
also become increasingly popular as they cover legislative regulations such as the Safe Use of tractors, machinery and pesticides. Courses to comply with these CoC’s are also available through the Approved Centres. The progression from the 14 19 Diploma and apprenticeship schemes can be either through the work-based N/SVQ Level 3 or the more college based Advanced National Certificate or even the Higher National Certificate (HNC) route.
Support in the workplace is essential for either the N/SVQ Levels 2 or 3 to be successful, and this is where so much success in the greenkeeping sector has been seen.
The GTC’s policy to train Course Managers, Head Greenkeepers and, in some cases, Deputies as qualified trainers and assessors has slowly but surely
There is really no excuse for not getting qualified especially as the approved training providers really have reacted to our sectors request for greater flexibility in the delivery of the respected qualifications and courses.
overturned a culture of ‘off you go to college, come back qualified!’ Skilled staff keep our turf surfaces to the standard required by employers and customers, and the work-based supervisors are key to this training. This is not new as it has been traditionally the norm for many years. Now, however, we can all train and assess learners using nationally agreed standards of competency and related knowledge. Workbooks, training manual, learning materials and more recently on-line learning, are all available, so really the choice is yours.
If the thought of a Degree attracts you the Higher Education (HE) qualifications HNC/D in Scotland and the HNC - Foundation Degree in England and Wales are now very accessible.
There is really no excuse for not getting qualified
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