pitchcare TRAINING & education
Last autumn, we focused on three students who were at various stages of their career development in turfcare and had embarked on education programmes including NVQ levels 2 and 3 and an MSC to help them move up the ladder of achievement.
We revisit them at the end of their academic year to gauge how their studies have progressed and to what degree they have assimilated study with their day jobs.
STUDENT: John Court AGE: 21
POSITION: Horticultural apprentice to Cardiff City Council PLACE OF STUDY:
Pencoed campus of Bridgend College
John Court’s hopes of moving into a full time post with Cardiff City Council after completion of his Level 3 NVQ in sportsturf management have been fulfilled after hearing the news that on 1 April he had been offered the prospect of a position.
His boss Robert Jones, Parks Manager for Cardiff City Council, confirmed the news. “The council has seconded John with a view to a permanent position here as a driver, gardener and groundsman.” Jones remains unstinting in his praise for the
22 year old and reiterates his comments last year about Court’s dedication to his job. “John has worked for the Council for more than four years now and in that time has never lost any time through sickness. He’s a model worker.”
His groundscare work also shows real promise, Jones remarks. “He’s certainly moved on well in taking a lead on the cricket surfaces.”
The success of students such as Court will also be a feather in Jones’s cap, helping him in his quest to re establish the apprenticeship scheme into the council in order to train young people in the skills they need to progress within the industry.
“If John chooses to stay with us, there’s no telling how far up he can go,” adds Jones.
When asked to name Court’s key qualities, Jones responds without hesitation.
“His keenness, enthusiasm for the job, his politeness and good manners. He’s also well respected across the board.
But how has Court found the NVQ Level 3
course? “There’s certainly a big difference between this level and Level 2, “ he concludes. “It is more managerial and certainly more of a challenge.”
Had there been any particular facets of the course that he’d struggled over? “Budgeting and control of staff particularly,” he responds. “I haven’t had experience of those aspects in my work.” But Court’s interpersonal skills shone through to aid him during his studies. Gareth Newberry, a fellow worker at Cardiff City Council, was also on the course, so the two could interact to the benefit of both of them, as Court explains. “We were able to exchange information on the aspects of groundscare that we were familiar with at the council. Gareth works on the council’s bowling greens, for example, whereas I have worked extensively on the four cricket pitches in Bute Park, repairing and renovating them. Talking with Gareth was a real help for me.” A benefit that Paul Discombe, Court’s tutor at
Bridgend College (formerly Pencoed College) confirms. “The two stuck together in class and were able to help each other. Greenkeeping can be alien to groundsmen and Gareth’s experience with bowling greens enabled John to become more familiar with this side of the work. He agrees that the most challenging aspects for John were probably estimating resource programmes. “The project to renovate a cricket wicket involved calculating the materials and manpower required, quoting for the job then meetings to progress the work. But he came through very well.”
Discombe also praises Court for his exemplary approach to the job. “He has pride in the job. I was with him on site when someone complemented him on the park gardens. “That’s good to see,” he says, at a time when there’s a danger that skills are being lost and staff do not care so much about their work, he adds. “We need council employees to take more control of an area to ensure standards are maintained.”
Despite the trials and tribulations, would Court take the course again? “Yes, I enjoyed every bit of it,” he responds instantly. He’s not content to rest on his laurels, though and is already champing at the bit to gain further qualifications. “The next level up is an HND, which I hope to begin in September, if the boss allows me to.”
Pitchcare Education update
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108