| Horticulture
Basics Training Program
The BC Landscape & Nursery Association (BCLNA) is a not-for-profit
organization responsible for the advancement of the Horticulture
Industry; retail, nursery and landscape commodity sectors.
'The Horticultural
Basics© Training Program was developed to address the
industry’s need for skilled entry level employees.
The program
offers your employees ‘a step’ in the right direction
to get them going with foundational skills and knowledge required
to be better qualified within this industry. Whether it is retail,
nursery or landscape, this training is designed to enhance and
upgrade skills through theoretical and practical industry skills
instruction. A trained employee is invaluable to your success as
a business operator.
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Purpose
of the Program
- Enhance
the skill, competence and confidence of your staff
- Encourage
continuous growth and development of individuals
- Prepare
people for current and future work opportunities
For a limited
time these FREE sessions are available to small business. Encouraging
your employees to attend a Horticultural Basics© training
session is an investment of time that will benefit your business
and increase employee skills, competence and confidence.
Objectives
of the Program
- Provide
entry level workers with the foundation skills and knowledge
needed to be permanently employed in the horticulture industry
in BC
- Become
an educational delivery model to provide sustainable training
pathways to future horticulture certification, apprenticeship
or diploma programs
Data was
collected by the BC Landscape and Nursery Association (BCLNA)
and the results indicate that for landscapers and garden
centers, access to qualified labour was their number one
issue and for growers, access to qualified skilled and unskilled
labour was listed as their number two issue.
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Program
Benefits
- Knowledgeable
employees improve efficiency and effectiveness on the job
site
- Better
skills and competency result in less staff absenteeism and
injury
- Training
is an investment in employee professional growth and potential
- Increases
employee motivation and job satisfaction
- Training
may reduce staff turnover; this relates to increased loyalty
and commitment
- Standardized
training will assist the Horticulture Industry in adapting
to newer methods and technologies
- Customers
appreciate knowledgeable employees
BCLNA’s
Industry Skills Training - Horticulture Basics© program
is a proactive response to an important industry issue.
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Program
Details
BC Landscape
and Nursery Association advocates knowledge and development
of practical career options for horticulture employees. Thereby
encouraging staff to think and plan for long term employment
within industry sectors. Some of the training topics currently
available:
FOUNDATIONAL
SKILLS:
- Introduction
to Horticulture
- Industry
Sustainability
- Introduction
to Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
- Workplace
professionalism (includes attitude and dress)
- Communication
- Conflict
resolution
- Leadership
- Customer
service
- Problem
solving skills
INDUSTRY
SPECIFIC SKILLS:
- Soil,
Fertility and Cultural Management
- Plant
Use and Maintenance
- Field
Harvesting Techniques
- Plant
Grading, Shipping and Receiving
- Equipment
Operation & Maintenance
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Eligibility
To qualify
for the BCLNA Horticulture Basics© Small Business Employee
Training Program your business must have less than 50 employees
and have staff requiring additional training for the workplace.
Employees who may not have a high school education or who are
currently unable to enter post secondary horticulture programs
are the ideal candidate for this opportunity.
This pilot
project has space available for 400 employees across three
regions in BC. This free training will target the following
participants in these regions:
- Southern
Vancouver Island
- Southwest BC
- Thompson
Okanagan
Space is limited. Please
watch for course topics and training dates to be posted on
the Google Calendar. If you are ready to move your team to the next
level of performance, contact Ann Marie Walsh (604) 574-7772
to discuss your professional development needs.
Email
Ann Marie Walsh, Industry Skills Training Coordinator
Email
Joy DeMelo, Industry Skills Training Assistant
Go
to the Course Schedule on Google Calendar
Download
the Schedule of Training Events
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