Horticulture Basics Training Program

The BC Landscape & Nursery Association (BCLNA) is a not for profit organization responsible for the administration, promotion and advancement of the ornamental nursery industry including garden retailers, landscapers and nursery growers in BC. The BCLNA identified the structural shortage of skilled and low-skilled labour, as well as a variety of training and retraining activities urgently required by the retail and wholesale nursery and landscape trade businesses in British Columbia, as a priority issue to be addressed on behalf of its membership and industry at large. The Industry Skills Training – Horticulture Basics© was designed with the following purpose in mind...

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Purpose of the Program

• To encourage continuous growth and development of individuals;
• To prepare people for current and future work opportunities;
• To assist the industry in achieving desired results and adapting to change;

The Industry Skills Training - Horticulture Basics© Program was planned with the intent of helping small business (operators) grow and increase the skills and competencies of their low skilled workers by providing them with access to government funded training courses. The courses are customized to meet the needs of the operators within the industry and their employees. The benefits of this free training are numerous and
include but are not limited to:

• An increase in employee motivation and job satisfaction
• On-going training contributes to continuous growth and influences employee morale and commitment
• Training may reduce staff turnover; this relates to an increase in loyalty and commitment
• Knowledgeable employees make fewer mistakes resulting in efficiency and effectiveness on the job site
• Training contributes to greater skill and competency resulting in less absenteeism and injury
• Training is an investment in employee growth and potential
• Training will assist this industry in adapting to change as employees embrace new ideas, methods and technologies
• Training demonstrates your interest and commitment in the employee’s professional development
• Employees will gain insight into the three commodities and increased knowledge relates to increased confidence on the job
• Customers appreciate knowledgeable skilled employees who respond to questions and concerns.

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Program Details

This pilot project has space available for 400 employees across three regions in British Columbia; Southern Vancouver Island (Nanaimo to Victoria); The Lower Mainland (Squamish to Greater Vancouver to the Fraser Valley); and the Thompson Okanagan (Kamloops, Vernon, Kelowna and through to Osoyoos). The eligibility requirement for the project is an employed individual who is low skilled, in particular employed individuals who do not have a high school diploma or a recognized certification or who has low levels of literacy and Essential Skills. Essential Skills and Industry Specific Skills are offered free for your employee(s). Essential Skills for purposes of this training are identified as:

• Introduction to Horticulture
• Sustainability within Industry
• Introduction to Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Leadership
• Communication (includes reading, text, numeracy, writing, oral communication)
• Conflict resolution
• Customer service
• Workplace professionalism (includes attitude and dress)
• Managing stress
• Healthy eating
• Cultural sensitivity and awareness
• Working with others
• Continuous learning
• Thinking skills/problem solving skills
• Computer and document use

Industry Specific Skills will address a smorgasbord of topics within these categories

• Equipment Operation & Maintenance
• Plant Use and Maintenance
• Soil, Fertility and Cultural Management
• Grading, Shipping and Receiving
• Field Harvesting Techniques

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. Additionally, growers, access to qualified skilled and unskilled labour was their number two issue. This confirms our belief that the Industry Skills Training – Horticulture Basics© is proactive as it responds to the issues within industry.

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Program Objectives

• Provide entry level workers with the foundational skills and knowledge needed to be permanently employed in the landscape industry in British Columbia
• Provide essential skills training for low skill employees
• Provide delivery models that could provide sustainable training throughout the province, including long-term training pathways (such as a trade certificate of qualification in horticulture) for employees

Horticulture is a viable career choice; the BCLNA Horticulture Basics© offers your employees ‘a step’ in the right direction that gets them started with foundational skills and knowledge required to be better qualified within this industry. Whether it is retail, nursery or landscape; this free training is designed to enhance and upgrade skills through both theoretical and practical industry skills instruction. As you know working in this environment is vibrant and exciting and offers opportunities in the three commodities. Investing in your employees will result in a return in your investment. An employee with enhanced skills in horticulture is invaluable to your success as an operator.

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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 employee(s) requiring additional training for the workplace. An employee for purposes of this training “is someone that does not possess a high school diploma or has a high
school diploma but does not have accreditation from a recognized institution”. The goal of the BC Landscape and Nursery Association is to build viable career options for employees in horticulture. This will encourage employees to think and plan for long term employment within the sector. This free training will target the following number of participants in the following three regions:

• Vancouver Island / Coastal BC - 75
• Mainland / Southwest BC - 250
• Thompson-Okanagan - 75

Space is limited to 400 participants. Please watch for course topics and training dates to be posted on the BCLNA website. To find out more general information about the BCLNA Industry Skills Training Horticulture Basics © program please feel free to contact:

Ann Marie Walsh, Industry Skills Training Coordinator - call (604) 574-7772 ext 108 or click here to email...

Joy DeMelo, Industry Skills Training Assistant - call (604) 574-7772 ext 101 or click here to email ...

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