Greenkeepers diploma in the workplace

Diplomas in greenkeeping, sports turf and golf course upkeep are now available 100% on the job, writes Carol Miers.

Speaking to Mr David Golding the education director at the Greenkeepers Training Committee (GTC) he explained the government changes: "It's training off the job, on the job.

"The NVQ's in Great Britain have now been branded by the government as Work-based diplomas. To the outside world the standards haven't really changed. The advantage to us is that whether it's horticulture or landscapes or even sports the skills and knowledge can only be really delivered in the workplace, and now the title spells that out,” he said.

The GTC know all about setting standards and training: “What we developed a few years ago was our greenkeeper's training manual which was our version of the NVQ's manual. It used the jargon for the job and we developed what's affectionately known as our little black book.”

The words little black book conjure up secrets, spells or psalms, from Harry Potter to the Bible, but whatever it's origins it's something you want to hang on to.

The idea arose to adapt it for related training in collaboration with the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG). David Golding: "The groundsmen had approached us to say that if we took out things like 'raking bunkers' and 'changing holes' and added in some of the groundsman's tasks we could also have the groundsman's training manual.”

This little gem is to be part of the plan to provide an at-work training option from September.

David Golding explained that people of all ages and walks of life are interested in becoming greenkeepers and groundsmen: "Age is no barrier at all, we have an increasing number of people even coming from the City, who might play golf and who might try to become greenkeepers.

"I think working outdoors on greenkeeping or groundsmanship is an attraction," he said.

But while the training is available with funding to all age groups, in practice it is not so easy to find a sponsored place. "While we develop the standards and qualifications with City & Guilds(C&G) and we have a very good apprenticeship for sixteen to nineteen year olds, the government says of course it is going to be available to all age groups.

"But often there are priority groups for funding, and this availability then gets confused," he said.

"Would the government mind telling its funding bodies that it's not only available for 16-19 yr olds? We know it is also there to get the kids from school into work but it should be a level playing field."

The new methods of training are greeted with surprise: "Typically someone will call GTC, for example from Kent, with someone wanting to do the training, I tell them what's available saying 'Well there's Hadlow College with the traditional off the job option or there's Myerscough college that have training staff all round England who often have been golf course managers.

"I say to them 'The Myerscough staff come around to you'. 'Oh do they?' is the reply and the lights come on."

It's a hole in one. "It puts a little more on the on-the-job trainer mentor who is often the head greenkeeper to train to the national standards, but the grounds don't have to lose staff," he said.

"You're seeing staff on the road, with their laptops and there's on-line learning, work books and it's totally delivered at the workplace with our quality assurance."

He is confident that there are opportunities: "From the boom time of the 90's when there was a demand for more golf courses, thankfully it's now stopped in the UK apart from Donald Trump. There are enough here. New developments are now happening in Eastern Block countries, and the demand for British greenkeepers is there for all to see”.

Comments

[Philip Voice]

A good article Carol

This is a great scheme and a concept that the landscaping industry should look at implementing too.

[carol miers]

Yes, that's a good idea. There are also NVQ's being run by Marshalls, I'll tell everyone about that soon.
Carol