Spalding Horticultural Training Group has achieved national significance in the battle to fill the industry skills gap.
That’s the view of Professor Val Braybrooks, Dean of the National Centre for Food Manufacturing at Holbeach.
Professor Braybrooks – recognised for her contribution to education and the food industry with an MBE in 2010 – said there was a shortage of people entering horticulture, particularly the intensive, commercial horticulture typical of south Lincolnshire.
She said many horticulture education providers had closed, and added: “The one thing we do have is Spalding Horticultural Training Group, which is almost of national significance because there are very few commercial horticultural training organisations, so we have something very special in that little group.”
Professor Braybrooks said there was a problem recruiting people into the industry, and added: “People don’t see it as a high-tech, science-based industry, which it is, and you also have the image problem.”