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Skills to grow

Skills to grow: seven priorities to improve green space skills is a strategy for addressing the problems and opportunities facing the green space sector, from landscape architects to horticulturalists.

The following organisations have been working with CABE Space to ensure that the national skills strategy accurately represents the challenges facing the sector and are committed to working together to support its implementation.

  • Association of Public Service Excellence (APSE)
  • BTCV
  • Civic Trust
  • Communities and Local Government
  • Keep Britain Tidy
  • English Heritage
  • GreenSpace
  • Homes and Communities Academy
  • Improvement & Development Agency (I&DeA)
  • ISPAL
  • Landscape Institute
  • Landex
  • Lantra
  • Local Government Association
  • Local Government Employers (LGE)
  • Natural England
  • Royal Horticultural Society

Find out what progress has been made against the actions for each priority below.

The seven priorities

1. Increase awareness of the sector and the opportunities it offers

By 2020, working in the green space sector will be considered an excellent career choice that is open to everyone and offers a range of fulfilling roles. Green space employers will find it easy to recruit suitably trained and qualified staff.

2. Improve entry routes and career paths in sector occupations

By 2020, anyone interested in a green space career will have a range of options for entering the sector, from training ‘on the job’ through an apprenticeship, to taking a more academic route to a technical or management role.

3. Improve the availability and quality of training, including continuing professional development

By 2020 there will be a range of professionally accredited green space training courses available across the country offering qualifications at all levels.

4. Improve management and leadership skills

By 2020, green space professionals will be effective advocates for their sector, providing the necessary leadership and management skills to keep parks and green spaces top of the agenda.

5. Increase the sector’s investment in skills

By 2020, green space employers will recognise the importance of investing in staff training and development and sufficient funding will be allocated to ensure that green space workforces are of a high calibre.

6. Build capacity for joined-up thinking and working

By 2020, the planning, design and management of green spaces will be co-ordinated effectively within and between the organisations responsible for them, such as local authorities and social housing providers.

7. Develop and maintain a strong evidence base

By 2020, national labour market information about green space sector jobs will be available to inform skills development and used as part of the national labour force surveys, putting green space jobs on a level with other sectors.