GROWING THE INDUSTRY
28 Feb 2012
Landscape Solutions is growing the landscape industry and plans to recruit another 100 apprentices over the next two years.
Landscape Solutions, one of Australia’s leading providers of commercial landscape construction and landscape maintenance is a company at the forefront of the industry with over 200 employees across four states. The company currently employs 55 apprentices and plans to recruit another 100 over the next 2 years.
“We’re always on the lookout for bright, enthusiastic young people,” says Managing Director Tim Buckle. “Gone are the days of stacking rocks and planting Cocos Palms. With a trade certificate under their belt, today’s landscapers have the credentials to embark on a wide variety of career paths. Most of our senior management started their careers off with a trade certificate in horticulture and are now Project Managers, Foreman or Construction Managers building $10 million landscapes. The industry has really evolved and so too has the need for qualified people in a diverse range of positions”.
These days there are plenty of outstanding opportunities available for those who complete an apprenticeship. For example, a qualified landscaper can become; a Project Manager, an Account Manager, a Construction Manager, a Landscape Architect, a Foreman, a Team Leader, a Golf Course Superintendant, an Irrigation Technician, an Estimator, and, even a CEO!
The shortage of skilled tradespersons in this country continues to grow and in order to meet future staffing requirements Landscape Solutions has initiated two programs aimed at attracting young people to an apprenticeship in the landscaping industry.
‘Become a Landscaper’ is the first initiative. It promotes the positive benefits and the opportunities associated with becoming a landscaper. The website and informational material is based around interviews that were conducted with young people who have already commenced their apprenticeships. One of the question that they were all asked was “What they liked most about their jobs?”. Their answers ranged from “I love working outdoors” to “It’s great to be part of a team” to “Building something beautiful builds my self-belief”. While all experienced different daily routines due to their choice of trade certificate, one of the most common responses to the question “What do you want to do when you’ve finished your apprenticeship?” was “I’m not so sure, I never knew there were so many options available”. There really are so many future career choices available to today’s landscaper.
The second part of the recruitment campaign is an apprenticeship program called the ‘Made with a Trade’ program and as the name implies: When you have a trade, you have it made! The program will provide young people with the foundations for furthering an exciting career backed by the security of a recognised trade certificate.
The Made with a Trade program has its own ‘mentoring team’, three Managers dedicated to guiding and advising apprentices throughout their trade certificate, TAFE studies and social life (if the need arises). “Our goal is to ensure that an apprenticeship is a positive learning experience for everyone that commits to the 4-year term. We’re not here to hold anyone’s hand, however, we will certainly provide assistance and encouragement to bring the best out of every apprentice,” say Michael Warren, Team Development, Training and Safety Manager at Landscape Solutions.
Lander Toyota, one of the top Toyota dealerships in NSW has jumped onboard to support the program. Rod Cullen, Dealer Principal at Lander saw the positive potential the concept offered from day one. “We recognised the program as a unique incentive to develop the youth of Australia. It also provides Lander Toyota with an alternative way to promote the Toyota Workmate Ute as the vehicle of choice for the Australian Tradie.”
Not only are they offering 100 apprenticeships, each year, thanks to the support of Lander Toyota, Landscape Solutions will be awarding their Apprentice of the Year with a brand new, customised ‘Made with a Trade’ Toyota Workmate to keep. That means you can be working in a great job and driving a great car!
For more information about a career within the landscape industry visit www.becomealandscaper.com.au
Images: Ballast Point Park, Sydney (top); Fitzgibbon Chase, Queensland (bottom).