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March 2025 Special Feature Professional Groundscare supplement
Research findings on landscape industry barriers explored The research project comes at a critical time as the industry looks to the future and identifies skills and labour gaps and establishes potential solutions on how to address the issues being faced. Becky Jones, Research and Engagement Manager at Lantra said: “Through Lantra’s work with stakeholders in the landscaping industry, we are aware of the immediate and nearterm pressures the industry faces in relation to skills and labour. Lantra and the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), are sharing the interim findings in a research project that looks to explore the barriers to the uptake of apprenticeships by landscaping businesses across the UK. The first phase of the research project was in the form of a survey, launched in October 2024.
As part of the launch Lantra, BALI, and landscaping businesses took part in a discussion around some of the challenges that are known to be facing the industry currently. The survey findings highlight the challenge of recruiting apprentices into the landscape industry with 8 in 10 reporting they found the process difficult.
“Our findings show that more than 40% of businesses would look to employ an apprentice to support the labour and skills needs of their business but noted there to be additional challenges in the process of recruiting an apprentice.” Jonathan Pettit, Head of Skills, Careers, and Certification at BALI, said: “The interim
findings of our research project highlight that more knowledge and information about apprenticeships needs to be shared across the sector, for apprenticeships to be a solution to the rising demand for labour, and skills, across our sector. “We know through BALI’s GoLandscape Careers initiative that apprenticeships can be a good way to bring new entrants into the sector.” Once the project is complete, Lantra and BALI will report on the full findings over the project, planned to be announced in the Summer. Furthermore, the partnership will develop materials to support landscaping businesses and employers to help them address the challenges currently faced, which will be released later in the year. Lantra
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The interim findings from the project are as follows: • 80% of respondents expect to hire staff within the next 12 months; 68% expect to do so within the next six months. More than half of those expecting to hire staff believe the positions might be suitable for an apprentice. • 6 in 10 would like to know more about how funding works when employing an apprentice and 5 in 10 want to know how apprenticeships work. • 80% of respondents said it was difficult to recruit an apprentice with 16% saying it was very difficult.
Production of the EVO 165P Sub750 and Arborist 150P features a new Briggs and Stratton Vanguard EFI 40HP engine, delivering even greater power, productivity and efficiency. Originally launched to meet the requirements of modern arborists and landscapers looking for powerful bite, torque and throughput in a sub750kg package, the EVO165P Sub-750 has gone on to cement its position as one of the most capable woodchippers in the 6” category.
The key features of the series including wide infeed chute, twin horizontal rollers, all steel bonnet and heavy-duty flywheel are now combined with a higher horsepower engine, taking proven performance to new heights. The Arborist 150P is already the top selling chipper in Europe in its class, but by installing a high-output 40hp petrol engine, GreenMech can now offer close to similar performance to the diesel-engined Arborist 150D, but at a lower cost. Together with delivering close to eight per cent more processing power for brash and woody waste, the newly upgraded models also feature a yellow idle/ run button to quickly and easily
Latest news and case studies Pages 3-5
Hard & Soft Landscaping
New higher horsepower petrol woodchippers GreenMech’s ongoing commitment to product enhancement has seen an exciting upgrade on two popular petrol models.
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News from the urban environment Pages 6-7
increase or decrease throttle power to operating speed. The simplicity of button operation and electronic throttle now aligns with GreenMech’s diesel offerings, facilitating the chippers to go from idle to full power with one touch. They also feature a second hour meter, mounted directly to the engine, and an upgraded ignition barrel. As standard, all models in the EVO and Arborist ranges feature GreenMech’s unique disc blade chipping system. The new EVO 165P Sub-750 and Arborist 150P are also backed-up by GreenMech’s no-quibble, threeyear parts and labour warranty. GreenMech
Weed & Pest Control New solutions to old problems Pages 8-10
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Innovative turf care machinery creating and maintaining the world’s finest sports surfaces, visit www.campeyturfcare.com
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