Farm employment and training specialist Concordia has launched a new programme to prepare horticulture workers for their first supervisory and management roles.

The management and supervisory training programme MAST is aimed at horticulture businesses in the UK and Concordia has developed an already successful partnership with Plumpton College to be able to offer the programme.

Concordia chief executive Rob Orme said: “The course clearly meets an industry need. Employers have jumped at the chance to enrol staff who they see have management potential. Concordia is very keen to support both employers and trainees and the MAST programme does just that. It has become increasingly difficult for employers to recruit fully trained personnel into management and supervisory roles, yet many growers already employ staff who are perfectly able to progress their careers with appropriate further training. Concordia and Plumpton College have a good grasp of industry training needs and this programme has the flexibility and rigour to meet them.”

Courses scheduled so far are already full and Concordia is planning two more for the spring before lining up further dates for later in the year to meet employer demand.

Suitable trainees are likely to be employed by growers who have identified key roles within their businesses for these young people, such as team leaders, quality assurance personnel, supervisors or administrators. Trainees need to be competent in spoken and written English and demonstrate a track record of good work performance. On completion of the course, successful students will achieve the Chartered Management Institute award in leadership and management.

Plumpton College course tutor Marie-Ann Roberts said: “The college has much experience gained from running the highly successful Concordia agricultural bursary scheme, which also prepared trainees for their first management positions. We have developed a good understanding of how to meet the needs of employers as well as students.”

The 45-week long course costs £150 in a one-off enrolment fee and £30 a week thereafter. Students are continuously employed for the duration and although most of the fee is paid by the trainees either directly or through their employers, Concordia has secured some funding from the Rural Development Fund for England.

Caroline Ayers, packhouse manager at Watts Farm, Sidcup, is impressed. She said: “We like the way the courses are designed with employers as well as students in mind. Students have to complete elements of the course while in the workplace.”

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