Training & Workforce Development

Building skills, confidence and the next generation of landscapers

We believe that well-trained people deliver better, safer and more reliable work – for our clients, our teams and the environments we work in.

Training and workforce development are central to how YGS Landscapes operates. We invest in our people at every level to ensure work is delivered consistently, competently and with pride. This approach helps us deliver consistently high standards on site while supporting long-term careers within the business.

Core training and workforce competence

All staff are supported through a structured training programme designed to build capability and maintain high standards across every site. This includes:

CSCS certification
First aid training and regular refreshers
Machinery and equipment operation training
Horticultural knowledge and best practice
Health & safety training at all levels
Supervisor and leadership development

All training and qualifications are monitored through a central training matrix, ensuring competence remains current and refresher training is planned and delivered on time.

Apprenticeships & our partnership with City College Plymouth

A collaborative approach shaping the future of the sector

YGS Landscapes is proud to work in close partnership with City College Plymouth to deliver high-quality apprenticeship training that reflects the real needs of the landscaping and land-based sector.

For many years, we felt that our industry was underrepresented in local apprenticeship provision. Rather than accept this, we worked collaboratively with the College to design a programme that genuinely prepares young people for long-term careers in landscaping and horticulture.

That collaboration resulted in the launch, in September 2023, of a two-year Level 2 Horticulture and Landscaping Apprenticeship – developed jointly by YGS Landscapes and City College Plymouth.

The result is an apprenticeship pathway designed around real site conditions, real expectations and real career progression.

Enhanced in-house training (beyond the curriculum)

Having identified widening skills gaps and increasing recruitment challenges across the sector, YGS Landscapes approached City College Plymouth with a view to establishing structured horticultural pathways within the city for the first time in over a decade.

Alongside the college-led programme, YGS Landscapes delivers additional in-house training aligned with the LANTRA curriculum for land-based industries.

Apprentices receive an additional day per month of structured on-site training, reinforcing the core syllabus while broadening their exposure to practical and professional competencies.

This enhanced programme is designed to develop well-rounded professionals – not just site operatives – and includes:

Project management and planning
Landscape design fundamentals
Community and social value initiatives
Sustainability and environmental responsibility
Business awareness and commercial understanding

This enriched approach gives apprentices exposure to multiple facets of the sector, helping them build confidence, technical capability and informed long-term career aspirations.

Progression, opportunity & long-term careers

Our approach to apprenticeships is built around progression, not just completion.

Two members of our current management team began their careers as young employees within the business – a clear demonstration of our commitment to development and internal progression.

Apprentices are encouraged to take ownership of their work as their skills grow, and many are already capable of handling key aspects of their role independently. As they progress, we actively support opportunities to take on greater responsibility, with clear pathways towards roles such as team leader and supervisor.

A shared ethos and wider impact

At the heart of YGS Landscapes is a strong belief in opportunity, sustainability and long-term value — for people as well as the environment.

Our founder’s lifelong dedication to the industry underpins this ethos. We believe that encouraging more people into land-based careers is vital for the future of the sector and contributes positively to the environment and the communities we work in.

We value the collaborative relationship we have built with City College Plymouth and the shared ambition it represents. The investment made is not just for today’s apprentices, but for future cohorts and the wider industry.

Interested in apprenticeships or working at YGS Landscapes?

If you’d like to learn more about apprenticeship opportunities or careers within YGS Landscapes, please get in touch with our team.

Contact our team

Interested in training or career opportunities?

If you’d like to learn more about apprenticeships, training pathways or career development at YGS Landscapes, our team would be pleased to hear from you.