Congratulations to Finlay Lisk from Wiltshire College. Finlay, studying for his Level 2 Horticulture Operative diploma, has been selected as one of our 2026 Landscape/Horticulture Students of the Year for the South West region.
Finlay has felt an immensely positive impact from his apprenticeship. As an autistic student, he has found a greater confidence with peers, staff and assessors and has felt comfortable to embrace practical and theoretical elements of the course.
He wants to continue to develop, appreciating working outdoors, learning on the job and the great variety of skills that the landscape sector has given him – and he’s keen to pass on that enthusiasm to other future learners too.
Sarah Moor-Bardell, Assessor in landscape and horticulture says that Finlay has shown remarkable development and a willingness to step outside of his comfort zone.
“He works for a small, family run lavender farm and has been exposed to a wide variety of horticultural tasks. He has clear ambitions to progress within horticulture, continue learning, and eventually support and inspire other young people entering the industry, highlighting both leadership potential and dedication to his sector. He will be so proud to have won – as will his parents and employer.”