A great meeting of like-minded, skills-driven industry and college leaders met yesterday (Wednesday 10 September 2025) at our second Annual College Forum. Well-attended with representatives from 5 land-based colleges as well as training providers, assessors, Trustees and employers, this event has grown in status, content and value over the last 12 months. An unmissable opportunity to share successes, challenges and painpoints with other regional college counterparts from across the UK, the Forum started with a brief summary from new Trustee Chair, Nick Coslett.
Nick outlined what the Fund does in terms of college, student and training support. He shared key deadlines in the Grant Funding and Student of the Year calendars so that attendees could forward plan, maximising their potential awards and support for vocational skills and ROLO accreditations in the new academic year.
A rare chance to meet, share and learn from each other
With representatives from Capel Manor, Askham Bryan, Pershore, Merrist Wood and Wiltshire Colleges, the ensuing discussions touched on many of the challenges and avenues faced by training providers, including:
- Changing parent and teacher attitudes to careers in horticulture and the landscape;
- Exploring new ways to engage with potential students at careers fairs – digitally and virtually, for example;
- Casting the net further to career changers and entrants from different pathways like cadets, scouting and guiding groups, armed forces etc.;
- Upskilling staff
- The importance of sourcing trainers and assessors carefully
- Pushing the boundaries of existing RHS, City and Guilds and other courses in terms of content, assessment and achievement.
Richard Cant, Curriculum Manager at Merrist Wood College, delivered a number of BALI Chalk Funded Health and Safety training courses to students last year. Two of Merrist Wood’s students were awarded regional Students of the Year in 2025, and our fund has also allowed the College to present a silver platter to their winner this year as an extra accolade to display with pride. He said:
Not only will these additional qualifications help our students stand out from the crowd when applying for jobs, but will also help employers know that the students they employ from Merrist Wood have the skills, knowledge and behaviours required to join their existing teams.
Sophie Guinness, attending from Capel Manor, commended the Forum as a vital meeting place and a rare opportunity to share, honestly and openly:
We’ve really valued the opportunity to meet up with the heads of other colleges – we’re not in competition, we all have the same goals and the same challenges.
Josh Egan-Wyer from Pershore College has been working on a new activity plan for careers open days, using problem-solving challenges and engaging puzzles to encourage interest from potential students. He said:
It’s been lovely to feel connected today. We’ve a collective aim – and sharing information between us is vital in provoking new ideas and concepts that can help us all.
If you were not able to attend and want to find out more about the Enrichment Programme, the work of the BALI Chalk Fund, GoLandscape or the Student of the Year Awards, contact Lynn Hunter via email and you will be kept in the loop for these important support routes and future events for colleges and training providers.