Could this be YOUR year?

The application window for this year’s Top Student of the Year Awards 2024/2025 opens on Monday 17 March 2025. Landscape, design, land-based and horticultural specialist college tutors will be receiving full details of how students can apply, the key dates and deadlines, useful links for online applications and further information.

As in previous years, the Fund Trustees are looking to celebrate and identify the landscaping sector’s future leading lights amongst our inspiring Landscapers, Horticulturists and Garden Designers from our national Colleges and training providers. Based on student and college feedback, we have streamlined the application and nomination process and this year, you are able to complete and submit your application online.

We hope many students/apprentices (Level 2 and above) will apply and make their first big step forward in boosting their landscape career potential.

The application window – students

The window opens on Monday 17 March and student or apprentice applicants will have until Friday 11 April 2025 to complete and submit.

What to include in your application

The application is your opportunity to share what you have learned both vocationally and academically, how you have applied these skills in employment or training opportunities and which aspects of your course have interested you the most. The short-answer questions focus on elements including:

Your knowledge
Your skills
The benefits you’ve gained
Aspects of your course that most interest you
How you’ve applied these skills
What employment you’ve gained
How you use your skills in your daily work
Any further training plans

Why enter?

In one simple online form and short, under-100 word answers, you could be in with a chance to win £100 as your college’s Top Student. Those nominated will then be entered into the National Student of the Year (Landscape and Garden Design Categories) with the chance to be selected as the overall winners. These winners, notified in Autumn 2025, will be invited to attend the British Association of Landscape Industries National Landscape Awards, held in London and attended by over 1000 cross-sector landscape professionals.

The overall Winners (one in each category: Landscaping or Garden Design) will each receive £500 – and your college or training provider receives the same.

But much more important than any financial reward is the potential to promote yourself, your skills and gain the respect and appreciation from industry peers at the highest level – all of this with the backing and potential exposure across landscape platforms supported by BALI, the BALI Chalk Fund Champions and Trustees.