Industry support is the very cornerstone of the BALI Chalk Fund. Without it, the funding, grants and Student Awards could simply not be delivered. With government support diminishing every year, education and training providers should look to external funding sources like BALI Chalk Fund to help set student career prospects up with the practical, technical and operational skills they need to flourish.
With the renewed vigour that the BALI Chalk Fund team has seen in 2025, we now can announce we have reached an incredible 50 Champion milestone. Already an impressive statistic in itself, this is made yet sweeter by us achieving this in the 50th Anniversary year of the Fund – and we’re still just getting started!
Awards and Enrichment
The Top Student of the Year Awards have been presented and rewarded to 2025’s nine winners from six colleges. The Student Enrichment Programme has awarded 218 course places to four colleges across the UK. The Fund’s support – both financial and promotional – is providing healthy, professional opportunities for students to progress their careers, get work-ready, with the tools and confidence to set themselves above their competition.
With increased Champion supporters, a raised profile as an invaluable funding resource for land-based, horticultural, landscape and design students and a growing number of colleges seeking financial support to bridge the gap between education and the workplace, the importance of the Fund has never been greater.
Where the money goes: The numbers
- In 2025 alone, the Trustees have approved grants for 218 Courses for technical, practical and work-ready training.
- In total, the Fund has supported 118 students completing one or more industry-recognised qualifications, in addition to their main course.
- This has included 99 PA1/PA6a certificates awarded for spraying and chemical handling, an important skill and pre-requisite for gainful landscape employment.
- The fund has enabled the delivery of 81 Brushcutter courses and 71 pedestrian mower courses.
Where the money goes: The Progress
- On average over the past four years, the Fund has invested £40K per year in training for a brighter future across the UK landscape sector.
- The average funded grant value per land-based college or training provider in 2025 is just under £4.5K.
- 2025 has seen a 118% increase in awarded grant value for ROLO, technical, practical and safety training.
- The Team have seen a huge 250% increase Gold, Silver and Bronze Champions now supporting the BALI Chalk Fund in 2025.
- We have crowned 67 Top Students of the Year in Landscape, Horticulture and Design across the UK’s specialist colleges and training providers.
- An encouraging 140% increase in individual student nominations this year shows a belief that achieving an award is a positive boost for student prospects
The BALI Chalk Fund existing for the future of UK landscaping. Helping to create a new raft of employable, work-ready graduates for the grounds maintenance and landscape sectors, the industry will be all the richer for it; richer in skills, richer in professionalism and richer in profile.