Production horticulture businesses in the east of England will receive free skills development opportunities as part of a new initiative. Lantra the Sector Skills Council for the Environmental and Land-based sector, in partnership with the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), supported through the European Social Fund is running the project to support and develop businesses in the region.

Production Horticulture businesses in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk are all invited to apply for a free business SkillCheck.

Mike Appleyard, Lantra's regional development consultant for the East of England said: “SkillCheck is Lantra's training needs analysis service and has already helped hundreds of businesses around the UK identify their training and development needs. It offers a systematic way of looking at the activities of a business in order to create a structured training and development plan.”

The project offers businesses the chance to participate in a SkillCheck that is used to identify the specific training needs of managers and their employees, so raising the demand for training and learning which is crucial to business success.

“It is a great opportunity for businesses of any size to take an in-depth look at their current skill levels and identify areas for development.”

Lantra also represented the floristry industry at the Royal Welsh Show last week. On Lantra's stand floristry tutors Yvonne Gutteridge and Kath Green demonstrated some of the floristry skills they teach at Pencoed College, Bridgend.