Over £120,000 of funding has been secured for the ornamental growing sector, the majority of which has come from the Government’s new Technology Strategy Board (TSB) through the national Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) programme. It was recently announced that the TSB would be funding all Government investment in R&D activities for the horticultural and agricultural sectors, worth some £75 million over the next 5 years.
This is the outcome of a KTP proposal submitted by The University of Reading in partnership with HTA, with the aim of researching and developing training solutions for the ornamentals production sector. The Horticultural Development Company (HDC) have also contributed funding towards the project, with the aim of ensuring that students are exposed to the advantages of the most up to date techniques and research information.
David Gwyther, Director General of the HTA told The Landscaper, “The project provides us with an excellent opportunity to work with ornamental growers to really get to grips with the training and qualifications they need in the 21st Century, ensuring that they are delivered in a way that best suits their businesses. The partnership with The University of Reading and the support of HDC will give us the tools and expertise to ensure that the project is successful.”
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