Sparsholt College Group celebrates employers which have helped students

Sparsholt College Group, which includes Andover College, invited employers, from a variety of different industries, who have been providing apprenticeships and work placements to students for an evening of thanks and celebration.

The event featured Countryfile and Radio 4 presenter Tom Heap as a guest speaker, three special recognition awards and activities around the award-winning campus. The presenter has had previous involvement with Sparsholt, joining students and staff to showcase their skills at RHS Chelsea in 2020 where he helped promote the college’s students on an international stage.  

Tom said: “There is a fertile valley of life going on here and that is tremendous. That is a testament to the college and of course to the employers and no doubt the incredibly talented students who prove their worth every time they go out on one of their placements” 

Marwell Wildlife Park, Location Landscapes and TruGreen were the recipients of the awards presented during the thank you afternoon on September 2. Due to the country being in mourning the educational provider decided to delay publicity as a mark of respect for the Queen.

The Industry Insight award was presented to Marwell Wildlife Park for the venue’s real-life working environment giving students jobs within animal enclosures and exposure to the general public. The college said: “Learners find these experiences invaluable, and they are an asset to present on their CVs.”

The Apprentice Employer of the Year award went to Location Landscapes. The gardening and maintenance business took on its first apprentice in 2015, who's gone on to become a supervisor there, and has continued to commit recruiting apprentices, having recently appointed the businesses' sixth apprentice.   

Finally, the Employer Mentor award was won by TruGreen for taking on a Level 2 Horticulture student with additional learning support needs and having a postive impact on their learning. The student spent more than 150 hours on placement, largely working in the Spring term with Trugreen. Feedback from the student’s course tutor said that the pupil was now teaching their peers at college about lawncare as a result of their time spent on placement.

Deputy principal Suzanne Grant said: “We support around 4,500 learners each year across a full land based and general further education curriculum. The employers are such an important part of the Sparsholt College Group community.  

“We have always striven to be known and recognised as the educational establishment where our students are given every opportunity to learn the theory of their craft but also where they are given every opportunity to practically master their craft. We want students to know that they will have every opportunity to develop the competencies they will need in the future. 

“It has been long said that there is a gap between the delivery of educators and the needs of industry. With the help of employers we work together every day to bridge that gap.“ 

The chief executive from Winchester Beacon, Michèle Price, attended the event. Michèle said: “Thanks to all involved for such a different and enjoyable event for someone like myself involved in such a different area, it was fascinating. It was a great insight into the work that Sparsholt College Group does and how they are evolving and the importance of its role in raising awareness of the countryside, its habitat and wildlife.”  

After the awards were presented, attendees could then take part in activities, including a tractor trailer ride round campus that looks over the Equine Centre and farm, a tour of the Animal Health and Welfare Research Centre (home of the National Zoo Academy) and exploring the apple collection and RHS Chelsea garden with the college’s pomologist Chris Bird.