An example of “lifelong learning” in action 52-year-old Martin left school at 15 to join a YTS (Youth Training Services) course.
Martin, who now owns the £1.5m turnover MJ Granger Grounds of Shillington, on the Beds/ Herts border, which employs 30 direct and sub-contracting staff commented:
“I worked in a greenhouse, but I had to go to college too, which was so different from school and I loved it.”
Martin has also provided many opportunities to apprentices who have studied at Shuttleworth College, including one who is training to be a tree surgeon.
He continued: “My dad was an engineer with an interest in horticulture so we were always playing with equipment and planting stuff to sell at a market. So it seemed the obvious thing to do was to work in the same field and then open a business.
Over the years I have done all sorts of short courses at Shuttleworth College to get the right skills for land preparation and maintenance. Those same skills have been useful in property development I have invested in too. No knowledge is wasted but, I wanted to get a degree and so when I saw the RHS course advertised I got in touch. I had to do some lead-in courses. I thought I knew a lot, but learned so much more.
It was a bit daunting when they said I had to write my first 750 word essay. I had no idea where to start but got a distinction and went from there.”
Martin’s dissertation for his Master of Horticulture was on Robotics in Gardening. STEM skills are essential in the modern world of horticulture.
