In March 2023, Hadlow College launched a Green Horticulture Centre in the form of a new orchard and vineyard to equip its students with sustainable skills and practical industry experience, as well as helping businesses to adapt to a net zero world.
Together with East Kent Colleges Group and MidKent College, Hadlow College (part of North Kent College Group) successfully applied for a share of £5.5 million in funding through the government’s Strategic Development Fund (SDF). It was this government funding that made the development of skills accelerator centres across Kent possible. This was in response to government data which suggested a third of UK businesses do not believe their workforce are currently equipped with the skills to help them achieve their net zero ambitions.
Green technology
Since its launch, the orchard and vineyard has supported a range of new training courses focused on skills that support decarbonisation particularly in the horticulture sector. As the UK’s only rural and land-based college, we are providing a pipeline of talent and expertise as the transition to Net Zero gathers pace.
Courses now showcase more sustainable methods of food production from the two hectare orchard which has been planted with apples, plums, cherries and apricots. As well as crop diversity and cleaner storage, sustainable technology is at the forefront of achieving this - from Delta-T devices which measure soil moisture to automatic spraying and robotic harvesting. While it will be some time before the first vines are ready for harvest a Haynes New Holland robotic tractor is ready and waiting.
Check out the orchard and vineyard one year on!
Collaboration is key
We are proud of the partnerships forged with industry here at Hadlow College and it is our ambition to grow this network of businesses. By working collaboratively we are committed to ensuring that our learning curriculum meets their future training needs and is mutually beneficial to students, staff and employers.
David Gleed, Chief Executive and Executive Principal, North Kent College, said: “As we progress, we will be looking to engage with as many businesses as we can and invite them to join us and our FE sector partners in devising new skills solutions that will support career opportunities now and in the future.”
Alan Harvey added: “This time next year we will have had our first pruning demonstrations with industry, and once the crop is established there’ll be lots of other interesting things to explore with partners. Our ambition is to widen the knowledge of fresh produce through the UK, increase the student numbers and support industry in terms of getting a skilled workforce.”
Find out more about our Horticulture courses at Hadlow College.