HTA celebrates WorldSkills UK Landscaping and Horticulture winners
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has congratulated the winners of the 2025 WorldSkills UK National Finals in Landscaping and Horticulture. Both competitions are supported by the HTA’s Association of Professional Landscapers (APL), which plays a key role in shaping skills development across the sector.
As a competition organising partner, the APL ensures the technical standards of both disciplines align with the needs of employers. The organisation helps design the skills components of the competitions, ensuring they remain a vital platform for raising apprenticeship standards and attracting more young people into landscaping and environmental horticulture careers.
Held across South Wales from 25 to 28 November, the national finals brought together hundreds of competitors across more than 40 skill areas. The APL supported two competitions: Construction and Infrastructure – Landscaping, and Foundation Skills – Horticulture, both showcasing creativity, precision and professionalism at the highest level.
APL General Manager Phil Tremayne congratulated the Landscaping winner, Archie Matthews, and the Foundation Skills: Horticulture winner, Junior Rozhon. He praised the exceptional skill and resilience shown by all finalists and highlighted the critical role of the APL’s sponsors in making the competitions possible. He added that preparations are already underway for the 2026 season, with the APL committed to nurturing the next generation of talent.
The Landscaping Final, hosted at Bridgend College in Pencoed, challenged competitors to build a garden to a set specification within 16 and a half hours. Judges assessed quality, creativity, health and safety, and overall work process. The Foundation Skills: Horticulture Final, held at Cardiff and Vale City Centre Campus, highlighted the abilities of students with SEND or additional learning needs, with competitors creating indoor and outdoor planters before merchandising their displays.
WorldSkills UK Chief Executive Ben Blackledge also congratulated the finalists, thanking the HTA for its continued support and emphasising the competitions’ role in helping apprentices reach world-class standards. More information on the APL can be found at landscaper.org.uk, and details on WorldSkills UK are available at worldskillsuk.org.
Construction and Infrastructure: Landscaping
(In partnership with: J A Jones, Landscape Plus, Bradstone, Composite Prime)
Winners
Gold: Archie Matthews from Myerscough College
Silver: Luke Donald from College of Agriculture, Food & Rural Enterprise (CAFRE)
Bronze: Cameron Gilbert from College of Agriculture, Food & Rural Enterprise (CAFRE)
Finalists
- Archie Matthews - Myerscough College
- Cameron Gilbert - College of Agriculture, Food & Rural Enterprise (CAFRE)
- David Thomas - Bridgend College
- Johnny Stout - Myerscough College
- Kieran Ashby - Myerscough College
- Luke Donald - College of Agriculture, Food & Rural Enterprise (CAFRE)
- Rhyslando Logan - College of Agriculture, Food & Rural Enterprise (CAFRE)
- Tiernan Kelly - College of Agriculture, Food & Rural Enterprise (CAFRE)
Foundation Skills: Horticulture
(In partnership with: Pugh’s Garden Village, Cardiff)
Winners
Gold: Junior Rozhon from Pembrokeshire College
Silver: Matthew Duncombe from Pembrokeshire College
Bronze: Aimee-Leigh Phillips from Riverside College
Finalists
- Aimee-Leigh Phillips – Riverside College
- Alex Horton – NPTC Group of Colleges
- Celyn Sollis – Pembrokeshire College
- Dylan Jones – NPTC Group of Colleges
- James Armstrong – New College Lanarkshire (NCLAN)
- Junior Rozhon – Pembrokeshire College
- Matthew Duncombe – Pembrokeshire College
- Russell Reeves – Elidyr Communities Trust