New HORTISTRY initiative tackles skills shortage
A new initiative, HORTISTRY, has been launched to tackle the UK horticultural sector’s growing skills gap and safeguard vital specialist knowledge for future generations.
The industry is facing increasing pressure from an ageing workforce and ongoing difficulties attracting new entrants, with horticulture still largely absent from schools and careers guidance. As experienced professionals retire, decades of technical expertise in cultivation, plant science and propagation are being lost.
HORTISTRY aims to preserve this knowledge while addressing critical shortages and building clearer career pathways for professional horticulturists, specialist growers and nursery businesses.
The group will run a series of peer-led, hands-on propagation Masterclasses across the UK, starting with two pilot sessions in April 2026. The sessions are designed to encourage practical skill-sharing and collaborative learning in a supportive environment and will be open to all professional horticulturists.
An advisory group of leading industry figures has been established to guide the initiative, including Susan Bacon, Jekka McVicar VMH, Sheila Das, Matthew Potage MHort, Jon Wheatley MBE VMH, Andy Jasper and Petra Hoyer Millar.
Full details and registration information for the first Masterclasses will be announced shortly.