Of his achievement, Alfie said: “I’m so grateful to the People and Culture team for giving me this opportunity. It has given me horticultural knowledge and practical skills to carry out horticultural tasks and has helped me to plan my future career path. I would recommend apprenticeships to anyone wanting to earn while they learn.”

Alfie’s line manager, Marc Salama is delighted with his progress: “Alfie now has the ability and confidence to take responsibility for areas within the outdoor department, especially within landscaping and I’m confident he can teach a small group effectively. His knowledge base extends from chemicals and fertilisers to planting and maintenance, so he adds value to both the plants and the garden sundries departments.

Brandon is justifiably proud of his achievements, having gained a distinction in both his portfolio and final assessment: “I really enjoy putting my new skills into practice each day and am very grateful for this opportunity. I’m enjoying the break from studying whilst considering if I will go on to complete further qualifications in carpentry and joinery.”

His line manager, Kevin Smith said: “Brandon is always the first to get stuck into projects and now has the skills to do a wide range of jobs from building our award-winning display structures, creating a plant pot recycling station, completing shop fittings and helping to build our cabins at Mission Out.”