“I’ve been installing decking for over 25 years and this course has saved me a fortune for future projects” - feedback from a recent delegate on our 2-day LANTRA-accredited decking course. 

If you’re keen to improve efficiency in your business and ensure you’re working to current standards, then this is the course for you.  Materials, tools and regulations change all the time (not to mention current trends) so it makes sense to brush up your skills, learn some time-saving tips and understand any new industry requirements. 

One of the most exciting moments of the TASK First Birthday celebrations earlier this month saw the presentation of our TASK Student of the Year Award supported by Makita and Ox Tools. 

TASK has created this special annual award to highlight outstanding individuals and help showcase their achievements, talents, and successes.

TASK Academy and industry partners, Bradstone are excited to announce that Bradstone Assured members can now redeem points they’ve accumulated on TASK courses.  

Landscaper Rupert Keys, (MD & Founder of TASK Training Academy) and his wife, garden designer Ruth Gwynn for the second year in a row scooped a Platinum Medal and Best Show Garden award, this year it was for The Newson Health Menopause Garden, which raised awareness of the menopause at BBC Gardeners’ World Live at the NEC in June 2023.

In November 2022, a number of leading membership groups in the Horticulture, Arboriculture, Landscaping and Garden Media industry signed an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Charter (BALI, 2022). Organisations such as BALI, the Society of Garden Designers (SGD) and the APL recognise that to meet the future needs of the sector it is vital that employers and training providers all play their part in attracting and retaining a more diverse workforce who feel an equal sense of belonging and enjoy the same opportunities to contribute their talent.

TASK are very proud to have been accepted as a new Affiliated Business Partner with the Society of Garden Designers (SGD), link to https://www.sgd.org.uk/. This new partnership programme forms part of the SGD’s strategy to work closer with key collaborators within the industry, that work closely with their core members to specify, create, maintain and promote the best possible gardens and landscapes.

Based in Worcestershire, West Midlands, TASK (Training Academy for Skills and Knowledge) is a brand new, independent landscaping and land-based training academy, servicing both industry professionals and members of the public.

According to the Royal Horticultural Society, the horticulture industry is the largest employer in the UK, supplying 18 million gardeners. A recent landscaping sector forecast states that industry has grown by 18%, in just over 8 years, contributing to a staggering £1 billion to the UK economy.

Being a landscaper and business owner is challenging enough without worrying about up-skilling and training staff. That’s where the idea for the TASK Landscaping Training Academy was formed. Founded by Rupert Keys of Keyscape Design and Construction, training has been a passion for much of his career, coupled with his landscaping experience meant TASK was the next natural step in his career. We delve deeper into Rupert’s journey and the beginnings of TASK.

Landscapers don’t always get the recognition they deserve, and have more of a hand in garden designs than many realise, says Keys Founder of TASK and Design & Construction owner and builder of many award-winning show gardens, Rupert Keys:

"When you see it on TV they always mention the designer and they never mention the contractor and I think that really needs to change"

Recently Rupert was guest on the podcast (episode 117) and in it he shares how TASK was created, why and the future of training in the industry. As a brand-new training provider in the industry, it’s imperative to reach a wider audience and answer any questions you may have. This is exactly what this episode aims to achieve.