YPHA delegates prepare for final programme block
The Young People in Horticulture Association (YPHA) has completed the second block of its 2026/27 Management Development Programme. The final residential session will take place from 19–21 January 2027.
Delivered by Lindsay Muir of Cedar Associates at Pershore College, the nine-day programme is divided into three residential blocks. It brings together emerging managers from across horticulture for practical training, discussion and shared learning.
Now in its second year, the programme was developed to improve access to management training for young horticultural professionals, particularly those in smaller businesses where formal development opportunities may be limited.
Preparing for management roles
Nat Boynton, YPHA co-founder and programme lead, said the course aims to help people develop the skills needed to manage teams, handle difficult conversations and make business decisions.
“Too often, people find themselves promoted into management roles without ever having been given the training to succeed in them, and that's the gap we're trying to address with this programme.”
Sharing experience
The residential format gives delegates from different sectors and businesses the opportunity to exchange experiences and build professional relationships.
Sam Fry, of the Ramsbury Manor Foundation, said the course had increased his confidence and provided tools he had used and shared with colleagues and others in the industry.
“Sharing experience and knowledge is at the heart of horticulture and YPHA, and this course is fostering exactly that,” he said.
January presentations
The final block will include a presentation evening attended by programme sponsors and YPHA ambassadors. Delegates will discuss what they have learnt, how they have used their new skills and how they plan to apply them in future.
The evening will also give supporters an opportunity to hear directly from participants about their experience of the programme.