Green Skills Courses in Reading delivered in partnership with REDA: great for participants and the environment
In partnership with REDA, Groundwork South have recently delivered a Green Skills Course in Reading and are embarking on two more. The Green Skills Course is a six-week programme in which unemployed individuals from the Reading area spend two days a week learning practical conservation skills and also attend sessions to improve their employability. The aim of this programme is to give individuals the skills necessary to go on and gain employment in the green sector.
Groundwork South’s Green Team who are based in Denham in the Colne Valley Regional Park are running three Green Skills courses in Reading, generously funded by REDA – Reading’s Economy & Destination Agency. The Reading courses run for six weeks giving long-term unemployed people from the local area the chance to gain experience in the use of hand tools and petrol-driven tools, and the opportunity to gain skills in a new industry. The objective is to both improve the environment, and improve people’s skills, prospects and employability.
This first Reading course was held in February and March at several sites, including Palmer’s Park, Coley Recreation Ground and King’s Meadow, where course participants tried their hand at tasks such as safely removing low-hanging branches from trees, strimming and brush cutting pathways to improve accessibility and vegetation clearance.
The participants also took part in weekly employability sessions, which focused on helping them to refine their CVs for the green sector, carrying out job searches, and also featured talks from speakers, such as representatives from Reading Borough Council’s Park’s team.
Recruitment is now underway for two more Green Skills courses in Reading taking place between April – June 2025.
If you are interested in joining the programme, please email Jess at jessica.bampton@groundwork.org.uk
‘The amount I have learnt and the pointers I have received have really boosted my confidence, not to mention the reminder that getting out and about in the world of work will always reap benefits’. Participant testimonial
‘I would highly recommend this course to anyone who is thinking about it. The team at Green skills are friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable & helpful. Training in local outdoor spaces with Green skills alongside local authorities, I have recently completed a brush cutter course through Green skills. If you are a beginner or just want to take it to the next level, it is very rewarding, I would like to say a big thanks to Jessica, Jacqui & all the team at Green skills for their much appreciated time & consideration on this course, It is very rewarding. I have not only learned something new, but have thoroughly enjoyed not only the course but the people who I have come across at Green skills.’ Another participant testimonial
In the Classroom: Employability Sessions
‘It was wonderful to be part of the employability workshops for the green skills participants.
We tailor made these workshops for green skills, which enabled us to cover topics relevant to the conservation and environment sector such as effective job searching in the green sector. We will also provide participants with the Lantra brushcutter course, which is key to finding employment in the landscaping sector.
The participants found the workshops really helpful. The bespoke nature of the course meant that the group was particularly engaged as they could choose what was studied, such as CV writing and interview techniques. We also had a local employer, one of the largest employers in Reading, attend the last workshop to discuss employment opportunities and tips when applying for roles in the green sector. ‘
Nicky Bhatoey-Turnbull
Employment and Skills Programme Manager Groundwork London and Groundwork South
Employability: Brushcutter Qualification
The individuals that completed the course are also being fully funded by REDA to complete a Level 2 Brush Cutter course, which will give them an industry recognised qualification. This course is provided by training provider Lantra. This qualification will be extremely beneficial when applying for jobs in the future as many environmental organisations require their staff to use brushcutters and strimmers regularly.
Previous Green Skills Courses The Colne Valley Park Green Team have extensive experience of running Green Skills Courses including four courses delivered in partnership with SEGRO in Slough from 2023-24.
Learn more here about what Green Skills Courses entail.