The horticulture, landscape and sports turf industry is part of the environmental and land‐based industries, represented by Lantra Sector Skills Council, which also includes the following industries: agricultural crops; agricultural livestock; animal care; animal technology; aquaculture; equine; environmental conservation; farriery; fencing; fisheries management; floristry; game and wildlife management; land‐based engineering; production horticulture; trees and timber; and veterinary nursing. The sector as a whole currently employs 1,126,000 people (approximately 4% of the UK workforce) in around 230,000 businesses. In addition, there are an estimated 500,000 volunteers working in the sector on a regular basis. Approximately 42% of the workforce is self‐employed.
The horticulture, landscape and sports turf industries cover: hard, soft and interior landscaping; sports turf maintenance and green‐keeping; private, heritage and botanic gardens; commercial grounds; plus public parks and green spaces. The landscape industries comprise both public and private sector businesses, which are involved in:
- Local authority green space management
- All forms of sports turf management and maintenance
- State owned and private historic and heritage gardens
Key facts:
- There are approximately 172,000 gardeners and grounds people working in the industry, in an estimated 16,650 businesses.
- The industry employs around 15.3% of the environmental and land‐based sector’s total workforce.
- 81% of businesses employ less than 10 staff.
- 44% of the workforce is self‐employed.
- 60% of the workforce has a level 2 and above qualification, 18% of the workforce has no qualifications.
Jobs in the industry include: allotment officer, grounds maintenance manager, arboretum supervisor, head gardener, woodland officer, head park ranger, assistant arboretum worker, arboriculturalist, landscape architect, machine plant operator, nursery worker, parks officer, garden designer, assistant greenkeeper, grounds person.
National and regional data
East Midlands – There are an estimated 12,000 employees in the regional workforce, in around 1,200 businesses.
East of England – There are an estimated 19,000 employees in the regional workforce, in around 1,250 businesses.
London – There are an estimated 23,300 employees in the regional workforce, in around 750 businesses.
North East – There are an estimated 3,250 employees in the regional workforce, in around 550 businesses. Landscape businesses are a significant employer in the region.
North West – There are an estimated 17,550 employees in the regional workforce, in around 1,800 businesses.
South East – There are an estimated 30,950 employees in the regional workforce, in around 3,750 businesses.
South West – There are an estimated 18,850 employees in the regional workforce, in around 1,800 businesses.
West Midlands – There are an estimated 15,600 employees in the regional workforce, in around 1,250 businesses.
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are an estimated 13,900 employees in the regional workforce, in around 1,250 businesses.
Northern Ireland – There are an estimated 1,400 employees in the regional workforce, in around 250 businesses.
Scotland – There are an estimated 9,100 employees in the regional workforce, in around 1,250 businesses.
Wales – There are an estimated 7,000 employees in the regional workforce, in around 750 businesses.
