"Apprentices are ambitious, they're doers, they make businesses grow," says Sir Alan Sugar in the Government's latest training campaign. The tycoon's mantra, however, is relevant to staff in every sector of horticulture, from trainees to managers of multimillion-pound businesses.

The scale of the UK horticulture industry is vast, offering diverse opportunities for people with a can-do attitude who are prepared to shun traditional office nine-to-five routines.

The UK horticulture industry is worth £5bn, employing 300,000 people. There are 2,500 garden centres and retail outlets supplying the nation's 20 million domestic gardens. Many are giant 'destination centres' employing staff with a sophisticated mix of retail, marketing and merchandising skills. Floristry has in the region of 7,000 businesses employing a further 29,000 people.

And production horticulture encompasses ornamental plant, fruit, vegetable and salad production. There are 13,000 businesses in food production alone, employing more than 40,000 workers.

Across all sectors, opportunities exist for engineers and mechanics to control technology, from nursery irrigation systems to harvesting machinery. IT specialists manage computerised climate control and electronic point-of-sale systems. Distribution of plants, fruit and vegetables is carried out by logistics managers capable of co-ordinating the delivery of goods to tight deadlines.

Getting in

Many colleges require students embarking on horticultural courses to hold four GCSEs at grade C or above, including English and maths, or an equivalent such as a BTEC First Diploma at merit level. However, all courses have varying requirements, so students are advised to talk to specific colleges.

Careers in horticulture vary but employers across all sectors demand similar types of skills. According to the sector skills council for environmental and land-based industries, Lantra, school and college leavers need to display good communication skills and confidence to talk to people.

Industry partnerships manager David Winn explains: "Lots of young people are coming out of college who can text on a mobile phone but fail to communicate with people in good English.

"A good telephone manner and the confidence to talk to customers politely are essential for all areas of horticulture, as are basic IT skills and use of email and the internet."

According to Winn, the trend is for fewer but more highly skilled workers. There is currently demand across horticulture for business managers experienced in marketing, strategy and retail skills.

Despite rising unemployment nationally, the food production sector is suffering from a shortage of recruits. Chief executive of the Processed Vegetable Growers' Association (PVGA) Martin Riggall, explains: "It has been difficult to compete with the big-city jobs known for paying vast bonuses - although that may now be changing!

"In the past, we've looked a bit boring but the industry now has a more positive image. Some fresh produce businesses turn over more than £100m per year and there are good job prospects, with staff shortages across the board."

According to the PVGA, entry-level field work - that's harvesting, picking, planting and packhouses - is "desperately short of labour"; while employers are seeking technically minded people to manage growing systems, packhouse management, quality assurance and marketing.

Riggall points to the success of Management Development Services, commonly known as MDS, an accredited two-year fast-track training programme for graduates entering the fresh produce industry. Candidates benefit from workplace training as well as formal education and emerge with a Post-graduate Certificate in Food and Fresh Produce Management, validated by Harper Adams University College in Shropshire.

Management trainees are employed by MDS, a group of 25 companies comprising growers, suppliers and supermarkets, and earn £19,000 in the first year rising to more than £20,000 in the second year.

Continuing trend

British fresh produce has been boosted recently with the opening of Thanet Earth in Kent, which is the country's biggest and most technically advanced greenhouse complex.

With glass spanning the size of 80 football pitches, the £80m project grows tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. It will eventually employ a permanent workforce of 500, and vacancies are regularly advertised on its website (www.thanetearth.com/jobs.asp).

Big employers in the garden centre industry also recruit directly via the web. The UK's biggest garden chain, Wyevale Garden Centres, which operates more than 120 stores, has a dedicated recruitment site (www.wyevalecareers.co.uk).

Similarly, Tesco-owned Dobbies Garden Centres encourages motivated individuals to apply via its website (www.dobbies.com/opportunities.aspx).

The retail chain is opening a new 'garden world' store at Shepton Mallet in Somerset this summer and is using the web to track down customer-focused staff with retail experience for positions including plant manager, restaurant manager, shop floor manager and assistant manager.

Both Wyevale and Dobbies have a reputation for delivering tailor-made training within the workplace.

In the ornamentals sector, John Woods Nurseries (formerly Notcutts) operates an apprenticeship scheme which seeks candidates capable of achieving NVQ Level 3. Applicants require four good grades at GCSE including English and maths.

Production manager Malcolm Dick says: "The apprenticeship route works. There are opportunities to move up through the ranks - some staff have risen from apprentice to director level."

Each year, John Woods Nurseries calls in up to nine students for a group interview, aimed at identifying candidates who shine for their organisational skills and potential to lead. A handful get a second interview and three are employed each year.

Floristry appeals to youngsters and career changers. President of The Society of Floristry, Deborah Richardson, has trained former doctors, nurses, police officers, IT professionals and even bankers on six-figure salaries. Richardson says: "It appeals to artistic and creative people who are practical and prepared to work hard even though they're not going to make millions.

"People need stamina: it's not for those with bad backs. And floristry is time-pressurised with deadlines while staff need to respect customers' emotions when dealing with births, deaths, marriages and parties. The industry looks for candidates with stamina and high levels of literacy."

Getting on

The garden centre trade is offering employees a different way to progress their careers. New for 2009 is the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) Diploma in Garden Retail. Aimed at those who are already working, and supported by workplace mentors, it will lead to a Vocationally Related Qualification (VRQ) in Retail Principles at Level 3, a nationally recognised qualification.

With many tasks assessed in the workplace, the bespoke retail training focuses on subjects including sales, loss management, team development, stock management, plant nomenclature and plant pest control. HTA training and careers manager Tanya Robinson says: "This is proof the garden centre sector wants to train and retain productive members of staff."

In floristry, trainees commonly receive the national minimum wage, but the British Florist Association recommends pay increases linked to City & Guilds qualifications.

For example, gaining first qualifications should yield a pay rise of 50p per hour above the national minimum wage while City & Guilds Level 3 takes this hourly increase to £1 per hour more. Those who achieve City & Guilds NPTC Levels 4 or 5 could see pay rise by £1.50 per hour above the minimum wage. Candidates who establish a retail florist businesses can earn between £20,000 and £30,000 per year but most work a six-day week.

Richardson adds: "To gain floristry qualifications, students under 19 pay no fees. Most Learning and Skills Councils pay course fees of those between 19 and 25 if they don't have Level 2 or 3 qualifications. Others should expect to pay £1,000 per year for a full-time course or £400 to £800 part time. Plus there's the cost of materials - up to £700 a year."

In the nursery sector, at John Woods Nurseries, apprenticeships have reduced staff turnover and retained talent within the business.

Dick says: "Apprentices look to achieve NVQ Level 2 by the end of the second year and NVQ Level 3 by the end of the third. Those who progress to nursery managers often go on to achieve NVQ Level 4, which is a management qualification."

Mainstream options

Despite the popularity of apprenticeships and work-based training, colleges remain a popular route in. Writtle College in Chelmsford, Essex - which claims to have the largest school of horticulture in the UK - has seen an upsurge in interest in its range of full- and part-time courses.

Head of school of horticulture Martin Stimson reports a rise in applications of 40% year-on-year. He says: "There is a trend for mature students and career changers, and between 10% and 13% of our students are from overseas."

Lantra's Winn has a tip for students who are keen to progress: "Talk to colleges; they have links to businesses that are committed to training.

"And have the initiative to start networking with employers. Ask to spend half a day on site learning about how horticultural businesses work instead of just asking if any jobs are available."

PAYSCALE - TYPICAL SALARIES FOR THE SECTOR

Garden centre assistant: £6.25 per hour
Horticultural manager, garden centre: £19,000 pa
Trainee fruit grower: £12-15,000 pa
Fruit grower (supervisor): £15-17,000 pa
Fruit grower (manager): £20-24,000 pa
Dispatch supervisor (nursery): £20,000 pa
Marketing executive (nursery stock): £25,000 pa
Garden centre manager: £30-50,000 pa
Irrigation engineer/IT specialist: £30,000 pa
Production manager (nursery): £20-30,000 pa