• Richard Carden, WorldSkills UK Skills Champion

Former Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horticulture student and national competitor Richard Carden played a valuable role at The Skills Show representing WorldSkills UK as a technical and professional skills ambassador.

Richard, a WorldSkills UK landscape finalist in 2014, was invited to join the WorldSkills UK Skills Champion community and now inspires young people by showcasing his skills. In this voluntary role, he gives career talks and practical gardening demonstrations at schools across England with the aim of attracting young talent into the industry.

Apart from his involvement in the schools programme, Richard also supports WorldSkills UK competitions and events and was a team member on the Skills Champion stand throughout the three days of The Skills Show. He was kept busy demonstrating plant ID and micro propagation and answering questions from some of the show’s 80,000 visitors.

Richard, who is now working as a gardener at Cholmondeley Castle, said: “Skills Champions play a very important part in carrying on the WorldSkills UK legacy. Hopefully, through our efforts, we willl help to shape the future of technical training and education.”