Young landscaper of the year competition launched

If you are a budding landscaper, sharpen your pencils and spades for the Young Landscaper of the Year Competition 2019.

Run by the Registered Master Landscapers in association with Prebble Turf World, the competition offers significant opportunities for young, motivated landscapers to showcase their skills and compete alongside the best emerging landscape professionals to become 2019 New Zealand Young Landscaper of the Year.

Open to young landscapers throughout New Zealand, entrants do not have to be working for a Registered Master Landscaper to enter the competition, says the Registered Master Landscapers CEO, Janine Smith.

“This competition is about inspiring our next generation of landscapers to be the best they can across a range of skills from hard landscaping to plant identification to excellent communication skills,” says Janine.

“As well as learning new skills and gaining more confidence, it’s an opportunity for entrants to progress their career as they gain a great deal of industry exposure.”

Furthermore, the 2019 winner goes on to represent the landscaping industry in the 2019 Young Horticulturist of the Year Competition, gaining more amazing career advancement opportunities and prizes, says Janine.

For 2018 winner, Kae Combridge from Auckland-based Luijten Landscaping, it was not “just a competition but a learning experience with some of the top dogs of the industry”.

“I networked with some amazing people in related fields, got to know fellow peers in similar positions and had so much fun doing so,” says Kae. “I walked away with so much support and encouragement from the industry in the lead up to the Young Horticulturalist competition.”

Entry criteria include having worked in the landscape industry for a minimum of 3 years and be 30 years of age or under at 31st December 2019.

Competitors will take part in both written and practical activities day on Friday, August 9, in Auckland. The award winners will be announced at the Registered Master Landscapers Awards Gala Dinner on August 10 where the industry comes together to celebrate and support the outstanding achievements of Landscapes of Distinction Award entrants as well as announcing the winner of the Young Landscaper of the Year 2019 Competition.

Prizes for this year’s event include $4000 in cash and product for the winner, plus cash prizes for finalists in five awards:

• PlaceMakers Award - Outstanding Achievement in Construction and Practical Challenge $500 cash prize
• Outstanding Achievement - Emerging Leader Award - This Award recognizes an inspirational competitor who has demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial spirit, innovation and/ or social/ environmental responsibility in the workplace $500 cash prize
• Outstanding Achievement - Excellence in Innovation Award - This Award recognizes an outstanding competitor who has demonstrated a significant contribution to their workplace through the introduction or improvement of a workplace-based technology, process or service. $500 cash prize
• Career Development Award - This Award recognizes an outstanding competitor who has demonstrated exceptional business operation and customer service skills $500 cash prize
• Outstanding Achievement in Communication - This Award recognizes an outstanding competitor who has demonstrated excellence in the development of content and delivery of their Landscape of the Year speech to Panel Judges. $500 cash prize

To enter, visit https://www.masterlandscapers.org.nz/young-landscaper-awards-2019

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