Greenkeeping apprentice achieves top grade

By Alistair November 12, 2018 11:55 Updated

Thomas Sherreard from London Golf Club and Hadlow College has become the first greenkeeping apprentice to achieve the new City & Guilds ‘Level 2 Certificate’ in golf greenkeeping associated with the new apprenticeship standard.

According to the Greenkeepers Training Committee (GTC), the former professional golfer received an overall mark of distinction.

Not only is Tom the first golf greenkeeper to achieve his apprenticeship, he is the first land-based apprentice to undertake the new style end-point assessment. which was launched in September 2016 and focuses more on ‘teaching the apprentice the skills and knowledge required to be a fully-qualified golf greenkeeper with the support of the apprentice’s employer’.

David Croxton, GTC Trailblazer chairman, said: “Credit has to go to a number of people, not least, Tom for the hard work and commitment he has put into his apprenticeship; his employer, London Golf Club, and mentors, Lee Sayers and Darren Cuddihy and his course tutor, Anthony Stockwell from Hadlow College.

“It is wonderful to see the tireless work that has gone on behind the scenes over the past few years has finally come to fruition. Congratulations to Tom for such a fantastic achievement and we wish you all the best for your future career.”

Dr Robin Jackson, industry manager, City & Guilds said: “City & Guilds is delighted to have undertaken the first end-point assessment for the golf greenkeeper apprenticeship standard.

“City & Guilds supported the greenkeeper employer group which developed the standard and have subsequently worked closely with the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and the Greenkeepers Training Committee (GTC) to develop what we believe is a high-quality independent end-point assessment. This is now offered through our team of well-respected Assessors who are standardised to ensure all apprentices have access to fair and impartial assessment to demonstrate their competency.

“City & Guilds are thankful of all the support and guidance we have received from the golf greenkeeping industry and look forward to maintaining our close working relationship in the future. Ultimately, we believe that with industry backing for the standard and City & Guilds end-point assessment, employers and apprentices will continue to have confidence in greenkeeping as a rewarding professional career.”