Myerscough horticulture learner wins national Student of the Year award

Archie Matthews has been named as the national winner in the BALI (British Association of Landscape Industries) Chalk Student of the Year competition, in the Landscape and Horticulture category.

18-year-old Archie is currently undertaking a Level 2 Horticulture and Landscape Operative Apprenticeship Standard programme, and as well as the accolade and kudos of winning such a prestigious award as he begins his career, he also wins £100 and a ROLO training course from Orchard Learning. Myerscough also receives £500.

Archie will be officially presented with his accolade at this year’s BALI National Landscape Awards, alongside his tutor, at a ceremony in London in December.

The awards celebrate and identify the landscaping sector’s future leading lights from colleges and training providers nationwide.

Archie faced the toughest competition this year, with entrant numbers increasing and the quality of entries being of a very high standard.

The BALI Trustees reviewed all the candidate entries and tutor submissions at a session in September. Selected by the Trustees as stand-out winners, each candidate’s entry was supported by their accounts including describing the personal impact of their learning detailing their greatest achievements, outlining their career goals and how they hoped to achieve them, and sharing advice for future students who want to succeed as they have.

A spokesperson for BALI said: ‘’Archie’s submission was bursting with enthusiasm, confidence and a determination to succeed through hard graft.

‘’He highlighted his transition from apprentice to semi-skilled landscaper and has already achieved greatness at World Skills, gaining a Silver and now striving again for a Gold.

‘’He wants to become a ‘recognised industry leader, known for his creativity, professionalism and dedication to excellence’, and wants to amplify and promote the benefits and positivity of working in the landscape industry to young people.

‘’He is a strong advocate of mentoring others, sharing success stories and practical insight to others.’’

The photograph shows Archie with work-based tutor Richard Heys and Paul McGrail, Executive Director/Assistant Principal - Apprenticeships, Skills & Employer Engagement.

Meanwhile, Archie is one of three Myerscough College apprentices who will compete in the final of the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) 2025 WorldSkills Landscape Gardening Competition next month.

The National Finals take place at Bridgend College – Pencoed Campus in South Wales from 25–28 November.

To qualify, Archie demonstrated his technical skills in aspects such as block paving, decking construction and plant knowledge in a national qualifier earlier this year, held at Myerscough College’s main Bilsborrow campus.

The competition is run in partnership with the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL) – an accrediting body for the best in domestic landscaping – and supported by leading companies. The students had to complete tasks in timed sessions and were marked to exacting standards on the quality of their work and attention to detail.