Lee Catterick & John Negus - Serco

An apprenticeship is often described as a stepping stone into a new career. For 27-year-old Lee Catterick it is more a milestone that has become the foundation of a new life.

John Negus & Lee Catterick

“I enjoy gardening but this is better because as an apprentice I’m learning a skilled trade, a recognised trade. And earning while I’m learning. All in one. The bonus is there’s a qualification.”

 

Lee is today a horticulture apprentice with Serco in the London Borough of Newham. He left school at 13, drifted in and out of ‘dead end’ jobs and ended up spending a year in prison.

A combination of that prison sentence, his developing interest and talent for working with plants, and Lee’s own determination have produced someone his boss, John Negus, describes as a rising star.

Lee is looking forward to a lifelong career doing a job he loves: “What’s the best bit of my apprenticeship? Getting up and going to work - doing something that gives me a feeling of self worth.”

Having moved around a lot as a child, he left school early and ‘got in with a bad crowd’.

“As a teenager I wanted to have a good time. When I was in prison I realised it wasn’t the place for me but I made the most of it. I did a lot of courses and talked to people about what I could do next. I was serious about gardening so it was 50-50 between prison making me realise what I wanted to do and me wanting to do this.

John says apprentices are crucial for Serco but also the entire horticultural industry: “A lot of people are already coming up to 60 and we will lose their skills. Through apprentices those skills are passed on and shared. Our apprentices are full time, they’re part of the workforce and do a vast range of jobs. Capel Manor cover the formal side of the training and we help the lads put it into practice.

Roy Clark wants skills not only passed on but hopefully improved.

“To do that you have to look at training and investment and one of the best methods is through apprenticeships. You catch people at a younger age and give them a formal training process. We want two more apprentices this year and to extend to other contracts. Our clients certainly appreciate us having apprentices – they support this initiative for Serco and the whole horticulture and landscape business.”

Find out more about Apprenticeships

Find out what it takes to be a landscaper