After an intense 16 hours of work over three days at The Skills Show, NEC Birmingham, 20-year old Will Burberry from Surrey proudly stepped up to the rostrum to receive the winner’s gold medal.

This was presented by Simon Abbott of the Association of Professional Landscapers (APL), and 2011 WorldSkillsUK Silver medal winner, to the cheers of many hundreds of competitors and guests ringing around the auditorium.


Will Burberry

Will, who completed his training at Merrist Wood College, Guildford, is now employed by Gardenscapes based in Surrey and Sussex. He showed the judges his skills in all areas of landscaping including planning and marking out, block paving and flag stones, timber fencing and decking, and soft landscaping including planting and turfing.

“I’m really pleased to have won the gold medal. It’s a real boost for my career. It was great to get the chance to do the project garden from start to finish although it was a pretty stressful 16 hours. And to be included in Squad UK with a chance to go to the WorldSkills final in Abu Dhabi in 2017 is the ultimate result. I am always learning and will work to impress the selection judges in the next year to ensure I make the team for sure. I always buy Makita tools and keep them secure under my bed and my TV is mounted on a stack of MakPac cases.”

Will and four other competitors worked hard to complete the 6m x 2m garden, designed by Jody Lidgard, with the competition managed by the Association of Professional Landscapers on behalf of WorldSkillsUK. The competition is the biggest careers showcase event in the UK where young people, parents, teachers, lecturers and mentors can see and learn about career opportunities in over 130 trades and vocations. 

“We are immensely proud to provide the power tools for the competitors and to work closely with them on the run up to The Skills show and hopefully during their training for Squad UK selection,” says Kevin Brannigan, marketing manager, Makita UK. “These dedicated youngsters are setting a benchmark for their peers and the landscaping industry to be proud of.”