The UK’s largest supplier of topsoil to the construction, landscaping and amenity sectors – British Sugar TOPSOIL – has announced the launch of The British Sugar TOPSOIL Training Bursary 2017 to celebrate the business’s 20th anniversary.

Two bursaries, each of up to £500, will be awarded to pay for training courses in the greenkeeping, groundsmanship, landscape contracting or garden design sectors.

A visit by IOG Pitch Advisors to British Sugar TOPSOIL’s Wissington manufacturing facility

Since British Sugar TOPSOIL first began operations in 1997 it has actively supported the industries it serves through its membership of trade and professional bodies, sponsorship of awards schemes and events, and hosting of educational visits to its topsoil manufacturing facilities in East Anglia. The establishment of an annual training bursary is yet another demonstration of TOPSOIL’s desire to give something back to the wider industry in this its 20th anniversary year.

National TOPSOIL Manager Andy Spetch had considered a number of ways to celebrate British Sugar TOPSOIL’s achievements over the past 20 years but felt that a training bursary would have the greatest potential to create a legacy and open up opportunities for anyone with drive and ambition who might be held back by financial constraints:

“Skills and training are fundamental to being successful in the sectors in which British Sugar TOPSOIL operates. Where the cost of training is proving to be a barrier to achieving success I hope the British Sugar TOPSOIL bursary can go some way to helping overcome it. I am looking forward very much to receiving applications from across the four sectors and expect to be inspired by the determination to succeed that will undoubtedly shine through the two successful submissions.”

Bursary applications must be made online through the TOPSOIL website at www.bstopsoil.co.uk/news-events, where full Terms & Conditions, including eligibility criteria, and an application form can be downloaded. The closing date for entries is Friday, 28th April 2017, with the two successful bursary recipients being notified by Wednesday, 31st May 2017.