The heritage and leisure sector is helping to make talent bloom
In a week which has seen record temperatures, the Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival opened its doors once again this summer, with a timely focus on the work it is doing to deliver climate resilience and biodiversity. The event features a wide range of plants that thrive in conditions more traditionally found in southern Europe, as well as measures that will help conserve water in the face of the hotter and drier summers we are experiencing in this country as the climate changes.
The Festival brings together two icons of the heritage and leisure sector – the Royal Horticulture Society (RHS), the UK’s leading gardening charity, and Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), responsible for some of our most iconic palaces including Hampton Court Palace, historic home of kings and queens.
It’s a fantastic day out, but it’s not just about showcasing fabulous blooms or seeing where Henry VIII lived. It’s a reminder about the opportunities the sector can deliver. From preserving historical assets and fostering national identity to promoting wellbeing and generating tourism revenue, the sector is a cornerstone of the country’s community life and economy.
The RHS and HRP are both focused on innovative design, environmental stewardship and the social value of green spaces, all seen through the lens of sustainability, resilience and biodiversity. But they are also determined to connect people to careers.
From the RHS’s New Shoots initiative to attract more diverse talent by raising the profile of the huge range of careers in horticulture through taster sessions, work experience, internships, apprenticeships and volunteering to HRP’s Community Access Scheme which partners with over 500 community organisations across London and Northern Ireland to engage people who might never otherwise have considered a historic palace to be a space for them, the RHS and HRP are focused on reaching out to individuals and communities to shine a light on their work and the opportunities they offer.
The Purpose Coalition has been working with both the RHS and HRP as part of its Breaking Down Barriers to Heritage & Leisure project which is exploring how organisations in the sector can drive social mobility and boost opportunity.
A series of roundtable discussions has identified examples of best practice across four key elements - outreach, access, recruitment and progression - critical areas where strategic efforts can unlock potential and widen the talent pipeline. The initiative will also recommend ways in which they can go even further, developing innovative solutions that will unlock opportunity, foster inclusion and ensure the sector reflects and serves everyone.
