Young Landscaper of The Year

Young Landscaper of The Year

Introduction

2024 Entries Now Open - Entries close this Friday

The Registered Master Landscapers Young Landscaper of the Year competition offers significant opportunities for young, motivated landscapers to showcase their skills, knowledge and aptitude for future leadership by competing alongside the best emerging professionals in New Zealand.  For 2024, the competition is being revamped to test competitors on a broader range of skills within each practical station and give our young landscapers from across the industry the chance to showcase their abilities through interpretation of scopes and application of knowledge.

Open to young landscapers throughout New Zealand, entrants do not have to be working for a Registered Master Landscaper to enter the competition.

Competitors will take part in both written and practical activities on competition day, and winners will be announced at our awards dinner that evening, where the industry comes together to celebrate and support the achievements of our Young Landscaper of the Year entrants.  This year the awards dinner will also include the inaugural Landscape Legacy Awards, recognising outstanding contributions from individuals within the industry.

In 2024, we’re excited to bring the event to the stunning...

Wellington Botanic Gardens
Saturday 21st September

where we can showcase the landscaping industry to the wider community.

[email protected] 

0508 444 345

 

ENTRY GUIDE

 

Why Enter?

The Young Landscaper of the Year competition provides opportunity for entrants and their employers alike:

 As a competitor, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Support our future leaders to develop their abilities in a challenging and competitive arena
  • Aide personal development and retention of talent by providing a unique experience for entrants
  • Increase the profile of your business and gain exposure within the landscape industry
  • Network with other landscape professionals, suppliers and industry supporters
  • Entrants gain industry recognition for their skills and commitment to their craft
  • Entrants can hone important communication skills, gain confidence and receive valuable feedback from industry professionals to support skill development

We promise you the competition will be fun and will challenge you.   The opportunities to build your career are huge!  So what are you waiting for?

Who is Eligible?

Entrants must:

  • Be able to demonstrate competency based on practical experience, and currently be working full time in the landscape sector.
  • Be 30 years of age or under at 31st December 2024 
  • Candidates shortlisted must be prepared to participate in the Young Landscaper of the Year competition in Wellington on 20th - 21st September as well as attending the awards dinner on the evening of 21st September.
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Key Dates 2024

10th Jun
 
Entry OPEN
 
2nd Aug
 
Entry CLOSES 5:00pm
 
9th Aug
 
Selected Competitors Announced
 
16th - 19th Sept Interviews with competitors held via Zoom
 
20th Sept COMPETITION DAY:
Practical tests; presentation of speeches,
The Dell
Wellington Botanic Gardens

 

ENTRY GUIDE

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Awards/Prizes

Competition Prize Pool

Overall winner

Young Landscaper of the Year Award

1st Prize

  • $2,500 cash prize          Sponsored by Natural Habitats
  • $1,000   of product        Sponsored by PlaceMakers
  • $ 500 seed product       Sponsored by Prebble Turf World

 

Finalist Awards

As a finalist, compete to win:

  • PlaceMakers Award -  Outstanding Achievement in Construction and Practical Challenge    $500 cash prize
  • Outstanding Achievement - Emerging Leader Award -  This Award recognizes an inspirational competitor who has demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial spirit, innovation and/ or social/ environmental responsibility in the workplace     $500 cash prize
  • Outstanding Achievement - Excellence in Innovation Award - This Award recognizes an outstanding competitor who has demonstrated a significant contribution to their workplace through the introduction or improvement of a workplace-based technology, process or service.    $500 cash prize
  • Career Development Award -  This Award recognizes an outstanding competitor who has demonstrated exceptional business operation and customer service skills   $500 cash prize
  • Outstanding Achievement in Communication - This Award recognizes an outstanding competitor who has demonstrated excellence in the development of content and delivery of their Landscape of the Year speech to Panel Judges.    $500 cash prize

 

All Finalists will Receive

  • One Year Affiliate Membership to Registered Master Landscapers.  
  • PLUS 1 x Complementary 2019 Registered Master Landscaper of the Year Gala Dinner Ticket.

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Competition Guideline

What happens next?

Stage 1 – Complete Your Entry

Entries are open the week beginning 10th June, and close 5.00pm Friday 2nd August 2024. Entrants must complete the entry form and submit by email to [email protected] by no later than 5pm Friday 2nd August. No late entries will be accepted.

Entry form must be completed and signed by both the employer and entrant.

Entrants may be contacted for further information on workplace experience and training progress if required, by the Registered Master Landscapers judging panel.

If you require additional space to complete questions on the entry form, you may include supporting attachments including photo or video submissions.

A $100 non-refundable application fee is payable for each entry at time of entry submission. There is no limit on the number of entrants from any one company, but individual entrants may not compete in the event more than twice.

Stage 2 - Competitors Selected

10 Competitors will be selected from the submitted entries to move forward to compete for the 2024 Young Landscaper of the Year. Entrants and their employers will be contacted between 5th – 9th August 2024 by email to confirm if successful in progressing through to the finals, with competitors announced publicly 9th August.

Selection Process

Judges will consider attitude to work, maturity, personal development, and overall skills to identify finalists. They also consider the following:

  • Work ethic and leadership
  • Career development to date
  • Communication skills and personal presentation
  • Industry experience<
  • Employer / Referee statement
  • Track record of demonstrating excellence based on submitted cv and/or portfolio
  • Training and study achievements

Competitors and their employers will be sent an information pack approximately 6 weeks prior to the event containing with the event programme as well as tips and tricks to support and prepare contestants. The information pack will also include a brief on a 3-minute speech topic to be prepared and then presented by the competitor at the practical event day.

Stage 3 - Competition Day

After arriving in Wellington on the morning of Friday 20th September 2024, competitors will assemble that afternoon to be briefed for the weekend’s events and complete the written test. Competitors will then take part in the practical challenges on Saturday 21st September at the Wellington Botanic Gardens.

This competition requires competitors to showcase their skills across a number of technical and written challenges, planning and equipment management. Competitors will be assessed against the following criteria:

Practical skills: covering both soft and hard landscaping, competitors can expect to utilize a broad range of practical experience to demonstrate industry best practice, technical ability, workplace health and safety and application of knowledge in response to a brief.

Communication and leadership: this includes an interview with a judge in the week prior to the practical event demonstrating personal achievements, and delivery of a 3 minute speech on competition day on a given topic. Points will also be awarded throughout the practical events for contestants explaining their workmanship across different elements of the stations.

Scope assessment and design interpretation: includes determining an itemized scope for the implementation of a given design, then scaling and quantifying plans to create a schedule of materials.

Award Winners Announced

On Saturday 21st September 2024 all competitors will attend the Awards Dinner in Wellington, where the prizes will be awarded alongside the inaugural Landscape Legacy Awards, acknowledging members of the association who have made outstanding contributions to the industry.

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Celebration Dinner

AN EVENING TO REMEMBER! 

Join us for a night of celebration on

21 September 2024
Foxglove

on the Wellington waterfront as we celebrate our 2024 Prebbles Young Landscaper of the Year and Outstanding Achievement winners, and past and present Landscape Legacy legends! 

Guests will be greeted with nibbles and drinks. Following the YLOY award ceremony, guests will be invited to enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by Foxglove’s esteemed chefs, accompanied by wine and beer. 

Tickets for the evening are...

Single Ticket

$200

Ten Person Table

$1800

BUY TICKETS HERE

Sponsorship

Opportunities to sponsor this prestigious event are now available.

We have a range of options and can also work with you to develop customised sponsorship package.   

Contact [email protected]

If you haven't already. Signup here to receive our newsletter and updates on 2024 Events.

 

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