Anna England - For the love of plants
23 October 2024
Anna England grew up with a love of plants, not realising this would sow the seed to a rewarding and award-winning career in the horticulture industry.
Anna, 29, is now studying the Diploma in Primary Industry Business Management through Primary ITO, while working as a sales coordinator at Elliott’s Wholesale Nursery in Amberley, North Canterbury.
In July, Anna was shocked to take out the title of Young Plant Producer of the Year, in a tightly fought competition run by New Zealand Plant Producers Inc. Anna was one of four finalists taking part in two days of challenges which tested their knowledge and skills in plant propagation and identification, biosecurity, finance, dispatch, and other key areas. The finalists also presented a speech at the awards dinner, with Anna’s topic ‘growing plants on Mars’.
Anna scooped $3000 to put towards advancing her career in plant production, and a spot on a 12-month mentorship programme. She will also take part in the Young Horticulturalist of the Year award in late October, where she will compete against finalists from the entire horticulture sector, vying for a prize pool worth more than $20,000.
Growing up in Taranaki, Anna always had a love of plants and attended a kid’s gardening club and the local Daffodil Shows. At high school she took NCEA Level 1 Horticulture as a subject option, achieving a grade of ‘excellence’. However, working in the industry was never on her radar.
After high school Anna completed a three-year business degree at Victoria University in Wellington and then travelled overseas to Vietnam and India. She returned just as Covid hit. Not wanting to work in an office, Anna headed down to Canterbury to study a diploma in horticulture through Lincoln University. This led to her current role at Elliot’s Wholesale Nursery.
Anna loves people and plants. As sales coordinator, she spends a lot of time on the phone with customers talking through orders, organising freight and logistics, arranging quotes, and allocating plant stock to orders.
“It’s a mixed role that has evolved since I started here. There’s lots of admin, and I also get out into the nursery to keep track of what plants are looking good and what’s ‘saleable’ right now. When needed I assist the production team with potting, and when we’re quieter, there’s always maintenance jobs and trimming to do.”
Anna has completed several modules as part of the Primary ITO diploma, including business planning, finance, human resources (HR), and environmental sustainability. She says while they have all been useful, she found the HR module particularly interesting.
While Anna has a commerce degree already, she says it was more theory-focused.
“I thought I had a good foundation of knowledge from the commerce degree but with the Primary ITO Diploma it’s all fitting together better.
“The practical aspect is really valuable. You’re not just doing theory all the time, it’s a good mix of hands-on. You can apply this knowledge to your business right now.”
Anna appreciates having the support of her Primary ITO Training Adviser Nicola Wood.
“We’re studying while working full-time, so finding the time to bring anything up can be hard. It’s really good knowing that my Training Adviser is coming to visit each month so I can ask any questions.”
Jeff Bryant, Primary ITO’s Horticulture Delivery Manager for the South Island, says he’s delighted that one of Primary ITO’s learners took the win.
Outside of work Anna is enjoying the fruits of her labour with a garden that’s coming into bloom. She recently planted hybrid primulas. “I really like exotic specimen trees but while I’m renting, it’s all about little flowers.”
Anna plans to finish her diploma study and apply the knowledge in her current role. Longer term, she is keen to move into a management role at Elliott’s and keep progressing.
Meanwhile, her sights are firmly set on competing at the Young Horticulturist of the Year competition, taking place in Auckland on 31 October.
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