Flora Gardening: Boosting Growth Through Tay Cities SME Skills Fund

Established Roots and Continued Growth

Serving clients across Angus, Tayside, and Fife, the company has built a solid reputation in the region. With a current team of eight, Ionut’s passion for continuous learning and professional development is a cornerstone of the company’s success.

Ionut Pasare

A Commitment to Upskilling

Flora Gardening has long been committed to training its workforce, having put team members through training with Dundee and Angus College for SVQ Level 2 training in Parks and Gardens in the past. When Ionut learned about the Tay Cities SME Skills Fund from Elaine Donnachie, Training Needs Advisor for the Fund, he knew it would be an invaluable resource for his business.

The Tay Cities SME Skills Fund offers grants of up to £5,000 for small to medium-sized businesses in the Angus, Tayside, Perthshire and North East Fife area to enhance workforce skills . For Ionut, it was a straightforward decision to tap into this opportunity.

“We’ve always invested in training for our team at Flora Gardening,” Ionut explains. “It helps us expand our skills, making us more competitive for larger projects. When I heard about the Fund, I knew it was something we had to take advantage of.”

Strategic Training for Enhanced Services

Ionut’s first priority was enrolling himself and two of his team members in the LANTRA-accredited 360 Degree Excavator (mini digger below 10 tonnes) qualification course, offered by Dundee and Angus College’s Land-Based department. This training would allow Flora Gardening to take on more complex projects and expand its service offerings.

Ionut with Dale and Volodymyr from the Flora Gardening team at their mini digger training

In addition to the mini digger course, Ionut saw the opportunity to upskill his team in other areas. He chose to invest in conflict management training and procurement training, ensuring his team could handle client-facing challenges more effectively.

The 3-day mini digger course has already proven to be a game changer for Flora Gardening. By acquiring these skills, the company is now equipped to take on bigger commercial projects, clear gardens before landscape installations, and offer subcontracting services to builders and other landscaping companies. This added capability opens new revenue streams and positions Flora Gardening as a valuable partner to architects, building firms, and local authorities.

“The mini digger skills allows us to tackle larger, comprehensive jobs,” Ionut adds. “We can also enhance our offering to private clients, particularly for garden design and installation or one-off jobs.”

Building a Stronger, More Resilient Team

The conflict management training also had a noticeable impact. Ionut emphasises how the training helped his team improve communication and problem-solving skills, benefiting both internal dynamics and client relations.

“We already have a strong team, but this training makes us even better,” Ionut shares. “It allows us to be better humans, better communicators and to provide an even higher level of service to our clients.”

The procurement and sales training, which Ionut completed online, was another valuable addition to his skill set. By improving his understanding of efficient purchasing practices, Ionut can streamline operations and enhance profitability.

“All the training was delivered professionally, and we’ve been able to apply what we’ve learned immediately,” he says.

Looking Ahead

Flora Gardening’s experience with the Tay Cities SME Skills Fund has been overwhelmingly positive. Ionut plans to continue investing in further training opportunities through Dundee and Angus College to keep his team competitive in an evolving and fast-paced industry.

When asked if he would recommend the Tay Cities SME Skills Fund to other businesses, Ionut is enthusiastic:

“Absolutely! I encourage other SMEs in the eligible areas to apply. Training is crucial for your team’s growth and the success of your business. If the grant is available, why wouldn’t you take advantage of it?”

Find out more about the Tay Cities SME Skills Fund here.