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“My own business – Can you believe it!”My name is Jamie Beggs, from Larne and I have just finished a National Diploma in Horticulture from Greenmount Campus. Why did I do Horticulture? Well, I was always very practically minded, interested in working outdoors and had a dream of starting my own business. With a little encouragement from my Mum and Dad, I went to an Open Night at Greenmount campus where staff there talked me through all the courses on offer. I knew immediately that the National Diploma in Horticulture was the course for me as I needed four GCSE’s and it had a good balance between class work and practical. The first year was really an introduction to horticulture but the second year included more specialised topics like garden design and hard landscaping – which I really enjoyed. I had the chance to compete in the UK Skills landscape Gardening Competition in Scotland back in June this year which involved building a garden in just six hours. Talk about pressure! During the holidays friends and neighbours had asked me to do various bits of gardening for them which made me realise that there was a gap in the market for skilled landscape gardeners in my area. So when I graduated from Greenmount I set up my own business as a self employed gardener. I even have my own van promoting my business which is amazing! It is early days yet but things look very promising – despite the current economic climate. Without the National Diploma course I would never have considered starting my own business. However I know I have more to learn, particularly relating to business management. So I hope to return to Greenmount sometime in the future, once my business is established, to study part time for a Foundation Degree in Horticulture.
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