World of work is blooming for young gardener John
A GARDENER from Romiley was a guest of honour at a city centre event where young people shared stories of their journeys into employment.
John Bowden-Neill, of Marsden Road, has been working as a gardener for almost a year now, but his entry into employment wasn’t smooth.
The 24-year-old is now using his experiences to inspire others, speaking at Greater Manchester Talent Match’s city centre celebration event.
John struggled to find employment due to a combination of dyspraxia and mental health issues.
He joined the programme in February 2015 and recently left having completed an apprenticeship in horticulture and becoming a gardener with Pro-scape Landscape in Cheadle.
A keen boxer, John also volunteers at Stockport Amateur Boxing Club.
As part of the programme, John worked one-to-one with talent coach Richard Phillips from Breakthrough UK.
Together they worked to overcome John’s barriers and find the kind of work that he would enjoy.
John said; “Before I had no career path. I was on and off unemployed, having worked as a waiter, emptying bins and litter picking.
“Now I’m in a job I enjoy. I love gardening – being outdoors all day.
“I get to work with a variety of plants – seeing how they grow and tending to them to help them look their best.
“It’s really a passion of mine and I get to work with a great team of people.”
Richard said; “John has done amazingly over the two years to get where he is now.
“He is a lot more equipped for the future too now – I have every confidence that he will go from strength to strength with his career.
“His speech to encourage and inspire other young people was the icing on the cake.”