Growing plants and knowledge with Primary ITO training
2 July 2026
Growing healthy plants for ecological restoration and landscaping projects is all in a day’s work for Signature Plants Ltd. The Auckland-based business are firm believers in the power of education and upskilling staff with training through Primary ITO.
Nursery Manager Lori with learners Greta & Veda (L-R)
Located in Waitakere, the wholesale nursery has six staff and grows around one hundred species of native and exotic plants. Specialising in natives, they supply half a million plants each year for ecological restoration and revegetation projects, and to developers, government organisations, and landscapers. Signature Plants is owned by the ESIO group and works closely with its sister landscape construction company The Plant People, providers of professional horticulture services across the Auckland region.
Nursery Manager Lori Wells says their business believes in empowering and educating staff through formal training. She investigated different training options and decided on-job apprenticeship training through Primary ITO was the way to go.
Lori completed the nursery production apprenticeship herself in 2024. She has also undertaken assessor training to support staff through their own training.
Current Nursery Production Apprentices Greta & Veda
Four staff have completed Primary ITO training, with two currently progressing through the New Zealand Apprenticeship in Horticulture Production (Nursery Production) Level 4.
Lori says staff undertaking training are more engaged and enjoy learning about different areas of the business.
Lori says the support and guidance from their Training Adviser Martina is brilliant.
“She is always available to contact and offers very good support.”
Greta Pennie, 21, has worked at Signature Plants for three years. She enjoys the active, mostly outdoors role.
“When Lori asked me about the apprenticeship, I was keen. I wasn’t that good at schoolwork but have found the learning achievable. It’s good to apply the learning to what you’re doing at work and know why you’re doing things a certain way.”
She says having more knowledge is helpful.
“If you know more, you can do your job better. And it’s good to be able to study and learn while working, it makes it worth your while.”
Greta is on track to finish the Level 4 component of her apprenticeship in 2027. She is interested in looking at Level 5 study later on.
“I’d like to move into landscaping at some stage and learn about that, maybe even do the apprenticeship.”
Veda Di Fulvio, 21, has always worked outdoors and been interested in sustainable growing. She was looking for either nursery or farm work when the role at Signature Plants came up.
“I wasn’t aware they did apprenticeships here so when Lori offered me the chance, I was happy to do it, as I wanted to learn more about botany.”
Veda has found the modules on propagation, irrigation, and soil properties useful.
Veda is keen to finish the apprenticeship and feels that it opens up opportunities for future study and working overseas.
“Doing the apprenticeship gives you a purpose. It’s not just routine work, you are learning and taking something from it. You can also apply it at home and in future jobs.”
Primary ITO Training Adviser Martina Balasova has supported the business since starting in her role.
“I really enjoy working with Lori and it is fantastic to see her encouraging staff to take on the qualification after doing it herself. She knows what is involved and can help them. The business champions the learning and encourages staff to get recognition of their skills.
“Greta and Veda have a great attitude towards their study, and I am enjoying seeing the confidence building in them.”
Find out about the nursery production apprenticeship and other on-job training on our website here.