Supporting working carers in horticulture
Support for carers in your workplace
At least 1 in 7 employees are juggling work with caring responsibilities. 80% are of working age and without support many reduce their hours or feel they need to leave work all together. With the right support in place, employers can help working carers stay in work, protect their wellbeing and retain valuable skills within the industry.
Perennial works with employers across horticulture. Through our partnership with Carers UK, we can provide practical, sector‑specific support for employers including webinars, e-learning, toolkits and a Carers Passport scheme.
How can caring affect someone's job?
A working carer is someone who combines paid employment with unpaid care for a partner, child, parent, relative or friend.
However, not everyone recognises that they are a carer. Many people see caring as simply part of family life, which means carers in the workplace often go unidentified and unsupported.
Employers can help by:
- Encouraging carers to identify themselves safely and confidentially
- Equipping managers with the knowledge and confidence to have supportive conversations
- Offering practical flexibility where possible
- Providing clear, consistent processes across the organisation
Resources to support working carers
We provide practical, sector‑relevant support to help employers put carer‑friendly policies into action. Our approach is designed to fit into the realities of horticultural work, while supporting both employers and employees:
• Guidance webinars
• Access to e-learning
• A Carer Passport scheme - a simple, practical tool tailored to horticulture hat helps carers and employers have open, constructive conversations about support at work
• Expert advice
• Employer toolkits and essential guides
• Perennial's bespoke digital and in-person resources for Health and Financial wellbeing
