It is planning a formal announcement and a glitzy launch at The Skills Show in Birmingham on 14 November.
The show is the UK’s largest skills and careers event, showing youngsters a wide range of opportunities in skills, training and apprenticeships. It attracts 75,000 visitors two thirds of whom are of children.
The finals of the WorldSkills UK competitions which feeds into an international Olympics-style event where skilled trades people compete to be the best in their fields, are also held at the event.
The National Apprenticeship Scheme currently runs the landscape section of the worldwide competition but the APL, working with the HTA, thinks it has been a missed opportunity.
BALI used to be the organising partner but withdrew due to cost.
APL chairman Mark Gregory is passionate about training and the benefits of WorldSkills.
He said: "I think it’s a really big thing. WorldSkills is the UK’s best kept secret."
Gregory said the HTA’s chief executive Carol Paris is currently in discussions with "serious sponsors" who it is hoped will fund the competition.
"We’ve done all the numbers and we know exactly what we’re doing," he said.
