During lockdown, many of us came to appreciate the benefits that being outdoors with nature and gardening can bring, and maximised our gardens to enjoy the fresh air and benefits gardening can offer to both physical and mental health well-being, despite the colder weather!
Many who discovered gardening during this time decided they wanted to make the permanent change to an “outdoor office” following the opportunity to reassess their priorities whilst on furlough, working from home, or who had lost jobs.
The RHS is passionate about investing and training the next generation of horticulturists, and are delighted to be recruiting a new intake of Apprentices starting in August 2021. Their work-based Level 2 Horticulture and Landscape Operative Apprenticeship is available across all five gardens, including at the flagship garden at Wisley in Surrey. This is great news for the local economy at a time when many organisations are sadly having to making job cuts and redundancies.
RHS Apprentices earn while they learn, spending two years working alongside experienced and inspiring horticulturists to gain a real understanding of the seasonal work involved in an ornamental garden. The Apprenticeship Programme at Level 2 requires no prior experience or horticultural qualifications so is a great starting point to get into industry. It is also available to anyone over the age of 16.
Formal training equips learners with the skills and knowledge they need to progress, and the career opportunities within horticulture are numerous and diverse. As one RHS Apprentice, Rheanna Quinn explains, “There are so many options after the Apprenticeship which could make the world your oyster!”
Applications close on 1 March 2021 and further details can be found on the website: rhs.org.uk/apprenticeships