Education & the RHS

One Year Specialist Option Certificate In Fruit Cultivation

In general

This internship will be particularly valuable for a student on ND, HND or Degree course, or who is attending an overseas institution, and requires a 12 month period of practical experience. It is also suitable for those seeking post-course experience of a structured pattern, or for a person within the fruit industry at large.

The programme provides an unrivalled opportunity to learn within the Society's extensive and varied collection of orchard and soft fruits within the fruit fields, nursery and model gardens at Wisley. The successful applicant will be able to work with, and learn from, the garden and scientific staffs, who have collectively and individually a vast reserve of expertise and knowledge.

Remuneration is currently £12,040 per year, paid monthly.
Trainees will live in the Society's self-catering accommodation, comprising shared housing of between two to five people. Each trainee has a single study bedroom and access to a shared lounge and kitchen/dining facilities (subsidised cost of which will be deducted from renumeration).
There is an annual leave entitlement of eight public holidays, plus 23 working days per year.
On successful completion of the programme a certificate of competence will be provided.

Programme Content

The Fruit Student will be based in the Fruit Department for the full twelve months of the scheme.
In addition to this, the successful student will be required to assist the Fruit and Vegetable Committee Secretary at each of the Society's flower shows at Vincent Square & Chelsea, and will help with the staging of some fruit exhibits at Vincent Square and other shows.
There will also be excursions of an educational nature to visit other fruit production units in the UK.
The Fruit Student will be required to work on a number of assignments while at Wisley and these may include: a diary, case study or management report and a dissertation. It is anticipated that a sandwich year student will have college/university projects to complete and these will be set against RHS committments where appropriate.

Eligibility

It is expected that most applicants will have completed the initial part, at least, of a Further Education or Higher Education Course in horticulture.
The entry qualifications will be negotiable according to the reasons for seeking employment and experience but candidates must necessarily demonstrate an intellectual capability and sufficient academic experience to cope with the provisions of the scheme.
A motivation and commitment to work and learn in the Wisley environment and to put to full use the opportunities, facilities and expertise available is essential.
Applicants from overseas will be considered, and acceptance will be subject to a Work Permit being granted for non-EU nationals. A good working knowledge of the English language is essential, and evidence to that effect will be requested.

Applications

Applications must be made by 31 January in the year of anticipated entry. To download an application form and course details, click here for an Acrobat version (61KB) or here for a Word for Windows version (215KB).
Don't forget to write: 'Specialist Option Certificate - Fruit Culture' at the top of the form.