Education & The RHS

Training Opportunities at RHS Garden Harlow Carr

In general

RHS Garden Harlow Carr is situated appproximately 2 miles west of Harrogate town centre in North Yorkshire. The Certificate in Practical Horticulture (Harlow Carr), has been offered since 2002 and is particularly valuable for horticultural students studying for ND, HND or degree courses who require a sandwich year of practical experience or post-course experience.

The programme provides an unrivalled opportunity to learn in an environment where there is an extensive and varied collection of plants. Additionally, trainees work with and learn from the horticultural staff who have a vast reserve of expertise and knowledge, with the emphasis on it being a hands-on practical training course.

• Renumeration is currently £12,800 per year, paid monthly.
• 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 Practical Horticulture (Harlow Carr) will be awarded.
• There is no accommodation on site, so trainees would need to find accommodation locally and provide their own transport.

Programme content

• The trainees will be based at RHS Garden Harlow Carr where they will rotate through the various departments, including Ornamental, Woodland, Nursery, Alpines & Productive.

• Skills learnt include machinery maintenance and use, pruning, planting, propagation techniques, cultivations and plant identification skills.

• Other sources of learning include Masterclasses, regular plant identification tests and periodic visits arranged by garden staff.

• Coursework includes a dissertation, management case study and diary (to include a pictorial pest & disease report). Where sandwich year students have college/university projects to complete, these will be set against RHS committments where appropriate.

• Prizes and awards will be given for work of outstanding merit.

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 programme is not suitable for those with domestic committments as meetings and visits to other RHS sites form part of the programme.

• Entry qualifications are negotiable according to the reasons for seeking employment and experience, but candidates must necessarily demonstrate an intellectual capacity and sufficient academic experience to cope with the provisions of the scheme.

• A committment to work and learn in the Harlow Carr environment and 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 preceding 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).