Education & The RHS

Training Opportunities at RHS Garden Hyde Hall

In general

RHS Garden Hyde Hall is situated approximately 7 miles south-east of Chelmsford in Essex. The one year Specialist Option Certificate (SOC) in Ornamental Horticulture has been offered since 2001 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.

• Renumeration is currently £12,040 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 Specialist Option Certificate in Ornamental Horticulture (Hyde Hall) will be awarded.

Programme content

• The trainees will be based at RHS Garden Hyde Hall where they will rotate through the various departments including the Nursery, Hilltop and Development teams.

• Skills learnt include machinery maintenance and use, pruning, planting, cultivations, propagation techniques, turf care 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, diary, the keeping of an allotment, and regular plant identification tests.

• 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.

• 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 Hyde Hall 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).