Professional Work Placements

About the placements

Learners will spend a year working with a specific garden department, assisting the team with day-to-day cultivation and maintenance tasks. Placements  are  available at all five  RHS Gardens.

Download the factsheet (875kB pdf)

Want to know more?

Join us on Wednesday 15 May to discover more about our Professional Work Placements (PWP).  Our free online event will provide you with all the tools and guidance you need to decide if the PWP is for you. 

Sign up for online event  

 Please note: The event sign-up portal is provided by Eventbrite on behalf of RHS. When signing up to events, you are leaving the RHS website, and will be governed by both the RHS and Eventbrite’s privacy notices. Please read both privacy notices before you apply. 

Hear first-hand from our current Professional Work Placements about what’s involved in this one-year opportunity.

 

What RHS Gardens have placements 

Recruiting now:

There are Professional Work Placements with the following teams:

RHS Garden Bridgewater

• Edibles and Productive
• Wellbeing and Communities

 RHS Garden Harlow Carr

• Alpine and Streamside

 RHS Garden Hyde Hall

• Ornamental Horticulture

 
Recruitment closed
Recruitment for Professional Work Placements (PWPs) at other RHS Gardens is closed.
 
Our 2025 recruitment will open in December 2024.

Applications and entry requirements

Applicants are expected, as a minimum, to have:

• Completed a Level 2 horticultural qualification. This could be a National Certificate in Horticulture, Horticultural Operative Apprenticeship Standard, a Level 2 Diploma in Horticulture such as a City & Guilds, the RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture or RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth and Development. (See our Level 2 qualifications.)
• At least three months of practical work experience in a professional horticultural environment 

Applicants should have

• GCSE qualifications in English and maths (or equivalents)
• Experience of using basic horticultural machinery, equipment and/or tools
• Ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team
• An openness to working with new individuals across the garden on a regular basis
• Experience of working with customers/visitors in a professional environment, and of giving good customer service
• A flexible approach to working (e.g. weekend work will be required on a regular basis, and evening work will be required from time to time)

Please note:

• You must have the right to work in the UK to apply. The RHS is unable to sponsor any visa applications.
• A good working knowledge of the English language is essential and evidence to that effect may be requested.

Learner life at RHS Gardens

Training away from home can be daunting but we’re here to help you. We can support you with:

• Accommodation – single room with shared kitchen, lounge and bathroom facilities, available at RHS Gardens Wisley & Rosemoor (for a deduction in your gross salary)
• Getting free access to RHS Libraries and online loan services
• Connecting you with like-minded individuals who are passionate about plants and horticulture

Find out more

Got a question?

Email our dedicated team and they’ll help you get your learning under way.

Email the team

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You might also be interested in...

• Learner stories: See what our current and past learners have to say about their training at the RHS – read the stories
• Supporters: Our work-based training programmes are only possible with funding from our supporters – find out about our supporters
• Careers in horticulture: If you’re looking to change careers or just starting out, the world of horticulture has dozens of roles – explore more careers