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Education

Higher Education and Training

Kew Apprenticeship and Traineeships in Horticulture

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is launching two new practical training studentships this summer – the Kew Apprenticeship and the Kew Traineeships.

The Student Apprenticeship is a three year fixed-term appointment, focusing primarily on ‘on the job training’ which will take place in Kew's three main horticultural sections. These are (with example placements):

  • Arboretum and Horticultural Services:

- The Arboricultural unit
- The Arboretum
- The Arbotetum Nursery
- The Sward maintenance unit 

  • Great Glasshouses and Training:

- The Palm House
- The Princess of Wales Conservatory
- The Temperate House
- The Tropical Nursery

  • Hardy Display:

- The Alpine unit
- The Amenity unit
- The Decorative unit
- The Duke's and Queen's Garden
- The Herbaceous unit

Apprentices will be granted day release study on a weekly basis to attend certificated horticultural courses at a local college, with a final option of the RHS Advanced Level 3 Certificate in Horticulture.

There will be 12 student apprentice positions in total, recruiting four candidates per year.  Apprentices will be placed in each main horticultural section for one year, working towards an agreed training plan to achieve essential skills.

The Student Traineeships will be a one year fixed-term appointment offering work experience and practical training in one of the main horticultural sections. Student trainees will have a specific training plan. We plan to recruit eight student trainees per year. Download a job description.

Entry Requirements

  • 2 GCSEs (or equivalent) including English, mathematics or an approved science.

Candidates with fewer formal qualifications, but with more practical experience are also encouraged to apply.

Application procedure

Recruitment for this year’s intake will take place in June, with an application deadline of 3 June 2008. Download an information sheet about the three year apprenticeship.

An online version of the Apprenticeship Application Pack is available from the following links:

Kew Apprenticeship (Three years)

Application pack (single Microsoft Word document for completing electronically.)
Application pack (single pdf document for printing and filling out by hand.)

Kew Traineeships (One year)

Application pack (single Microsoft Word document for completing electronically.)
Application pack (single pdf document for printing and filling out by hand.)

You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the pdf format forms.

For further information or a printed application pack, please contact the Apprenticeship Coordinator.

Alternatively, apply in writing to

Apprenticeship Coordinator
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Richmond
Surrey TW9 3AB
UK

Alternative opportunities at Kew

The practical Horticultural Internship Programme at RBG Kew is offered both to UK and overseas students and is purely practically based. The School of Horticulture coordinates internships lasting three months which consist of eighty percent unpaid, practical work experience in the garden and twenty percent group study time in the School of Horticulture and on study tours. 

 

  
 

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