Professional Work Placement (PWP) in Edibles Gardening and Productive Horticulture in Chelmsford

Key Details

• Location: RHS Garden Hyde Hall
• Salary: £23,810 per annum
• Reports to: The Garden Manager and Team Leaders
• Start date: September 2026 (one year fixed term)
• Hours: Full time (37.5 hours a week on a rota). Working pattern is 5 days in 7 so full‑time hours will include some weekend work

About the Placement

Are you enthusiastic about horticulture? Have you already completed (or are studying for) a Level 2 horticultural theory qualification and have at least 3 months practical experience? Are you interested in specialising and completing a Level 3 Award to further your career? Our Professional Work Placement programme is a one‑year paid work experience placement for horticulturists who wish to specialise. Applicants should have already completed (or be studying for) a Level 2 Horticultural theory qualification or apprenticeship standard and have 3 months (minimum) full time practical experience in the industry at application.

The placement provides the opportunity to spend a full year immersed in a particular garden department, studying a specific group of plants, garden practice or style whilst completing a Level 3 Award. You will gain knowledge, experience, skills and training in your specialism, in a work‑based context, to prepare you for professional life in the industry.

Speciality Focus

This Edibles Gardening and Production Horticulture placement will give you a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills in growing, cultivating, maintaining and harvesting a wide range of exciting crops including both the traditional and unusual, as well as those grown under glass. You will also learn about annual bed plans, crop rotations and planning for succession.

Who will you be working with?

Productive Team and wider Curatorial Teams.

Working Areas

Which areas of the garden will you be working in? The newly launched Productive Horticulture specialist placement now in its second year focuses on the Global Growth Vegetable Garden at RHS Garden Hyde Hall and our Nursery. The iconic Global Growth Vegetable Garden celebrates crops from around the world, showcasing them by the continents they originate from. It utilises both traditional vegetable crops as well as unusual edible plants and ornamental plants that have an edible element to them. The garden also includes mixed plantings around its perimeter that all have edible qualities to them and on its southern boundary the garden displays top fruit in a newly establishing Heritage Orchard.

It is anticipated that this placement will include a day a week spent with the nursery team to develop strong understanding of the knowledge and skills for the successful propagation and care of a range of edible and ornamental plants, as well as good cultural practice for nursery operations. Due to the seasonal nature of edible gardening, during less busy months in the vegetable garden, the placement will also spend a day a week in the wider ornamental garden areas where you can develop and hone your ornamental horticulture skills.

RHS Level 3 Award

During the placement you will complete horticultural research and writing culminating in achieving an RHS Level 3 Award in Horticultural Investigation (funded by the RHS). Candidates completing the Level 3 qualification will be allocated a Project Supervisor who will support you and advise on the project write‑up. In order to achieve the qualification you will be required to attend several online sessions (either live or recordings) over a period of 9 months, submit a project write‑up and complete a professional discussion.

Safeguarding and Inclusion

The RHS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and expects all personnel to share in this commitment. We are an inclusive employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Benefits of Working for the RHS

To work for the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is to join a thriving charity, whose mission is to be there for everyone on their lifelong adventure with gardening. Everything we do is built on the transformational power of gardening – and the benefits it brings to people, places and our planet. And we couldn’t do this without our people. We’re proud of the knowledge, enthusiasm and ideas that each one of our team members brings. From working across our social media channels, to volunteering in the RHS Gardens, from serving customers in our garden centres to running national marketing campaigns, we believe that every member of the RHS team should have the opportunity to make a difference.

Further Information

To apply for any work‑based training position with the RHS School of Horticulture you must have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the placement, the RHS are unable to sponsor visa applications for these positions. As part of the Professional Work Placement programme successful applicants will study for the new RHS Level 3 Award in Horticultural Investigation Qualification. To be eligible applicants must not hold or be studying for a Level 3 Diploma (or equivalent) in Horticulture or above. We may review applications as soon as we receive them so if you see a vacancy that you are interested in, please apply straight away as the vacancy will be closed as soon as we receive sufficient applications.

Important Dates

• Applications close 2nd April
• Interviews to be held 27th April – 15th May

Application Contact

For further information, or if you require any additional support with making your application please contact schoolofhorticulture@rhs.org.uk including details of the position you are applying for.