L2 Horticultural Apprentice - RHS Hyde Hall
THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
Chelmsford (CM3 8ET)
Closes on Sunday 22 February 2026
Posted on 14 January 2026
Contents
Summary
Develop your interest in plants, gardening, and horticulture by working outdoors in one of our 5 RHS gardens and completing an apprenticeship.
You will work across the wider garden teams over two years, gaining skills and knowledge in different areas of horticulture alongside college learning.
- Wage
-
£23,810 a year
- Training course
- Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday 7.45am - 4.15pm, with some occasional weekend work (time off in lieu).
38 hours a week
- Start date
-
Wednesday 5 August 2026
- Duration
-
2 years
- Positions available
-
3
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
Work as an individual and as part of a team, in all weathers (e.g. we work outside all year round) to maintain and enhance our plant collections.
Be motivated to learn, undertake a diverse range of training activities including masterclasses, face-to-face sessions and plant identification tests.
Be able to assist customers/visitors as and when required in the garden, providing excellent customer service and a great visitor experience.
Support and/or work at RHS events. This could be helping exhibitors set up or move around the site, speaking to members or the public or working on a stand.
Strictly adhere to RHS, School of Horticulture and external legislations, such as those concerned with privacy, security, safeguarding, fire, health and safety.
It is compulsory to wear RHS uniform and special Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be able to, with direction, work with a wide range of horticultural tools and equipment in a safe manner.
Comply with current RHS guidance on biosecurity and plant health practices in order to minimise the risk posed by quarantine pests and diseases.
Where you'll work
Hyde Hall
Creephedge Lane
Rettendon Common
Chelmsford
CM3 8ET
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
PLUMPTON COLLEGE
Training course
Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- (Core) Apply health and safety processes and procedures including risk assessments and or construction design management (CDM), manual handling, legislative requirements and organisational policies. Follow safe systems of work and safety information in line with employer requirements or site context (for example clearing their route before transporting materials).
- (Core) Apply environmental mitigation measures including storage and disposal of waste, for example sorting materials for recycling or composting, acting in compliance with legal requirements, organisational policies and pollution controls.
- (Core) Select, undertake a pre start check, set up, clean, store and safely operate tools, equipment and machinery (including pedestrian controlled and handheld) in line with current legislation and business policies.
- (Core) Communicate with technical (for example supervisors or managers) and non-technical audiences (for example clients or the public) using language appropriate to the audience.
- (Core) Identify plants commonly grown in the UK by scientific names including genus species and or cultivar.
- (Core) Maintain the correct phytosanitary and bio-security procedures for the site, in accordance with legal requirements.
- (Core) Identify and report symptoms and or signs of commonly found UK plant pests, pathogens and disorders.
- (Core) Maintain plant health for example providing for basic needs such as water, nutrition (either organic or inorganic), light.
- (Core) Cultivate, improve and preserve soils by mechanical methods and or by hand including amelioration and mulching (these might be imported or natural).
- (Core) Clear unwanted vegetation, selecting techniques to be used (for example weeding).
- (Core) Remove unwanted or damaged growth from plants using a pruning cut.
- (Core) Plant shrubs and a tree using a simple tree pit.
- (Core) Install turf for situation.
- (Core) Mow turf using pedestrian controlled powered driven mower.
- (Core) Maintain or protect hard surfaces, features or structures for example painting, re-gravelling, removing weeds from paving, drain clearance, cleaning.
- (Core) Use digital tools and techniques for research, collaboration, continuous professional development and resolution of problems.
- (Landscape construction) Measure and set out an uncomplicated site in preparation for landscape construction activities.
- (Landscape construction) Use free hand cutting and or bench cutting of hard landscape materials using abrasive wheels.
- (Landscape construction) Repair constructed landscape features (simple and noncomplex) for example re-grouting, re-sanding, damaged fencing.
- (Landscape construction) Construct paved feature for example path, patio or shed base. Including setting levels, sub bases, laying bases, finishing.
- (Landscape construction) Construct vertical landscape features including fences, ornamental vertical features, and walls.
- (Landscape construction) Install drainage in landscaping.
- (Landscape construction) Construct horizontal landscape features (excluding paving).
- (Horticulture) Propagate plants by cuttings and seed sowing (this might be indoors or outdoors). Including selection of suitable growing media and or soil.
- (Horticulture) Provide aftercare to recently installed turf and maintain established turf or species rich meadows including irrigation, maintenance, monitoring health and protection from use.
- (Horticulture) Identify if plants are suitable to site, purpose and aesthetics.
- (Horticulture) Maintain soft landscapes for example - staking or support, division, seasonal clearance, and re-planting.
- (Horticulture) Monitor and control plant pests, pathogens, and disorders using basic control methods (including application of chemicals or organic equivalents).
- (Horticulture) Plant herbaceous and seasonal planting (for example bedding, herbs or bulbs).
- (Horticulture) Prune plants to achieve healthy growth and form (including natural habit and formal or trained form).
- (Core) Apply health and safety processes and procedures including risk assessments and or construction design management (CDM), manual handling, legislative requirements and organisational policies. Follow safe systems of work and safety information in line with employer requirements or site context (for example clearing their route before transporting materials).
- (Core) Apply environmental mitigation measures including storage and disposal of waste, for example sorting materials for recycling or composting, acting in compliance with legal requirements, organisational policies and pollution controls.
- (Core) Select, undertake a pre start check, set up, clean, store and safely operate tools, equipment and machinery (including pedestrian controlled and handheld) in line with current legislation and business policies.
- (Core) Communicate with technical (for example supervisors or managers) and non-technical audiences (for example clients or the public) using language appropriate to the audience.
- (Core) Identify plants commonly grown in the UK by scientific names including genus species and or cultivar.
- (Core) Maintain the correct phytosanitary and bio-security procedures for the site, in accordance with legal requirements.
- (Core) Identify and report symptoms and or signs of commonly found UK plant pests, pathogens and disorders.
- (Core) Maintain plant health for example providing for basic needs such as water, nutrition (either organic or inorganic), light.
- (Core) Cultivate, improve and preserve soils by mechanical methods and or by hand including amelioration and mulching (these might be imported or natural).
- (Core) Clear unwanted vegetation, selecting techniques to be used (for example weeding).
- (Core) Remove unwanted or damaged growth from plants using a pruning cut.
- (Core) Plant shrubs and a tree using a simple tree pit.
- (Core) Install turf for situation.
- (Core) Mow turf using pedestrian controlled powered driven mower.
- (Core) Maintain or protect hard surfaces, features or structures for example painting, re-gravelling, removing weeds from paving, drain clearance, cleaning.
- (Core) Use digital tools and techniques for research, collaboration, continuous professional development and resolution of problems.
Training schedule
Training will take place at Plumpton College near Brighton on a block release basis, alternating with online lecture block weeks, approximately six times per year.
The RHS covers the costs of travel, accommodation and food whilst staying at the college in person.
More training information
Please note; you will take the horticulture option not the landscape construction option for this apprenticeship.
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4-9)
- Maths (grade 4-9)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
Comfortable working with machines such as mowers and hedge cutters.
The ability work outside in all weathers.
About this employer
As a charity, we want to inspire a passion for gardening and growing plants, promote the value of gardens, demonstrate how gardening is good for us and explain the vital role that plants play. The RHS is committed to be an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all backgrounds to stay inclusive and avoid indirect discrimination.
After this apprenticeship
- Further training in Horticulture
- Full time employment in public & historic gardens, parks and garden maintenance companies
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
PLUMPTON COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000008699.
Apply now
Closes on Sunday 22 February 2026
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.