Trainee Gardener - Historic & Botanic Garden Training Programme

Trainee Gardener - Historic & Botanic Garden Training Programme

Contract
: 12 month fixed term contract

Hours
:
Full-time

Location
:
Various garden locations around the UK

Salary
:
From £12.71 per hour (salaries are dependent on placement garden)

Heritage is for everybody, and we are here for heritage.

Heritage lives in places and people, memories and stories, artefacts and traditions. It can connect us all to the past, and to each other. It can make us happier, strengthen every community, and help shape society for the better. Everybody should be able to enjoy the benefits it brings.

Celebrating 20 years and over 350 graduates to date, the Historic and Botanic Garden Training Programme (HBGTP) is managed by English Heritage and offers garden trainee ships at a range of outstanding placement gardens.

The HBGTP accepts applications on an annual basis, and this year we are recruiting 16 new trainees to join professional garden teams at various locations around the UK. Positions are full-time and fixed-term, lasting 12 months.

Are you a committed gardener, looking to take the next step into a career in horticulture? This is an incredible opportunity for an enthusiastic person to gain practical paid experience within a historic or botanic garden. The role will enable you as a trainee to experience a broad range of activities, helping to develop your practical skills and increase your horticultural knowledge!

• Individual Training Plan (ITP) with structure and support both for you and your placement garden, including regular contact in person and via email/phone.
• Part of a cohort, enabling communication, networking and visits between trainees.
• Fully funded four‑day Autumn Trainee Seminar and a three‑day Summer Study Tour with expert guest lectures and networking.
• Specialist on‑the‑tools training while working outside full‑time in the garden.
• Complete 3 written projects, keep a daily technical journal and undertake regular plant identification tests.
• Full support and training to develop your love of horticulture into a career.

• Work alongside the gardening team through the seasons, developing practical skills and technical knowledge.
• Complete written projects, maintain a technical journal and undertake plant identification tests.

• Practical paid or voluntary experience in the horticulture sector.
• Interest and commitment to work in the historic and botanic garden sector.
• Basic gardening skills that a placement could develop or enhance.
• Self‑motivation and ambition.

• Apply by midnight on 22nd March.
• All candidates will be notified of the outcome by the end of April.
• Interviews at placement gardens in May, with outcomes within one working week.

If you would like to talk about workplace adjustments or working patterns, please contact Elinor Davies, HBGTP Manager. Contact details are available via the apply button. No agencies please.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.

You can find out more about the Historic & Botanic Garden Training Programme by visiting the HBGTP website. Our website contains lots of information on the programme along with videos and stories from past trainees. You can also learn more about English Heritage by visiting our website.

Everybody’s welcome at English Heritage. Forget the stereotypes. It takes thousands of people from every background to care for England’s heritage and open it up for everybody to enjoy. We’re looking for every type of person with every kind of skill and experience, and we’re committed to making sure that English Heritage is an equitable, diverse and inclusive place to work.