Kew is London’s largest UNESCO World Heritage site offering unique landscapes, vistas and iconic architecture from every stage of the Gardens’ history. Our collection of living plants is the largest and most diverse in the world, growing out in the landscape and within our glasshouses and nurseries.
Kew contains the most diverse collection of living plants of any botanic garden in the world. The collection contains plants from tropical, temperate, arid and alpine climates, and are grown out in the Gardens and in controlled conditions within glasshouses and nurseries.
Courses
A Kew Diploma is a three-year course which offers training in both amenity and botanical horticulture, suited to dedicated professional horticulturists with a determination to succeed.
The curriculum provides a combination of practical and theoretical study, providing the opportunity to study top-level scientific and technical subjects, whilst gaining practical experience and responsibility working with one of the most comprehensive botanic collections in the world.
As employees of Kew, Diploma students receive payment for the duration of the three-year course (including lecture block trimesters) and there are no course fees.
As an independent qualification, the Kew Diploma in Horticulture is self-accredited by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It is viewed as a higher education qualification and many universities accept an Honours grade in lieu of a bachelors degree (QCF level 6).
Kew Specialist Certificates are 12 month, salaried training (please see click on the links below to get current salary entitlements and any allowances). Perfect for horticulturists wishing to specialise in a particular area of horticulture by spending a full year within that area of specialism. Open to horticulturists anywhere in the world who would like to come to Kew to undertake some professional training in some of Kew’s unique plant collections.
The individual modules are:
- Kew Specialist Certificate in Arboriculture
- Kew Specialist Certificate in Propagation
- Kew Specialist Certificate in Display & Nursery Glasshouses
- Kew Specialist Certificate in Ornamental Horticulture
- Kew Specialist Certificate in Kitchen Garden Production
- Kew Specialist Certificate in Rock Gardens & Alpine Cultivation
Eligibility
- Applicants are expected, as a minimum, to hold a Level 2 qualification in Horticulture (The Arboricultural option candidates must hold a Level 2 qualification in Arboriculture and have the following Arboriculture certification: CS30 & CS38).
- Have six months* practical experience in a professional horticultural environment (or arboricultural enviornment for the arboriculture option).
- Be computer literate with the ability to produce word-processed coursework.
*six months in total – not, for example, one day a week for six months.
The Kew apprenticeship is an entry level position designed for individuals desiring a professional career at senior craft level in botanical or amenity horticulture. Applicants should enjoy physical activities and be prepared for early starts and working outdoors through the seasons. Apprentices are employed on a salary and college fees and staff exchanges are supported financially by the School of Horticulture.
A Kew apprentice will gain work experience in each of the two horticultural sections: Arboretum, Gardens & Horticultural Services, and Glasshouses, Nurseries and Display Horticulture. As part of this work experience, on-the-job training will be arranged and delivered by garden managers and trainers, with a focus on practical skills using real tasks. Personal development is encouraged with a two-week staff exchange to a European botanic garden or plant collection and a competitive travel scholarship opportunity for two-weeks at the beginning of the second year.
Each apprentice will be granted day release to attend a local horticultural college, where they will study and prepare for the horticulture operative Trailblazer apprenticeship standard. This is the new government scheme.
Apprenticeships include:
- Apprenticeship in Botanical Horticulture
- Apprenticeship in Kew Glasshouses
- Apprenticeship at Wakehurst
Find out more about the government’s Apprenticeship standard: horticulture and landscape operative.
CV and Cover Letter
CV template
Your CV is the first part in making a good impression to a potential employer, a good CV will considerably increase your chances of being considered for the role that you have applied for. The Template will assist in what information needs to be included in the CV and what needs to be left out!
Cover letter template
A cover letter is not always required when applying for a new position but can certainly assist in giving a potential employer greater detail about your skills and experiences that specifically relate to the role you are applying for. Our template is a guide as to how to put a cover letter together.
