Horticultural training and qualifications

Learning is very rewarding, and qualifications can add prestige to your skills and what you have to offer. Whatever area of the horticultural industry you work in, there will be a variety of training and learning experiences to suit your aspirations.

Training and qualifications providers:

Lantra	Whether you’re new to the land-based sector, looking to boost your career with new skills, find refresher training or simply get up to speed with the latest health and safety regulations, LANTRA are your one-stop-shop. They offer a range of flexible options including training only, assessed training, qualifications and e-learning. LANTRA courses
City and Guilds	City & Guilds qualifications are available in a number of land-based areas including horticulture, forestry and arboriculture, and floristry. They offer a great mix of practical skills and theoretical knowledge and include a rigorous and flexible assessment structure, ensuring they’re relevant for career progression or for progressing onto further education. You’ll learn at a College or with a training provider and gain practical experience that will give you an edge in the world of work. City and Guilds qualifications and apprenticeships
RHS Qualifications	Horticultural courses have been awarded by the RHS since 1893 and are widely recognised and respected within the horticulture industry. RHS Qualifications are designed, by the RHS, to provide learners with up-to-date horticultural information and practical skills which can be used for accessing or developing a horticultural career. RHS qualifications are designed to be studied part-time, over one year, covering modules from garden landscaping principles to plant growing and propagation. Students can learn at approved centres, such as colleges, or via approved distance learning providers, allowing you to train from the comfort of your own home. RHS qualifications and training
Horticultural Colleges	There are several colleges across the UK who provide horticultural courses and some that have horticulture as their main learning purpose. These colleges are always a good source of information and worth contacting with any queries you may have about course suitability and funding.

Career Resources

We believe understanding where you want to be in your career, recognising your achievements, improving your skills and enhancing your learning can benefit you and the industry as a whole by producing knowledgeable, skilled and happy people working throughout horticulture.
If you are looking for a change of direction but unsure in which way to turn, you can find more information about different careers options on the websites below.

Chartered Institute of Horticulture provides guidance and advice on their “Grow your own career in horticulture” webpage. Their vision is to be a clear, inspiring source of information for entering into, or progressing within, the horticultural industry. They are on hand to help, be it through providing profiles of those already working within the industry to inspire and excite you or to respond to careers questions via email or to share advice they have collected from experienced horticultural professionals.
GoLandscape established by BALI (British Association of Landscape Industries) will show you what it’s like to have a career in landscaping and how to become a landscaper in UK. You’ll find a wealth of inspiration, information, and advice on working in the exciting world of hard and soft landscaping.

The Arboricultural Association provides information on career options, studying arboriculture, apprenticeships, progressing your career and more. Working with trees is a vocation which contains people from all walks of life, working in different roles, who are brought together by a love for trees and the outdoors.The above are just some of the key organisations that are a good place to start, but in a such wide and varied industry the Trade Association dedicated to your specific sector of interest could also be worth contacting, as well as speaking directly to people currently working in your field of expertise.

Financial Support

Perennial offers financial support to help both those already working in horticulture to build and develop their skills and careers, and also to horticultural students who are struggling to complete their course because of an unexpected or life-changing event.

There are lots of ways we can help on an individual basis. To find out more about the financial support we could offer you and whether you are eligible, it is best to complete our Service Contact Form or you can call us on 0800 093 8543.

Sadly, we can’t offer financial help towards business start-up costs or to support living costs whilst studying. We pay the training provider/college/supplier directly.

If you are a gardener or horticulturalist based in Scotland please consider contacting the Cattanach Bursary through Scotland's Gardens Scheme, for support with personal and professional development.

Information on other grants and bursaries available

A number of other organisations and charities financially support career and personal development in horticulture. Those listed below are a good place to start if you are looking for funding towards your journey of learning.

If you work in gardening, Perennial works in partnership with the Professional Gardeners Trust who fund training and study for working gardeners in the UK and Ireland.

The Chartered Institute of Horticulture has compiled information on grants and bursaries available for horticultural projects, exchanges and travel.

Move ahead with confidence

Be Career Smart

Growing knowledge and skills can change lives and we’re here to help by providing the tools needed for you to identify and achieve your goals, increase your chances of success and ultimately move ahead in your career with confidence.

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