Horticultural Trainee

 Role Profile

Job Title
Position
Hours
Holidays
Manager
Location

Horticultural Trainee
Fixed Term Contract – 18 months
Full-time 35 hours per week
33 days including public holidays
Deputy Head of Plant Collections (DHPC)
Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road,
London SW3 4HS

1.

Equal Opportunities

Chelsea Physic Garden is a place for everyone. As an equal opportunities’ employer,
Chelsea Physic Garden is committed to championing equality, diversity, and inclusion
in our workplace. If you meet the Person specification, we encourage your application
whatever your age, disability, gender, gender identity, race, religion or belief, sexual
orientation or socio-economic background.

2.

About Chelsea Physic Garden

Chelsea Physic Garden (CPG) is an independent charity set up in 1983 to promote and
preserve the four-acre garden of the same name. The charity’s mission is to
demonstrate the medicinal, economic, cultural and environmental importance of
plants to the survival and wellbeing of humankind. We are open to visitors six-days a
week, eleven months of the year. There has been a teaching Garden on our site since
1673, and today we hope that all our visitors leave inspired, having learnt something
new.

3.

Our Values

We have a set of five inter-linked reinforcing values that support each other

Openness and
Transparency

•Sharing and

being generous
with information

•Being open to
new ideas and
opinions

Respect &
Care

•Respecting

others' roles
feelings and
opinions
•Listening

sensitively and
encouraging
dialogue

Inclusion

•Working

collaboratively
•Reaching  out to
involve others in
and outside the
organisation

Discovery &
Enrichment

•Actively seeking

out new
knowledge
•Inspiring and
motivating
intellectual
curiosity and
learning

Sustainability

•Embracing
change and
innovation

•Working to build
on our heritage

4.

About the Role

This paid traineeship will encompass 18 months working alongside our team of
experienced gardeners, volunteers, and a wider team of experts, learning skills
relevant to both botanical and amenity horticulture.

During the placement, the Trainee will be offered the time and support to study for the
RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture (or a comparable formal
qualification). They will also be offered the opportunity to study for and take the PA1
and PA6a Safe Use of Pesticides qualification. You will also benefit from Plant
identification assessments and complete a Trainee Project in the Garden.

This role gives the Trainee a chance to gain practical horticultural experience both
outdoors and inside the glasshouses while working in a small botanic garden with a
diverse plant collection. Most Trainee time is practical, on the job training giving you a
chance to hone your horticultural practice.

This Trainee position is aimed at candidates with a basic level of professional or
voluntary experience in maintenance gardening or similar. Applicants should enjoy
working physically in all weathers with early starts. We encourage applications from
people from all backgrounds, experiences, ages and communities.

5.

Key areas of responsibility

The aim is for the Trainee to have the skills and experience to seek employment in this
sector by the end of the traineeship.

This will be achieved by the Trainee being shown and given instruction and guidance
in practical horticulture (gardening). They will work in the garden outside doing jobs
that will include; border and path maintenance, pruning, mulching, compost turning,
plant staking, turf care and machinery use. They will have an introduction to plant
records. They will work in the glasshouses doing jobs that will include; watering,
feeding, growing new plants from seeds and cuttings, pruning, ventilation and pest
control.

They will be able to increase their plant knowledge and identification skills by taking
part in weekly plant identification sessions that are tailored to their stage of learning
and development. They will have time allocated so that they can complete a work
diary to help combine their learning and practical experience. They will have dedicated
time to complete an RHS level 2 qualification (or similar).

Outcome:

At the end of the traineeship, the Trainee will have gained a wide range of practical
gardening skills and knowledge. They will have experience of working in a team and
of working in a Garden that is open to the public. They will have gained an
understanding of the importance of Health and Safety in the workplace, biosecurity
within a botanic garden and experience of working in a professional garden that
complies with all relevant regulations. They will have received training in and an
understanding of the importance of COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to
Health) to gain a pesticides qualification. They will be able to evidence a record of
working full-time and being able to take on responsibilities. They will have undertaken
formal training in an RHS Level 2 qualification (or similar).

6.

Person Specification

Knowledge Skills and Experience

Demonstrable interest in plants and gardening
Ability to grasp and apply newly obtained knowledge in a practical
setting

Some previous gardening experience

An enthusiastic person who is committed to a career in horticulture
and is willing to get involved in all aspects of gardening
Willing to work towards a recognised Level 2 horticultural qualification
on a remote basis and proficient IT skills to support this
Willing to garden in all weathers

Essential/
Desirable
E
E

E

E

E

E

7.

Competency Framework

We have a set of eight competencies that are common to all employees and within the
framework each competency has four levels which relate to the level at which
individual roles need to operate (1 being the ‘starter’ or baseline level). The
competency assessment for this role is set out below and more information will be
provided to support this assessment.

  Competency

Descriptor

1  Leadership
2  People

Management

3  Analysis and use
of Evidence

4  Communication

5  Collaborative
Working
6  Delivering
Results
7  Using and
Managing
Resources
8  Know How

Setting the pace and behaving with integrity
Making clear what you expect and what is to
be achieved; enabling and supporting your
staff to deliver
Collecting, analysing and using information
and evidence, assessing risk and taking
decisions
Communicating with colleagues, visitors and
stakeholders
Working together with people within and
outside of CPG to help us achieve our goals
Organising and managing the work to deliver
results
Using resources cost effectively

The knowledge, skills and expertise you need
to do your job and help others to do theirs

Level for
this role
1
1

1

1

1

1

1

1

8.

Terms and Conditions

The post holder will work an average 35 hours per week over five days. The
horticultural team’s working hours differ during the summer season (March-August) at
39 hours per week and the winter season (September-February) at 31 hours per week.
Following training the post holder will take part in the roster of weekend working for
which time off in lieu is given.

The Garden operates a salary exchange pension scheme currently with Royal London
which means that your gross salary is reduced by the amount of pension contribution
made by the employer and employee which is then paid directly into your pension.
The equivalent contribution rates are 6% employer and 3% employee at the end of the
probationary period.