| Introduction To Horticulture Internships | |
|---|---|
| Are you thinking you like the idea of horticulture careers when you have completed your degree? As a student, you might be doing a horticulture degree or a closely related subject and you are looking forward to to doing some real horticulture jobs. Because of the nature of the subject, getting a head in your future career can be really boosted by doing horticulture internships. Internships are all about gaining practical experience in the workplace and also about further specialising your knowledge. This is especially true of horticulture internships where you can choose to do programmes of varying lengths and in specialist fields. |
|
| Horticulture Definition | |
|---|---|
| If you know anything about horticulture, you will know it’s not just about getting out there and doing a bit of gardening. There are so many aspects to this exciting subject and horticulture internships can give you an idea of which direction you want to take your career in the future. The horticulture definition is broad. As well as growing and designing, horticulture is also about conservation, management, landscape, construction and arboriculture. The horticulture internships you choose can either help you further specialise or broaden your understanding of the whole field. Horticulture internships could be done locally, at a local nursery. Other horticulture vacancies for places on internship programmes might require you to spend a period of time away from home. And, if you have got itchy feet and are keen to learn about different cultures and environments, a horticulture internship abroad is also a popular option. |
|
| Who Can Apply For Horticulture Internships? | |
|---|---|
| For some places that offer the opportunity of horticulture internships, you might be required to be doing a BSc Horticulture degree or a degree in a similar subject. Horticulture internships might be placements as part of your course or you could apply to do them during your summer break before you progress to the next year of your degree. For other types of horticulture internships, you are required to have a genuine interest in horticulture and also some practical experience but you don’t necessarily need to be doing a degree. So, if you are thinking of taking your career further and maybe doing a horticulture degree in the future, or trying to get promoted in your existing workplace, or you want to work on some environmental projects either in the UK or abroad these types of horticulture internships can be a good stepping stone for showing your commitment. At the end of your horticulture internship, whatever field you have worked in, you are usually presented with a certificate that shows your participation in that particular programme. These are useful when applying for future horticulture jobs or, indeed, other careers where your transferable skills will prove useful. |
|
| What Are The Different Types of Horticulture Internships? | |
|---|---|
| Because of the breadth of the subject of horticulture, internships come in all shapes and sizes and can vary in length, too. Some internships may last a couple of weeks whilst some can last a few months. Many of them are unpaid internships and for some, especially a horticulture internship abroad, you will have to pay travel expenses and also for the project you are working on. If you are employed and taking time out or you are at university, you might be able to secure some funding from your employer or sponsorship. Let’s look at some of the types of horticulture internships out there. Horticulture Internships With The RHS The Royal Horticultural Society has a voluntary internship that is hugely popular with places getting filled up to 9 months in advance. The types of people who do this internship are those looking to get a real feel for the world of work and progress into horticulture jobs in the future. Some interns even return to the RHS afterwards to take up horticulture careers. Horticulture internships with the RHS will give you the opportunity to work in some of the UK’s most prestigious gardens, learning specialist gardening techniques from expert gardeners. As well as horticulture internships, the RHS also has a range of horticulture courses that could help you to progress your career. Horticulture Internships In Scotland If you are based in Scotland - or would like to spend some time in Scotland - then the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh runs horticultural internship programmes around different areas of Scotland. For these programmes, some locations are in a position to offer free accommodation. At the end of these horticulture internships, you will be awarded a certificate and a reference for your CV which will help you in future horticulture careers. Internships at RBGE last a minimum of 6 weeks. Horticulture Internship Abroad Horticulture internships abroad can open the door to a variety of careers as well as future horticulture careers. Some of these international internships are about environmental social enterprise where you would be working with local communities in African countries, working on ways to combat climate change and teaching people about environmentally friendly ways to produce food and keep sustainable gardens. As you can see, this type of internship would be a completely different experience to one where you might be working in country gardens around the UK. It really is down to you to decide which direction you want to take horticulture careers in. These types of internships can last from a few weeks to a few months. Some will require present or previous study such as a horticulture degree or related subject. Chartered Institute of Horticulture (CIH) Career Paths The horticulture industry is fast growing and the Horticulture Institute (Chartered Institute of Horticulture) are keen to encourage more young people into the industry and learn the skills needed to keep the industry vibrant. Each specialist field in horticulture was brought under the Chartered Institute of Horticulture so that those in the industry could unite under one umbrella. Horticulture careers can take various directions depending on your particular interest. If you are looking for horticulture internships and you can’t decide which horticulture careers might be right for you, the Chartered Institute of Horticulture provide a list of the areas where you could specialise. These are:
|
|
| When Do I Apply For Horticulture Internships? | |
|---|---|
| For most horticulture internships, it is about applying when you have decided you would like to do a particular programme. As we said above, placements on horticulture internships for organisations like the RHS are hugely popular so, although you are welcome to apply at any time of year, make sure you apply a few months in advance. For horticulture internships abroad, make yourself aware of the programme dates for the countries you are interested in. For many of these international internships, you will be responsible for organising your own visas (where necessary) so make sure you give yourself enough time for your relevant visas to arrive. |
|
| Apply For Horticulture Internships Now | |
|---|---|
| Are you ready to take the next step in progressing your horticulture careers by gaining real experience of the workplace and developing your skills and knowledge of the horticulture industry? If so, whether you are doing a degree or you have a good gardening background and are looking to give your career a boost, take a look to see if there are any suitable horticulture internships to suit your background. | |
