The New Shoots initiative, unveiled to coincide with National Careers Week, will help the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) raise the profile of horticultural careers and make the industry more accessible through the launch of a number of new programmes.
With funding a key barrier to training in horticulture, a new scholarship scheme will launch this autumn to increase accessibility to RHS work-based training programmes, including apprenticeships, while growing the number and diversity of people interested in horticulture as a career. The charity aims to support 20% of its 44 work-based training programmes with scholarships by 2027, support which will be worth around £125, 000 in total. The scholarships will support accommodation, transport and learning materials, and prospective horticulturists will be able to apply for the scholarship when they apply for the apprenticeship. Apprentices will continue to earn the National Minimum Wage, currently £20,300 per year, whilst they complete their training.
New Shoots will find new ways to highlight the many pathways into horticulture as a career, and the multitude of jobs available after training, driving interest in the sector from young people and currently under-represented groups.
In addition to the scholarships, new offerings include:
The charity is aiming to engage almost 30, 000 people with its work opening up horticultural careers to a wider audience in the first year of New Shoots, and engaging around 120, 000 people overall by 2025.
To find out more and apply for placements or scholarships as they become available, visit: www.rhs.org.uk/newshoots
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Posted On: 07/03/2023