Wiltshire College’s Horticulture provision delivered at the Lackham campus is rapidly becoming the go to place for Horticulture courses and training in the South West. Recent successes include apprentice Adam McGarry’s gold medal win at the World Skills Landscape Gardening competition, the first time Wiltshire College has entered a student for the competition, beating other Land Based colleges with more entries. In fact, Adam has now become an associate member of the Horticulture team at Lackham and will deliver his own Masterclasses in Landscape gardening from July this year and into next academic year, thus ensuring that the next generation of landscape gardeners coming through Wiltshire College’s Horticulture department benefit from his experience and expertise. 

Another success is the continued Grade 1 awarded delivery for RHS courses; these courses are delivered on site at the Lackham campus and are part time, usually one full day a week over the academic year. This makes them a popular choice for those who work full time and wish to either upskill or gain a valued practical qualification in a short period of time. From September 2018, the RHS certificates will be delivered over a 15 week period to allow for individuals to complete one level and immediately progress onto the next within the same academic year if required. From September 2018, the RHS courses will be supplemented with the option to undertake a Garden Machinery Operation and Maintenance course at the end of the academic year to further improve associated skills required for industry. RHS courses are now so popular that the college will offer levels one, two and three as well as the full Diploma option. RHS qualifications are well recognised in industry as individuals undertaking these qualifications gain strong practical skills coupled with some good underpinning theoretical knowledge.

As well as the strong Horticulture and Landscape Gardening courses on offer at levels one, two and three for the college based 16-18 study programmes, Wiltshire College offers apprenticeship Standards in Horticulture/Landscape Operative and Sports Turf Management. These new Standards are delivered in close conjunction with employers over a period of between 18/24 months. Apprentices attend college one day per week where they undertake additional Horticulture specific training as well as English and Maths qualifications (if required).

If you are an employer looking for an apprentice, we will add you to our apprenticeship vacancies website on http://www.wiltshire.ac.uk/study/apprenticeships/current-apprenticeship-vacancies and https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch. Many of our vacancies are also advertised on our Facebook page https://en-gb.facebook.com/wiltshirecollege/.

The College also has its own dedicated Business Support Department where a Business Consultant will meet with any employers who wish to employ a Horticulture apprentice. The Business Consultant will advise and guide you through the process as well as help you find the ideal apprentice to meet the specific needs of your business.

So whether it is an apprenticeship, a full time study programme or a part time study programme, Wiltshire College’s Horticulture department is able to deliver it all.

Please visit our college website for further information or contact Jennifer Mellows, Head of Department Land Based Studies Jennifer.mellows@wiltshire.ac.uk for further information.