Gardening Qualifications

The Trade Network For Qualified Gardeners

Gardening Qualifications

There are various ways to achieve a horticultural qualification - often for less than the cost of a good lawnmower. Whatever aspect of horticulture you are involved in, there will be relevant courses and qualifications available. Gardening courses can range from a couple of days to a few years depending on the level of expertise you require. More information about gardening qualifications can be found below and are provided by independent trainers, charitable organisations, correspondence courses, local colleges and government agencies. You may also like to read our short guide on How to start a career in garden maintenance.

We encourage gardeners to seek formal training for their personal and professional development. If you are approved to give training for any of the following qualifications (or other relevant nationally recognised qualifications) please contact us with details and we would be happy to publish them on this page for free.

LANTRA

LANTRA AWARDS offers an extensive portfolio of short courses which lead to Nationally recognised qualifications. The courses are usually run over 1 to 5 days and many are assessed during the course. Successful candidates achieve a Certificate of Basic Skills and ID card which they can use to prove their competence to clients. Where independent assessment is required this can be arranged following the courses.

TRAINING is the single most important issue when it comes to work place safety and it has been proved that it prevents accidents, serious injury and even death. The Provision And Use Of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER 1998) makes it a legal requirement for employers to provide adequate training for staff on all work equipment that they use. The regulations also apply to the self employed who should also be trained to operate the equipment they use at work. A Lantra Awards training course meets this requirement and a Certificate of Basic Skills proves competence and is recognised by The HSE.

The most popular courses include:
Chainsaw and related operations, Ride on mowing machines, Pesticides, Grass trimmers, brushcutters, wood chippers, hand held hedge cutters, stump grinders, first aid etc.

LANTRA Approved Trainers

NPC TRAINING

NPC Training is an established LANTRA Awards Training Centre and can arrange training to suit you and your staff. All the Instructors used are approved by LANTRA Awards so they are not only experienced in their field but also have the ability to put this across to trainees. Do not risk attending substandard training courses run over shorter periods and without NATIONALLY RECOGNISED CERTIFICATION. All our courses lead to either a LANTRA Awards Certificates of Basic Skills or NPTC certificate of competence as appropriate. NPC Training can also help construct a training programme for you and your staff. Advice can be given on prioritising your training according to risk and the plan could be over a few days or several months.

For more details please follow this link to NPC TRAINING (www.npctraining.co.uk) where we will be waiting to help you. If you are interested in any of the courses offered please get in touch with Nick Cartwright who will be pleased to help and give advice regarding your programme of training. Prices are very competitive and there are discounts for multiple bookings. Courses can be run on your site anywhere in the country, subject to sufficient numbers ( 4 to 6), or you could join one of the scheduled courses. We will look forward to hearing from you and thank you for your interest.

08456 43 55 63 07974 964560

East Kent Training Limited

East Kent Training Limited based in Deal, Kent was established in 1980, and is an independent training company who provide a wide range of short courses for horticulture, agriculture & industry at companies own premises, as well as running a selection of Open Courses at local venues in East Kent.

They are a LANTRA registered Training Organisation and accredited forklift training company with ITSSAR (Independent Training Standards Scheme & Register).

Please visit their website for more details www.ekt.uk.com Email info@ekt.uk.com Telephone 01304 371200

Park Hill Training

Park Hill Training is a company offering land-based training & assessments.

By providing a personal bespoke service we ensure a quality learning experience for individuals and companies in a relaxed environment at Park Hill Training & Assessment Centre or your place of work. Courses offered are as follows:

Safe Use of Pesticides
Vertebrate Pest Control
Power
Chainsaws & Related Operations
Arboriculture
Utility Arboriculture
Manual Handling

General Machinery
Tractors
Fork Lift
ATV
Off Road Driving
Trailers in the Workplace

Plant Machinery
Abrasive Wheels
MEWPS

Horticultural Machinery
Mowers
Hedge Trimmers
Turf Maintenance

Livestock
Veterinary Medicines
Transport of Animals
Safe Use of Sheep Dips

Park Hill Training , Park Farm, Park Hill Lane, Seagrave, Leicestershire, LE12 7NG

Tel: 01509 815534 Fax: 01509 815480

Info@parkhilltraining.co.uk
http://www.parkhilltraining.co.uk

KNW Training

KNW is one of the leading training providers in the UK. The provision of construction, ground care, and Health & Safety related training was added to our well established management training in 1999, and has grown and developed steadily since that time.

We have national contracts with leading organisations such as British Waterways, National Grid Transco, Environment Agency, Natural England and RSPB since 1999 providing the requisite training. In addition, we have created a wide range of bespoke courses that attract national or in house accreditation or certificate of attendance.

We have enjoyed a long and growing relationship with our clients and believe that we can continue to provide training that is cost effective, of the highest quality and meets the needs of the rapidly evolving business.

KNW’s reputation has been achieved by consistently delivering high quality, comprehensive training programmes, delivered at a time that meets our customers’ needs.
KNW are ISO 9001: 2008 accredited, Achilles Verify approved and SAFEcontractor approved suppliers.

We aim to meet and exceed expectations and help to improve both our customers’ safety and productivity. All of our training is LANTRA Awards Accredited, NPTC assessed or certified by the appropriate approval organisation.

KNW Training Ltd, Archway House, 17B North End, Bedale, North Yorkshire, DL8 1AF

Tel: 01677 424633 Fax: 01677 424628

info@knw.co.uk
http://www.knw.co.uk

SLIC Training Ltd

SLIC Training Limited are a provider of premium quality training and assessment in a variety of vocational areas, but have a specialism within Horticulture and the land based sector. Working by a motto of “your time, your place” this innovative company and their exceptional staff travel throughout the country to your place of work to deliver high quality training and qualifications in a timely manner. Whether your business needs are for NVQs such as a nationally recognised Level 2 or 3 qualification in Amenity Horticulture/Landscaping, Apprenticeships which includes a technical certificate such as PA1 PA6, Short courses such as Stem Injection, or a bespoke course tailored to your specific business, SLIC Training’s flexible approach and technical expertise will work alongside your business to meet your goals. Most training can be delivered fully funded (subject to eligibility) and due to the breadth of the provision on offer SLIC can arrange the perfect package of training for all members of your business, whether you are a sole trader or a larger enterprise.

For further details and a full list of qualifications go to www.slictraining.org.uk or contact SLIC Training on 01246 505144 for a no obligation discussion. Release your potential with SLIC Training.

Kingswood Training Services Ltd

Kingswood Training National Centre for Tree Surgery and Forestry Courses

- We operate from a £300,000 purpose built Training Centre with facilities that are second to none.
- We have an exceptionally high pass rate – 95% of our last 500 candidates passed their NPTC assessments at the first attempt.
- Group numbers are limited to 4, so candidates receive plenty of individual attention.
- All of our Instructors are Lantra and NPTC qualified, and have many years of industry experience in the subject areas they teach.
- Candidates are accommodated together at our training centre, where they can study together in the evenings. The ‘atmosphere of learning’ is enormously helpful when preparing for assessments.
- We arrange the assessment for you, to follow straight on at the end of the course. Candidates are therefore on a familiar site, using familiar equipment.
- We have outstanding training venues extremely close to us.
- Very competitive ‘all-in’ costs, including equipment hire and accommodation.
- Easy to find – just 10 minutes from the M25.
- We are market leaders – running courses recognised by Lantra, NPTC (National Proficiency Test Council), CTP (the Career Transition Partnership, and ELCAS (the Enhanced Learning Credit Administration Scheme).

www.kingswoodtraining.co.uk

Kensey Training - Cornwall, Devon and the South West

Kensey Training are based in Launceston and provide land based health and safety courses throughout Devon and Cornwall and the South West.

We provide Lantra courses in Chainsaw, brushcutter / trimmers, mowers, woodchippers, pole saw amongst others

We provide NPTC training in Chainsaws (all units) fron basic felling to tree climbing and aerial rescue and Pesticicde knapsack sprayers, .

We can also provide tailor made courses such as hedgelaying, stone walling, lawn management, tree pruning and others

For more information please contact Derek Gane on 01566 775305 or email info@kenseytraining.co.uk.

Website www.kenseytraining.co.uk

The Landscape Training Group

We are a committee led not-for-profit training organisation, running under our current name for 19 years. We have 50 members and over 400 customers from individuals to local sites of large national organisations. But our speciality is the small landscape businesses, who otherwise would find access to very much needed training costly and prohibitive.

We operate primarily in the South East, and sometimes into Essex and Suffolk.

The Landscape Training Group

Tel: 01622 851726

Fax: 01622 851756

LOOK AT OUR WEBSITE FOR UPDATES www.landscapetraining.co.uk

Warwickshire and Harborough Training

Established since 1989, Warwickshire and Harborough Training divisions are local providers of specialised training to land-based businesses around Warwickshire and Harborough. Our unique selling point is the ability to offer Lantra or City & Guilds on-site training, giving you the flexibility to organise courses around your busy schedule.

Courses include all aspects of:-
Equipment & Handling
Pesticides
Boundary Management
Health & Safety
Chainsaws, Forestry and Arboriculture
Plant and Machinery
Vermin Control
Animal Health and Welfare
Meat Processing

Through the Landskills programme managed by Lantra of behalf of EMDA, our Harborough Training division can offer subsidised training courses to eligible businesses.

For further information please contact either Jill Salt on 01926 495024 or Julie Gibson on 07998 216788

www.warwickshiretraining.co.uk
www.harboroughtraining.co.uk

City & Guilds / NPTC

NPTC became part of the City & Guilds Group in 2004 and together they form the UK’s largest awarding body in the land-based sector – encompassing agriculture, horticulture, forestry, animal care, conservation, machinery and more. NPTC's aim is to promote competence and professionalism in the workforce of the land-based and related industries by the encouragement of continuous learning and the recognition of skill.

NPTC creates qualifications that reflect the industry's needs, working closely with Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for land-based training and education. NPTC qualifications range from entry level to degree level. Many give workers vital licences to practice in their industry. As well as creating and assessing mainstream qualifications, NPTC creates awards tailored to particular companies. This helps workers in niche businesses to achieve the level of qualification they deserve.

Visit www.cityandguilds.com and www.nptc.org.uk for more information including details of approved course providers.

NPTC Approved Trainers

Click here - http://www.nptc.org.uk/training-providers/

Ian Gower Associates Ltd

7 Blean Square
Vinters Park
Maidstone
Kent
ME14 5QU

Tel: 01622 675130 / 07946 525298

ian@pesticides-safety-training.co.uk
http://www.pesticides-safety-training.co.uk/

Ian Gower Associates Ltd is an established Amenity Horticulture training company with experienced, established trainers specialising in a wide range of training interventions. We are based in the South East, but courses can be run throughout the UK if numbers are sufficient.

We especially offer training towards NPTC qualifications such as:
All the Pesticides units
Chainsaw
Arboricultural Operations
Turf Maintenance Equipment
Brushcutting Operations
Landscape Plant Machinery
Forklifts
MEWPS
Safe Use of Mowers

Other training covering any subject relevant to Amenity Horticulture is offered as required and if numbers are sufficient can be run on-site – see the website for further details.

A1 Arborists Ltd

Training, Advisory and Educational specialists. For example; Royal Forestry Society-Certificate in Arboriculture and NPTC assessed chainsaw courses etc.
www.a1-arborists.com

Kingswood Training Services Ltd

Croydon Adult Learning and Training (CALAT)

Croydon Adult Learning and Training (CALAT) is the sixth largest adult education service in the country with a vast part-time choice of courses. The service is committed to adult learning and training and has over sixty years’ experience of creating a focused environment that supports and helps people achieve their goals. Whether you are looking for a qualification, or to study for personal well-being and interest, there is something for everyone in a friendly and welcoming environment. CALAT offers a range of City & Guilds Gardening and RHS Horticulture courses as well as non-accredited short gardening courses.
Please visit www.calat.ac.uk or call 0870 556 1630 for further information.

Kensey Training - Cornwall, Devon and the South West

Kensey Training are based in Launceston and provide land based health and safety courses throughout Devon and Cornwall and the South West.

We provide Lantra courses in Chainsaw, brushcutter / trimmers, mowers, woodchippers, pole saw amongst others

We provide NPTC training in Chainsaws (all units) fron basic felling to tree climbing and aerial rescue and Pesticide knapsack sprayers, .

We can also provide tailor made courses such as hedge laying, stone walling, lawn management, tree pruning and others

For more information please contact Derek Gane on 01566 775305 or email info@kenseytraining.co.uk.

Website www.kenseytraining.co.uk

Reaseheath College

Reaseheath College is a specialist deliverer of a wide range of Horticulture, floristry, garden design, specialist CAD and digital design in our modern bespoke design studio using up to date vectorworks software.

A wide range of courses for all levels - both part time and full time delivery. The courses we offer are as follows:
RHS level 2, Advance, Diploma and we are a national assessment centre for the RHS.
National Certificate in Horticulture
National Diploma in Horticulture including Landscape construction and amenity management (working with National Trust) and sports performance and facilities management (Working in conjunction with premier league football clubs)
Level 2 and 3 City and Guilds Floristry
NOCN Foundation, Intermediate, Advance Floristry,
University College Diploma Garden Design.
Foundation and Full BSC degree in landscape design and management.
Advanced Certificate and Professional Diploma in Garden design.
City and Guilds Amateur Gardening
NPTC Pesticides, brushcutters, chainsaws, first aid, health and safety, tractor driving, etc.
Computer aided design, Digital design technology
Level 2 / 3 apprenticeships in Amenity horticulture and sports turf.

Bespoke courses – These can be tailored to individual companies requirements depending on numbers.

Reaseheath College
Nantwich
Cheshire
CW56DF

Visit : http://www.reaseheath.ac.uk/

Local Horticultural and Agricultural Colleges

Your local college may offer some horticultural courses or you may need to contact a specialist college.

Horticultural and Agricultural Colleges

Click here - http://www-saps.plantsci.cam.ac.uk/hort.htm

Bridgwater College

Bridgwater College’s Yeovil and Cannington Centres have a renowned reputation for the training of horticulture students with outstanding facilities including The Walled Gardens of Cannington which is also a popular visitor attraction. Courses include City & Guilds National Certificate in Horticulture, RHS Certificate in Horticulture as well as Foundation Degrees in Horticulture and Landscape Design
www.bridgwater.ac.uk

East Durham College- Houghall Campus

A leading provider of land based training including many aspects of horticulture, gardening, arboriculture and forestry. We provide full and part time training for individuals and both private and public sector workforces. We run a number of specialist short courses covering areas such as turf culture, machinery & mechanisation, estate skills and pesticides.
www.eastdurham.ac.uk

Leeds City College - Horticulture, Conservation & Floristry

At LCC Horsforth Campus we have the space, facilities and the teaching staff in the land-based department to introduce you to a wide range of courses in these ‘ green-scapes’. The nationally accredited horticultural qualifications are offered on courses ranging from a basic, practical introduction to the careers, with opportunity to progress to level 1 Work-based Horticulture ( NPTC) more advanced courses - National Certificate and Diploma , RHS Certificate - all with a hands-on practical bias, either as a full or part-time course, to foundation degree level, with options to complete an honours degree at Leeds Metropolitan University. Whether you are 16 or 60 there could be a place for you.

On site we grow a vast range of plants and look after 13 acres of our local heritage green-space including woodland, ponds and meadows. From plant identification; selection; seed sowing; propagation; plant maintenance; and harvesting [in glass-houses, poly-tunnels & outdoors] to site management; interpretation; landscaping and conservation techniques – with applications on both a local and nationwide scale; we offer a surprisingly intriguing and challenging place to inspire you!

If you would still like to work with plants, but are less drawn to the outdoors, then in Floristry you would have opportunity to discover and learn the plants and the selection available and, guided by proficient tutors, develop your creative and artistic flair from the small to very large scale displays.

For more information about Leeds City College courses, click here.

Reaseheath College

Reaseheath College is a specialist deliverer of a wide range of Horticulture, floristry, garden design, specialist CAD and digital design in our modern bespoke design studio using up to date vectorworks software.

A wide range of courses for all levels - both part time and full time delivery. The courses we offer are as follows:
RHS level 2, Advance, Diploma and we are a national assessment centre for the RHS.
National Certificate in Horticulture
National Diploma in Horticulure including Landscape construction and amenity management (working with National Trust) and sports performance and facilities management (Working in conjunction with premier league football clubs)
Level 2 and 3 City and Guilds Floristry
NOCN Foundation, Intermediate, Advance Floristry,
University College Diploma Garden Design.
Foundation and Full BSC degree in landscape design and management.
Advanced Certificate and Professional Diploma in Garden design.
City and Guilds Amateur Gardening
NPTC Pesticides, brushcutters, chainsaws, first aid, health and safety, tractor driving, etc.
Computer aided design, Digital design technology
Level 2 / 3 apprenticeships in Amenity horticulture and sports turf.

Bespoke courses – These can be tailored to individual companies requirements depending on numbers.

Reaseheath College
Nantwich
Cheshire
CW56DF

Visit : http://www.reaseheath.ac.uk/

Institute of Gardening

The Institute of Gardening offers a home-study course that helps you ensure you’re fully knowledgeable about horticulture. And it helps you become a self-employed horticulturalist.

The course covers everything you need to know, from preparing lawns to understanding the essential elements of botany. You’ll find the material on pests and diseases particularly useful; and you’ll find our modules on professionally designing a garden invaluable. In addition, you get a free book: How to Earn a Living in Horticulture.

You’ll have your own personal tutor; and we provide a 60-day no-quibble money-back guarantee. We’ll also refund your money if you don’t earn at least the cost of the course.

You can study at your own pace, sending in assignments to your tutor when you have the time. There are no classes to attend, and no final exam.

For more information, go to http://www.inst.org/garden/become.htm

The Royal Horticultural Society

The RHS are a not for profit society providing information and support for anyone interested in horticulture. Their activities include shows, public gardens, community projects, scientific research and advice and education. Visit www.rhs.org.uk for more information.

RHS approved course providers/assessors

Click here - http://www.rhs.org.uk/RHSWebsite/files/27/273b757c-1ac9-4d58-8a25-2a663849dff8.pdf

Reaseheath College

Reaseheath College is a specialist deliverer of a wide range of Horticulture, floristry, garden design, specialist CAD and digital design in our modern bespoke design studio using up to date vectorworks software.

A wide range of courses for all levels - both part time and full time delivery. The courses we offer are as follows:
RHS level 2, Advance, Diploma and we are a national assessment centre for the RHS.
National Certificate in Horticulture
National Diploma in Horticulure including Landscape construction and amenity management (working with National Trust) and sports performance and facilities management (Working in conjunction with premier league football clubs)
Level 2 and 3 City and Guilds Floristry
NOCN Foundation, Intermediate, Advance Floristry,
University College Diploma Garden Design.
Foundation and Full BSC degree in landscape design and management.
Advanced Certificate and Professional Diploma in Garden design.
City and Guilds Amateur Gardening
NPTC Pesticides, brushcutters, chainsaws, first aid, health and safety, tractor driving, etc.
Computer aided design, Digital design technology
Level 2 / 3 apprenticeships in Amenity horticulture and sports turf.

Bespoke courses – These can be tailored to individual companies requirements depending on numbers.

Reaseheath College
Nantwich
Cheshire
CW56DF

Visit : http://www.reaseheath.ac.uk/

Wright Gardening

Gardening courses in east Yorkshire for novices, experienced gardeners and professionals
Web: www.wrightgardening.co.uk
E-mail: steve@wrightgardening.co.uk

Garden Design Academy

Specialist college offering distance learning and residential courses in gardening, garden design and horticulture
http://www.gardendesignacademy.com

Croydon Adult Learning and Training (CALAT)

Starting a Gardening Business

Read our short guide on How to start a career in garden maintenance.