School Work Experience (ages 14-18) and Youth Volunteering with New Shoots at the RHS
Thank you for your interest in applying for either school work experience or youth volunteering with New Shoots at the RHS.
To apply for an opportunity, please click on the opportunity first and then 'Fill in an application' button on the right hand side. Our application process starts with asking you to create a profile on our work experience/volunteer management software called 'Better Impact'. If you already use Better Impact for another organisation or are a current RHS Volunteer looking to apply for a different opportunity, please use your existing username and password to log in.
If you are under the age of 16 you must get the permission of your parent/guardian to complete this application.
If you have any questions before, or during, applying please contact us on newshoots@rhs.org.uk
RHS Garden Wisley is the flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society located just off of Junction 10 of the M25 between the A3 and Woking in Surrey. We offer work experience opportunities of one week, subject to availability, for individuals in years 10/11 and sixth form during Autumn and late Spring/Summer. All placements are a great way for you to explore what it is like in the workplace, gain general skills such as teamwork, and specifically gain and understanding of professional horticulture.
Placements are offered within the following teams:
- Gardens (Curatorial) - work with our skilled horticulturists to develop and maintain our plant collections in a variety of horticultural settings, from our formal gardens through to our glasshouse and specialist collections such as Alpine.
- Plant Centre - work alongside colleagues in the plant shop to create inspiring displays of seasonal plants and horticultural consumables, delivery great customer service to our visitors and care our wide selection of plant species available to buy.
- Science & Collections - rotate between two or three of our teams, including our horticultural library, horticultural information, environmental horticulture and plant health to discover how to curate a living scientific collection and carry out leading horticultural research.
- Education - work with our onsite education team to develop and maintain our learning gardens and deliver engaging workshops about the natural world to school groups or adult learners.
- Visitor experience (for sixth form only) - work alongside our visitor services team to deliver a warm welcome to our garden visitors, developing your customer service skills, as well as finding out about the ways we inspire our visitors with our horticultural heritage.
To apply for a placement you will need to complete the application form and tell us specifically why you would like to undertake work experience with the RHS.
For Spring/Summer applications there are two rounds of review - one in early January for applications made before the start of the spring term, and one in early March for all remaining applications (applications after this date will be reviewed on an as need basis). Your application will be scored against other applications received, and you will be notified whether you have been successful or unsuccessful in being awarded a placement.
If you are successful, but your chosen team is no longer available (this could be due to spaces already having been filled or dates being incompatible), you will be offered an alternative team.
If you have any questions before, or during, the application process please contact us at newshoots@rhs.org.uk
We are committed to being an inclusive recruiter and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and expect all applicants to share this commitment.
To apply, complete an application form at the top of this page, even if you have applied with us before. Please note this link will take you through to our Work Experience Portal where, if you have not already done so, you will be prompted to create a login before progressing to the application form. If you have used this system before, please use your existing login details.
RHS Garden Bridgewater is the newest garden of the Royal Horticultural Society located in Salford, Greater Manchester. We offer work experience opportunities of one week, subject to availability, for individuals in years 10/11 and sixth form during Autumn and late Spring/Summer. All placements are a great way for you to explore what it is like in the workplace, gain general skills such as teamwork, and specifically gain and understanding of professional horticulture.
Placements are offered within the following teams:
- Gardens (Curatorial) -
- Plant Centre -
- Education -
To apply for a placement you will need to complete the application form and tell us specifically why you would like to undertake work experience with the RHS.
For Spring/Summer applications there are two rounds of review - one in early January for applications made before the start of the spring term, and one in early March for all remaining applications (applications after this date will be reviewed on an as need basis). Your application will be scored against other applications received, and you will be notified whether you have been successful or unsuccessful in being awarded a placement.
If you are successful, but your chosen team is no longer available (this could be due to spaces already having been filled or dates being incompatible), you will be offered an alternative team.
If you have any questions before, or during, the application process please contact us at newshoots@rhs.org.uk
We are committed to being an inclusive recruiter and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and expect all applicants to share this commitment.
To apply, complete an application form at the top of this page, even if you have applied with us before. Please note this link will take you through to our Work Experience Portal where, if you have not already done so, you will be prompted to create a login before progressing to the application form. If you have used this system before, please use your existing login details.
Do you have a passion for the environment and being outdoors? Alternatively, do you want to gain more experience in gardening, meet like-minded people and develop your skills?
If your answer to either is yes, then why not come and support the UK’s leading gardening charity in the beautiful setting of RHS Garden Bridgewater?
The New Shoots team offer flexible youth volunteering roles for anyone aged 14-18 as part of their project to increase the number and diversity of people choosing horticultural careers and volunteering. Initially this will include supporting the Bridgewater New Shoots coordinator to plant, maintain and harvest around RHS Garden Bridewater.
Please read the RHS Volunteer Role Description for more details on what the role will include.
Applicants aged 14-18 should feel free to apply - we welcome everyone to apply, whether you have no gardening experience or lots, are confident talking to visitors or want to develop your engagement skills!
We will invite you to a (very) informal interview to decide whether the role is suitable for you before we offer places.
If you are still not sure please get in touch with us at NewShoots@rhs.org.uk for more information
We are committed to being an inclusive recruiter and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and expect all volunteers to share this commitment.
To apply, complete an application form at the top of this page, even if you have volunteered with us before. Please note this link will take you through to our Volunteer Portal where, if you have not already done so, you will be prompted to create a login before progressing to the application form. If you have used this system before, please use your existing login details.
Please make sure you describe how your skills are relevant to the role you are applying for (as specified in the role description) as this is how applicants will be shortlisted.
Applications are being welcomed on a rolling basis. Informal interviews will be held at RHS Garden Bridgewater or online via Microsoft Teams following application.
