The Royal Parks is funding long-term paid training roles which offer apprentices a route into professional parks careers.
The Royal Parks has partnered with the Bankside Open Spaces Trust - Future Gardeners programme to offer paid pre-apprenticeship positions in the park. The Royal Parks sponsors two placements through the scheme each year with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund through Greenwich Park Revealed.
This 10-week course run by Bankside Open Spaces Trust is a brilliant way for people with little or no gardening experience to take their first steps into a career in horticulture. It includes a two-week work placement and trainees who do their placement at Greenwich Park have the opportunity to go onto a further three-month paid pre-apprenticeship with The Royal Parks. Pre-apprentices are then encouraged to apply for The Royal Parks’ Apprenticeship Programme, which is typically three years long and provides classroom learning and ‘hands on’ training to deliver the skills and experience required to begin a career in the horticultural and park management industry. Two pre-apprentice positions each year and the Technical Assistant role are sponsored by The Royal Parks supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund each year through Greenwich Park Revealed
Technical Assistant
Adam Stoter
The Technical Assistant is a two-year role which aims to equip people with park management skills, funded through Greenwich Park Revealed. Our current Technical Assistant, Adam Stoter, said: “I’m enjoying every moment of this role. My responsibilities are to provide administrative and organisational support for Greenwich Park, in day-to-day park management including events, volunteering, landscape maintenance, catering and facilities contractors while supporting the delivery of the Greenwich Park Revealed which is supported through the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
“In addition to my role at Greenwich I now oversee the horticultural apprenticeship scheme as Apprenticeship Scheme Support Officer across the Royal Parks. I liaise with the learning provider, employers and The Royal Park’s partners to ensure the continued success of the scheme.
“I’m gaining a vast experience of what’s involved in park management and I hope to continue developing my career to take the next steps in park management.”
Graduate Landscape Architect
Charlie Blackmore
The Graduate Landscape Architect Role is a part-time position offering valuable work experience in a profession which is increasingly in demand. Our current Graduate Landscape Architect Charlie Blackmore started out as an apprentice in The Regent’s Park before going onto a Master’s degree, and is joining us as part of the new team to deliver Greenwich Park Revealed.
He said: “My role as a Graduate Landscape Architect includes aiding the delivery of the projects program, documenting key habitat enhancement, and working with the wider student landscape architect community. The experience I look to gain is an understanding how the elements of a project are taken through the initial research stages into design, construction, and completion. The project will enhance my future goals of focusing on sustainable ecological design management.”
Horticulture Apprentice
Jake Wood
Jake Wood completed the Bankside Open Spaces Trust - Future Gardeners programme, followed by a three-month pre-apprenticeship programme. Following which, he successfully applied for a role as one of the Royal Parks’ apprentices and is a valuable member of the team.
"I had no experience of horticulture and getting a placement on the Future Gardener’s scheme really set me up on the right foot to begin a long-term training programme that I would like to lead to a career in this industry.
“The pre-apprenticeship at Greenwich Park was such an amazing experience.
“I was so grateful for the opportunity to learn first-hand from a team of experts who were so friendly and generous in sharing their time and knowledge.
“Learning in such a hands-on way was really valuable and the insight into working in professional horticulture would have been difficult to come by otherwise.
“I got a real sense of pride from helping to carry out work at the park and the freedom to develop my skills whilst making an impact at such a beautiful and prestigious location was incredible.
“The time I spent there really fast tracked my learning in horticulture and gave me the confidence to continue my studies. As a result I am thrilled to have recently been selected to become one of the Royal Parks apprentices. I am enjoying taking my skills and knowledge to another level and working with a fantastic team to gain expertise and the qualifications I need for future opportunities.”
