Current and former apprentices of The Royal Parks Horticultural Apprenticeship Scheme gathered at Hyde Park to have their achievements recognised in this year’s award ceremony.
The Royal Parks Guild and The Royal Parks awards ceremony saw the presentation of The Royal Parks’ Horticultural Diplomas, Horticultural Certificates, Certificates of Achievement and The Royal Parks’ Guild Awards, along with an insightful presentation from Fergus Garrett of Great Dixter House & Gardens.
The George Cook Award given for outstanding commitment and achievement over the course of the apprenticeship scheme was awarded to Selina Tan, a former apprentice at Richmond Park, working with contractor Gavin Jones. Since completing the scheme, Selina has embarked on the Diploma course at Kew Gardens.
The Royal Parks Guild Award given for ‘Quality or Significant Improvement of Academic and Practical Work’ was awarded to Emily Osborne, a current 3rd year apprentice at Hyde Park, working with contractor OCS.
The Royal Parks Guild Award given for ‘Evidence of Self-learning and Development’ was awarded to Emma Andrews a current 2nd year apprentice at Richmond Park, working with contractor Gavin Jones.
The Royal Parks Guild Award, ‘The Toni Assirati Award’, given for a ‘Positive Influence on Others, Society and the Environment’ was awarded to Jerome Webb at St. James’s Park, working with contractor OCS.
Royal Parks Apprenticeship Scheme: Diplomas and Certificates
The Royal Parks Apprenticeship Scheme Diploma is awarded on gaining the Level 2 Horticulture and landscape operative Apprenticeship and all RHS Certificates. This year it was given to Selina Tan (working with Gavin Jones), who has gone on to study a Diploma course at Kew Gardens; Jordan Toms (working with OCS) who after completing his RHS Level 2 qualification decided to stay on in Kensington Gardens as a skilled gardener; and Tom Brown (working with Gavin Jones) who is now a skilled gardener at Greenwich Park.
The Royal Parks Apprenticeship Scheme Horticultural Certificate is awarded on gaining the Level 2 Horticulture and Landscape operative apprenticeship. This year the certificate was awarded to Chris Moore (working with OCS) who started the Kew diploma for September 2021; Fiona Kirkwood (working with OCS); Elliot Roe; (working with OCS) and Joe Ellis (working with OCS)– who has now started his own garden maintenance business “Ellis Gardens”.
The Royal Parks Horticultural Apprenticeship scheme has been running since 1962. The current scheme started in 2008 and is run as a partnership between The Royal Parks, the Landscape Maintenance Contractors, the Learning Provider (now Capel Manor College) and The Royal Parks Guild who provide mentoring, awards, masterclasses and other special events.
The aim of the scheme is to support and grow horticultural excellence within the Royal Parks and the wider horticultural industry taking on six-eight new apprentices each year.
The Horticultural Apprentices who are graduating have studied for a total of three or four years during which time they worked for their respective employers, studied a trailblazer level 2 apprenticeship at Capel Manor College, and gained RHS level 2 horticultural certificates and other valuable specialist certificates.
Applications for the apprentice scheme will re open in February 2022 – watch out for opportunities during National Apprenticeship Week (7-13 February 2022)
For more information about the scheme visit The Royal Parks Horticultural Apprenticeship Scheme
