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horticultural manager
Horticultural managers work in the following areas:
- production horticulture - producing food crops and ornamental plants for sale to wholesalers, retailers, nurseries, garden centres and the public
- garden centres – producing plants for sale to the public along with related products such as tools and garden furniture
- amenity horticulture – designing, constructing, managing and maintaining areas such as parks and public and botanic gardens.
- supervising and possibly helping with all aspects of cultivation
- managing programmes for the control of weeds and pests
- preparing and modifying operational and business plans
- record-keeping, handling budgets and accounts
- training and instructing staff
- analysing yields and costs
- developing new products and markets and negotiating with suppliers
- designing layouts and developing planting programmes
- scheduling the planting and harvesting of crops
- ensuring that health and safety regulations and procedures are followed.
Hours and Environment
Working hours may vary according to the season and often include weekends and public holidays.. Early starts and late finishes are common.
Depending on the job, the work may be office-based or outdoors in all weathers. It may be necessary to travel between sites and to visit suppliers and customers. A driving licence is useful.
Skills and Interests
To be an horticultural manager you will need:
- knowledge of the practical, technological and scientific aspects of horticulture
- organisational and planning skills
- business skills and commercial awareness
- interpersonal and management skills
- IT skills for keeping records, preparing reports and producing designs and plans.
Entry
It may be possible to work your way up to management by starting in a junior position and gaining experience and/or further qualifications. Please see the Horticultural worker profile for details.
To start directly as a manager you will usually need a higher level qualification and practical experience.
Relevant qualifications include:
- degrees in horticulture-related subjects
- foundation degrees in a related subject
- BTEC HNCs/HNDs in related subjects
Degree courses last three or four years and some may include a placement year. They may focus on commercial or amenity horticulture To get onto a degree you will usually need:
- at least five GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3); and
- two A levels/three H grades, including chemistry and a biological science, or equivalent qualifications
- practical experience for some courses.
Foundation degrees last for two years full-time. Part-time options are also available. To get onto a foundation degree you usually need:
- one A level/two H grades; or
- equivalent qualifications.
HND courses last for two years. Sandwich HND courses which include a work placement year usually last for three years. To get onto an HND you will usually need:
- four GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) including a science, maths and English; and
- one A level/two H grades (preferably in a science subject) or equivalent qualifications.
You should check with colleges and universities for their exact entry requirements as these can vary and some colleges and universities may reduce their normal entry requirements if you have enough relevant experience.
For information about foundation degrees see Foundation Degree Forward
To search for colleges and universities offering foundation degrees, HNDs and degrees see Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)
Other qualifications include:
- an HND at (in partnership with the Scottish Agricultural College
- a 3 year diploma course at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.
Please see Further Information for links to the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens and Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew websites where you can find full details.
Practical experience is included as work placements on some courses.
The Institute of Horticulture has a list of some of the organisations offering work experience. Please see the Further Information section of this profile for contact details.
RHS offer:
- a one year Certificate in Practical Horticulture, a programme of paid work experience which you can take during or after college training
- the one year Specialist Option Certificate in Plant Centre Management Skills if you are looking for work experience as part of a sandwich course or after completing a course. You will receive £11,120 a year and be provided with subsidised accommodation. Please contact the RHS for details – see the Further Information section.
The National Trust offer Careerships. For entry you will need four GCSEs (A-C)/five S grades (1-3) including maths and English, or equivalent qualifications. See the Further Information section for contact details for the National Trust.
If you have not gained experience before, during or after a course you may need to begin at a more junior level before being considered for management positions.
Some entrants have experience in a related area such as farming, forestry, retailing or marketing.
Training
The kind of training you are given once you are in employment will vary depending on your employer. In some large organisations you may be offered a graduate training scheme, others may just provide basic on-the-job training.
Management Development Services Ltd run management training for graduates in the fresh food and produce industry. Please see the Further Information section for contact details.
You can work towards the following NVQs/SVQs:
- Horticulture at Level 1
- Amenity Horticulture at levels 2, 3 and 4
- Production Horticulture at levels 2 and 3
- Agriculture and Commercial Horticulture (Crops Management) at Level 4.
Levels 3 and 4 are suitable if you have supervisory and management responsibilities. NVQs/SVQs in management are also available.
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew run an eight week course in botanic garden management, which is run every two years. To get on to this you will need:
- a horticultural degree or diploma or equivalent
- to be employed in management of a botanic garden or arboretum and have management responsibilities.
Please contact the Royal Botanic Gardens for details – see the Further Information section.
Apprenticeships may be available for those under the age of 24. In England these are currently Apprenticeships (level 2) and Advanced Apprenticeships (level 3). To find out more about these, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk
Apprenticeships may be different in other areas. For further information see Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland
Opportunities
There are nurseries and garden centres involved in commercial horticulture all over the UK, but production horticulture is concentrated in certain areas depending on local condition such as climate, soil and other factors.
Jobs in amenity horticulture are mainly in larger towns and cities, working for local authorities maintaining public parks, gardens and sports grounds or with private contractors employed to do this.
With experience and advanced qualifications it can be possible to progress from junior to senior management positions.
Some managers set up their own businesses offering garden design services or interior landscaping, or start small nurseries or garden centres.
Annual Income
Figures are intended as a guideline only. There are no set salaries for horticultural managers; rates vary depending on the employer and location.
Starting salaries may be around £15,500 a year.
A junior or section manager may earn from £16,000 to £20,000.
Senior managers may earn from £20,000 to £40,000 a year, sometimes more with larger employers.
Further information
Surrey
TW9 3AB
London
SW1X 8PS
Great North Road
Thornhaugh
Peterborough
PE8 6HJ
Tel: 01780 781450
Stoneleigh Park
Nr Coventry
Warwickshire
CV8 2LG
Tel: 0845 707 8007
Back To Animals Plants and Land Careers
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Site Disclaimer
The information contained in our Career Profiles Database was correct at time of publishing, but since publication certain details may have changed so please use this section as a research tool and in some cases further research may be required.
Careers Database Information By Learn Direct Advice