Employment contract for 2 years
£8.88 per hour in the first year
37.5 hours per week (including some weekend working)
30 days annual leave per year (including bank holidays) plus an additional day off for your birthday
We are looking for Horticulture Apprentices to join our friendly and dynamic Horticulture Team at the Eden Project in Cornwall, where you'll get to work with horticultural specialist and some of the most exciting and diverse plant collections in the country.
As well as learning a wide range of horticulture practices while working in the different areas at Eden, including the world-famous Biomes, you will spend on average 6 hours a week studying a taught element delivered by our partner training provider at Duchy College Rosewarne.
As an Eden Project Apprentice you will also take part in our Sustainable Enterprise programme which helps you develop a range of skills, from teamwork to communication, alongside fellow apprentices. There are also opportunities to gain experience working with a variety of other teams, to get a fuller understanding of how your department fits within the larger organisation and how your role contributes to our mission; to demonstrate and inspire positive action for the planet.
In the second year of the programme, you will work as a team to produce a spectacular show garden for the annual Spring Flower Show, have opportunities to go on horticultural exchanges with world renowned gardens such as the Lost Garden of Heligan and from your first year will take on the responsibility of managing an area at Eden.
After working with us for two full years, we will celebrate your achievements with a 'graduation ceremony' and you will come away with your very own Eden Project Horticulture Apprenticeship certificate.
If you do not have your own transport available you should consider how you will travel to work, as Eden is in a rural location and public transport is not always available.
If you have any questions then please email and a member of the People and Culture Team will get back to you as soon as possible.
The closing date for applications is Sunday 22nd March 2026
JOB DESCRIPTION
Role Purpose
To provide horticultural and landscaping support across Eden, whilst being provided with on-the-job training
The role will involve working in all horticultural areas at Eden, including the Rainforest biome, Mediterranean Biome, 30-acre Outdoor Garden, Eden's bespoke plant growing nursery, Eden's 200-acre estate and grounds, and occasionally with hard landscaping and horticultural technical support teams.
Key Accountabilities
* To support and learn from the horticultural team in jobs such as pruning, planting, seed sowing, watering, weeding and all plant care. along with habitat management
* To assist and learn about the creation and maintenance hard and soft landscaping – such as hedgerows, walling, fencing, pathways and bridleways.
* To learn about and share the responsibility for use, care and maintenance of hand tools and small machinery used in horticultural tasks including equipment for grass and hedge cutting, strimming, planting, pruning, and the use of golf buggies.
* To continuously and enthusiastically strive to increase your own horticultural knowledge - including plant care and knowledge and plant identification, pests and diseases, soil management, sustainable practices, garden management and design and efficient working practices.
Demands of the Role
Education & qualifications
There are no formal qualifications required for this position; however, the job holder will be required to have a good level of literacy and numeracy.
Knowledge & skills
The job holder will be expected to have a basic level understanding of plants and the natural world and a thirst to learn more.
An interest and love for horticulture and desire to embark on a career in horticulture is essential.
The job holder will be required to have an intermediate level of IT skill.
Decision- making
Decisions will be low level and routine in nature, with minimal business impact. Any complex or difficult decision making will be guided and supported by the mentorship of a senior team member.
Resourcefulness
The job holder will need to collaborate with colleagues and senior staff to devise innovative and creative ways to improve horticultural efficiency.
People & asset management
There are no people management responsibilities in this role.
Communication & visitor experience
The job holder is required to engage, communicate and interact with colleagues, horticulturalists from other gardens and members of the public and both verbally and in writing.
Operational environment
The role requires physical effort daily such as bending, lifting and carrying, digging, working on slopes and in cold, hot or inclement weather.