A RENOWMED horticultural college in Worcestershire has seen huge demand for a recently re-launched Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) course.
Pershore College, which is part of college group WCG, has welcomed 40 new students into the RHS Level 2 Certificate in Practical Horticulture – but saw over 130 applications for the coveted 40 places.
The college has had a close relationship with the RHS since the 1980s and has worked in partnership with the horticultural society to deliver a range of qualifications.
Pershore College last welcomed students for the Level 2 Practical Horticulture course in 2021 and the relaunch of the course is part of a planned expansion of horticulture delivery at the college.
There are plans for an enhanced adult-learning offer, expanding apprenticeships, and introducing further RHS accredited qualifications.
The RHS Level 2 Certificate in Practical Horticulture forms part of the full RHS Level 2 qualification, with Pershore College the only college in Worcestershire to offer the practical course.
Pershore College already has a comprehensive horticulture apprenticeship programme which sees up to 100 apprentices trained each year.
Josh Egan-Wyer, Head of Horticulture at Pershore College, says that the demand for the course has been high and that many of the applicants are adult learners looking to reskill.
“We have seen incredible appetite for the return of the Level 2 RHS course and I would suggest this reflects a renewed interest in careers in horticulture,” said Josh.
“The course intake has been a mix of people looking to retrain in order to pursue a new career in horticulture and people already working in the industry who are seeking to gain professional status.
“At the moment we are offering the practical course but are looking into the possibility of delivering theory elements next year, with the target of offering the full RHS Level 2 qualification.
“We are seeing heightened interest in all our horticulture courses, from our apprenticeships to our full-time Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 courses.
“Pershore College has always had a reputation as a centre of excellence for horticulture and we are committed to making horticulture education thrive at the college.
“We have plans to expand our existing adult-learning offer, grow our already strong apprenticeship delivery and add new specialist lectures from experts across the industry into the mix.
“Recent years have certainly seen more people recognising the mental, physical and social benefits of working in horticulture, and that is reflected in the interest we are seeing for courses here at Pershore.”
