Under-40s look to grow careers in horticulture
JOB applications to the Royal Horticultural Society have risen by more than 50 per cent in the past year as a result of young people “reconsidering their career choices” during the pandemic.
In the last 12 months under-40s in particular have expressed an interest in horticulture, after realising they do not want to work in an office while being furloughed or working from home.
The RHS reported that the interest in its training programmes in 2021 was the highest in decades.
The charity has seen 800 people apply for 40 positions, with numbers up across two of its three programmes – by 58 per cent for its entry-level apprenticeship scheme and 81 per cent for its Specialist Horticultural Placements programme. This is a jump on last year, when 506 people applied for the RHS training programmes.
Younger people keen to change their careers made up a large proportion of the figures, with 25 to 34-year-olds accounting for 39 per cent of applicants and 35 to 44-year-olds for 17 per cent.
Experts from the RHS suggested that young people might be more interested in gardening after the pandemic because they had become used to spending time and exercising outside, and that there was more chance to be creative than in an office job.
Suzanne Moss, RHS head of education and learning, said: “Being outside in the fresh air, feeling connected to nature and the chance to be creative tend to be what our students and apprentices enjoy most about having a ‘green office’. You also save on gym membership because it’s great exercise.
“A large proportion of applications were from those reconsidering their career choices because of the pandemic and wanting to work outdoors doing something they enjoy and value.”