Careers in Horticulture

 Do you want to work in an innovative, progressive industry which offers a wide choice of career pathways? Do you want to work in an exciting, challenging industry which involves plants, machinery and extensive out-of-doors work? The horticulture industry may be for you.

Many skilled people are needed in the horticulture industry. These include workers, supervisors and business managers. The industry can be been divided into seven main sectors, although some horticultural businesses operating across more than one sector. The seven sectors are:

* Arboriculture (tree establishment and management)

* Floriculture (production of flowers, foliage and essential oils)

* Landscaping (construction and maintenance of outdoor landscapes)

* Nursery (growing, selling and/or hiring of plants and related products)

* Parks and gardens (management of planted areas for leisure, recreation and conservation)

* Production horticulture (growing, harvesting and marketing of fruit, vegetables and nuts)

* Turf (establishment and management of grassed area for sports and recreation)

Those with a range of general horticultural skills from across two or more of the above sectors can achieve a national qualification in horticulture.

The type of work carried out in horticulture has been divided into 6 levels. These levels also relate to training and qualifications.

The titles for those who work at these levels are

* Level 1: Horticultural Assistant

* Level 2: Horticultural Worker

* Level 3: Horticultural Tradesperson

* Level 4: Horticultural Supervisor

* Level 5: Horticultural Manager

* Level 6: Horticultural Business Manager