Kew Internship in Horticulture

Download and complete the application forms to apply for an Internship, which is ideal for individuals with limited practical horticultural experience or newly qualified horticulturists requiring additional practical experience to further their careers.

Application process

Early applications are encouraged to improve the chance of attaining your preferred semester and placement and also as the application and selection procedure can sometimes take up to eight weeks to conclude.

Dates

Four programmes are run throughout any given year. The dates for the next five semesters are as follows:

Semester C: 2 April – 22 June 2012

Semester D: 2 July - 21 September 2012

Semester A: 8 October - 21 December 2012

Semester B: 7 January - 22 March 2013

Semester C: 8 April - 21 June 2013

Venue

Horticultural internships are based at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew working in a single specialist unit for the duration of the programme amid Kew’s world renowned plant collections and landscapes.

Fees

There are no fees payable for participating in the horticultural internship, however interns are responsible for financing themselves for the full duration of their programme. Please note that as we are unable to provide intern accommodation you will be responsible for making your own arrangements and funding local accommodation. See the following guidance notes for estimated living expenses and planning for coming to the Kew area.

Funding opportunities can be grants from universities/colleges, employer-sponsored grants, scholarships, bursaries or self-sponsorship. For more information about scholarships and funding please visit the Grants for Horticulturists website.

Safety

Your horticultural work will involve regular plant maintenance (which can include hard physical labour) for which you are required to provide your own steel toe-capped boots and suitable work clothing. All other necessary personal protective equipment will be provided.

Tetanus Risk

All Kew staff and interns working out of doors are reminded of the necessity of gaining protection against the risk of tetanus infection. In the UK a primary course of 3 doses/injections usually takes place in infancy, pre-school and teenage; later boosters, at the recommended 10 year intervals, are given on request or perhaps following an injury.

The current guidance from the Department of Health is that a total of 5 doses in a lifetime are sufficient to provide you with protective immunity. Further boosters are only necessary if you sustain a deep wound or injury which may be prone to tetanus, especially if contaminated with soil or manure. In which case, clean the wound thoroughly and seek medical advice.

If you think that you may not currently be protected you are advised to seek preventative treatment from your own doctor. We recommend you get this arranged prior to starting the horticultural internship programme.

Eligibility to work in the UK

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is unable to sponsor its horticultural internship applicants to work in the United Kingdom. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure eligibility to work in the United Kingdom for the purpose and duration of the internship before applying. Please visit the UK Border Agency website for the latest regulations.

Kew does not discriminate in its selection process, however, in order to comply with Home Office regulations Kew, is obliged to confirm your eligibility to work in the UK. On the first day of your internship you would be required to bring the original copy of one of the following documents:

• A passport showing that you are a British Citizen, or have the right to live in the United Kingdom.
• A document showing that you are a national from a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland. This must be a national passport or national identity card.
• A residence permit issued to you by the Home Offie if you are from an EEA country or Switzerland.
• A passport or other document issued by the Home Office which has an endorsement stating that you have a current right of residence in the United Kingdom as the family member of a national from an EEA country or Switzerland who is resident in the UK.
• A passport or other travel document endorsed to show that you can stay indefinitely in the UK or have no time limit on your stay.
• A passport or other travel document endorsed to show that you can stay in the UK; and that this endorsement allows you to do the type of work you are being offered if you do not have to have a work permit.
• An application Registration Card issued by the Home Office if you are an asylum seeker stating that you are permitted to take employment.

Applicants that do not have the ‘right to work’ in the United Kingdom cannot be offered a place on Kew’s horticultural internship programme and will have their selection terminated if unable to provide evidence of this right.

How to apply

If you wish to apply please complete the following individual forms on Microsoft Word and send electronically:

Application form (MS Word)
Horticultural Reference Request form (MS Word)
Horticultural Internship Sponsorship form (MS Word)
An essay of 250-500 words (MS Word)
Equality and Diversity questionnaire (MS Word)

or complete the following full application pack and send electronically:

Full application pack (MS Word)

For further information or to send your completed application please e-mail the Horticultural Internship Coordinator.

Alternatively you are welcome to print off, complete by hand and return the entire application pack (pdf) in the mail to the Internship Coordinator together with:

a colour passport-size photograph
a completed sponsorship form (it may be sent direct to Kew by your sponsor)
a completed reference form to confirm your previous practical horticultural experience
an essay of 250-500 words describing the career you wish to follow in horticulture

You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, available here, to view the pdf format forms above.