Garden Centre Assistants sell plants, flowers, tools and garden equipment.
Garden Centres produce plants and grow flowers for sale to the public and in recent years, have branched out further into retail, selling tools, garden furniture and decorative items as well as protective clothing. Garden Centre Assistants care for plants, arrange attractive displays, keep a check on stock, process sales and give advice to customers, including on how to care for their plants and prevent disease.
good horticultural knowledge of different types of plant, including where they grow best and how to care for them
to enjoy working with plants
good customer service and retail skills, selling products and services to clients including garden centres
good verbal communication skills
to use a computer and retail software packages confidently
physical skills such as mobility and co-ordination
to work outside in all types of weather
to follow health and safety rules and wear protective clothing like gloves and boots for some jobs
You might have to use chemical fertilisers and liquid feeds and may require additional training to use these. You'll also need to take courses and gain certificates of competence to operate equipment and use machinery. Different Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) will be recommended for each work situation.
Salary
NB These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary depending on the employer and the skills and experience of the employee.
£14,500
Typical salaries range from
£22,000
Typical Hours
37-40 hours per week. This role will require evening, weekend and bank holiday working, and hours will vary depending on the season.
Day to Day
Watering, pruning, weeding and treating pant stock for pests and disease
Putting plants into pots and trays, ready to sell
Setting out displays of plants, pots and garden tools
Using a wheelbarrow or trolley to move heavy items such as trees or bags of soil
Helping to carry and load heavy items to customers’ cars
Operating the till at the checkout, taking cash and card payments
Pricing stock and filling the shelves
Phoning to order new stock
Advising customers on plant choice and care
Working Environment
You will spend time working outdoors at the centre contributing to deliveries, and movement and care of stock in all weathers. You may also spend time inside the centre’s shop or taking payments for sales from customers at cash desks.
Training Available
Training is an essential part of any job, giving you the skills and knowledge you need to do your job safely and correctly. It also helps to strengthen your current skill set and prepares you for the next stage in your career.
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships help you build the experience and skills that employers want to see. No matter what stage you’re at, they’ll help set you up for a bright future. There are lots of ways to get involved.
Garden Centre Assistant opportunities and careers paths
With experience you could progress to a section supervisor and Garden Centre Manager or set up your own nursery or garden maintenance business
Industries
Garden Centre Assistant will usually work in one of the following industries. Click below to find out more about possible career paths.
Horticulture & Landscaping
The world of horticulture and landscaping is fast-moving, ever-changing and leading the way in combatting climate change.
Growing and harvesting plants for financial, environmental or social benefits not only helps the environment, it can also boost wellbeing – and from lawn mowing to landscaping, greenkeeping to scientific research, horticulture offers a huge range of rewarding careers.
Humans have been been growing plants and maintaining the natural environment since ancient times and horticulture has never stopped changing and adapting. As we learn more about the impact of climate change and weather extremes, horticulturalists are dealing with some of the biggest issues of the day: what will we plant in the future if resources like water and nutrients become limited? How do we make the most of the rapid advances in growing techniques, machinery, and cultivation?
Horticulture and landscaping plays an important part in our economy. It’s a dynamic industry, with continuous research and development and a focus on using technology to make growing more sustainable. That has created a range of exciting job opportunities for people who are passionate about plants, science and growing solutions.
The UK horticulture industry is worth over £9 billion each year
The industry supports the employment of almost 340,000 people, with landscapers and retailers accounting for 83% of the total
Private gardening is an important activity for UK citizens, with households spending £7.5bn on gardening goods, including cut-flowers, a year
The Republic of Ireland's horticulture industry is valued at €477m; it is the fourth largest industry after dairy, beef and pigs in terms of gross agricultural commodity output value
The industry employs approximately 17,000 people in the Republic of Ireland - an estimated 6,600 people directly employed full-time and another 11,000 indirectly employed in value-added and downstream businesses
These courses are perfect if you are starting out on your career but they are also
great for people already in jobs who want to improve their skills.
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About Apprenticeships
Work, earn and learn
Whether you’re just starting out in the workplace, want to upskill or are considering changing direction,
Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to build your career.
Apprenticeships combine work with on-the-job training, so if you want to earn as you learn,
there’s an apprenticeship out there for you – you can even start an
apprenticeship if you already have a degree.
Apprenticeships in England
During an apprenticeship, you’ll be assessed regularly to make sure you’re gaining the knowledge, skills and behaviours you need. At the end of the apprenticeship, an End Point Assessment (EPA) will check you’re fully competent. EPAs are carried out by an independent organisation and will include a practical skills demonstration and discussion.
An apprenticeship is a unique blend of work experience and study to help build the skills and knowledge you need for your career.
Apprentices are employees – they have a contract, are paid and get the same benefits as everyone else.
But the difference between an apprenticeship and a normal job is that apprentices are regularly released from work for training.
Sometimes that’s a day a week, sometimes it’s for a longer block – it all depends on the job and the apprenticeship.
Apprentices work for all kinds of people at all kinds of stages in their lives. Most apprentices fall into one of three categories:
someone who is just starting their career
someone who already has a job and wants to move forward in their company
someone who already has a job and wants to retrain to make a career change.
Previously restricted to school leavers and young people, apprenticeships are now a dynamic way of retraining people of all ages -
there’s no upper age limit. The minimum age to become an apprentice is 16 and candidates can’t be in full-time education.
Benefits of an Apprenticeship
Apprenticeships offer a unique combination of paid work and study. They’re an exciting option for anyone who wants to
gain experience, upskill or change career while working.
They offer a chance to work, learn and earn:
workplace experience and skills development
a nationally recognised qualification
employee benefits and a wage
no student loans or tuition fees
contact with industry professionals.
Vacancies
Interested in becoming an apprentice? Search for current opportunities and apply here.
Not quite sure if an apprenticeship is right for you? If you’re not ready for an apprenticeship, T Levels and Traineeships can be a great alternative.
What are T Levels?
T Levels are an alternative to A Levels – a two-year course for 16-18 year olds. Created alongside employers, they combine classroom learning with an industry placement and are a great way to prepare for work, further training or study. If you’re not quite ready for a T Level, the T Level Transition Programme is a 1-year post-GCSE course designed to prepare you for your chosen route. T Levels are available in Agriculture, Land Management and Production from September 2023, and in Animal Care and Management from September 2024.
Traineeships are a great option if you’re between 16 and 24 and don’t yet have the skills or experience to take on a job or apprenticeship. In a Traineeship, you complete an unpaid work placement alongside a training course to develop your skills. Traineeships last from six weeks to a year, though most last around six months.
Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) Find out more
Funding Options
Thinking about your finances is important when you're looking at courses and training -
different types of funding support is available depending on what type of course you're
interested in and where you are located. We recommend you contact the training provider
for more information on course costs and financing, but here are some links to connect
you to support available:
Further Education
16 – 19:
You won't have to pay any course fees if you're staying on in education or training at a school, college, or with a training provider, and you're under the age of 19 – please contact the training provider for more information.
Advanced Learner Loans are available to help with the cost of a course at college or training provider in England if you are over 19 and studying a Level 3, 4, 5 or 6 qualification – more information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan
If you are aged 19 or over you could access a course for free to help you gain the skills you need to get the job you want – this includes some land-based Level 3 qualifications, with the government paying the course fees. To find out more including eligibility criteria, visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/free-courses-for-jobs
Higher Education:
Information on loans and grants available to undergraduate and postgraduate students can be found via Student Finance England https://studentfinance.campaign.gov.uk
Skills Hub Scotland
Skills Hub Scotland
is an online skill sharing marketplace creating new opportunities to learn and share skills.
Wherever you are located - if you have a skill to share, or a skill to learn, Skills Hub Scotland can help.
Initially founded as a response to the Scottish Government’s CivTech
5 programme in 2020 and aiming to offer a platform for those in rural or remote locations,
Skills Hub Scotland has been developed into an important sectoral resource.
If you have a skill to share with others or are a training provider,
list your workshop or course (all skills from all sectors are welcome). If you are a learner,
use Skills Hub Scotland to search for and book a course!
STEM
STEM is an approach to learning and development that incorporates the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Learning in STEM connects to Education for Sustainable Development/Learning for Sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals
– this helps learners to understand that STEM plays a vital role in finding solutions to real world issues or challenges such as
protecting biodiversity and tackling climate change. There are multiple pathways into a land-based STEM career including apprenticeships,
further and higher education. This means that a career in STEM is open to everyone!
STEM Learning
is the largest provider of STEM education and careers support in the UK. Their STEM Ambassadors programme sees volunteers representing
a vast range of STEM-related jobs work with young people to bring STEM subjects alive through real life experiences.
They help to open the doors to a world of opportunities and possibilities which come from pursuing STEM subjects and careers.
To become a STEM Ambassador, you can register via the STEM Learning website:
https://www.stem.org.uk/stem-ambassadors/join-stem-ambassador-programme
Lantra have worked in collaboration with STEM Ambassadors in Scotland to create two specific UK-wide Ambassadors schemes -
Forestry and Aquaculture. Through these schemes, we want to make sure that those working in forestry and aquaculture have the support
materials they need to take part in STEM activities. To find out more and register for the schemes, please follow the links below:
Smart Futures
helps young people in Ireland discover the STEM subjects and careers that might be right for them.
Co-ordinated and managed by Science Foundation Ireland, their programme allows young people to connect with people that are working in STEM,
the organisations they’re working in and what their interests and skills are.
Not sure what you want to do?
Why not take a look at the Industries Explorer as an introduction to the different areas you could work in.
If we can support you with any specific information, please click the button below to get in touch.
