- Duration
8 Weeks
- Attendance
- Friday
- Location
- 100% workplace and online delivery
Course Overview
Take your first step into horticulture and outdoor crafts through this practical, supportive programme designed to help you explore new skills, build confidence and discover your interests.
You'll have the opportunity to try a range of horticultural activities and related outdoor crafts, gaining hands-on experience in an engaging learning environment. The course offers a gentle introduction to working outdoors, with the possibility of progressing to a horticultural qualification in the future, where appropriate.
This practical programme is designed for 16–24-year-olds who are not currently in education, employment or training and are interested in outdoor, horticultural or creative careers.
Based at The Firs in Hastings, you’ll learn in a practical garden environment, working in the polytunnel, growing area, classroom and outdoor spaces. You’ll develop hands-on skills including seed sowing, bulb planting, looking after plants and maintaining outdoor spaces, alongside creative projects such as willow weaving and making planters and natural wreaths.
You’ll also develop valuable workplace and employability skills, including teamwork, reliability, timekeeping, communication and working safely.
With practical activities, demonstrations and supportive guidance throughout, the course is designed to help you build confidence, discover what you enjoy and take your next step towards further study, employment or an apprenticeship.
Why choose this course?
- Develop practical horticulture and creative craft skills
- Gain experience in a real working garden environment
- Learn through hands-on projects and supported activities
- Build confidence and develop workplace behaviours
- Explore potential careers in horticulture and creative crafts
- Develop teamwork, communication and employability skills
- Receive support with your next steps into further study, employment or an apprenticeship
- One day per week, every Friday
- Based at The Firs, Hastings
Modules
Horticulture and Growing
Learn the basics of growing and caring for plants through practical activities. You’ll work in the polytunnel and growing areas, developing skills such as seed sowing, bulb planting and maintaining plants.
Creative Outdoor Crafts
Get creative with natural and practical materials. Activities may include willow weaving, making planters and creating decorative natural wreaths, while developing your practical problem-solving and making skills.
Garden and Outdoor Maintenance
Develop an understanding of how to maintain a safe, tidy and productive garden environment. You’ll work together to care for the garden, polytunnel and classroom spaces.
Practical Skills and DIY
Build your confidence with practical tasks, including creating a planter in the Skills Shed and learning basic DIY skills.
Employability and Workplace Skills
Develop the behaviours and skills needed for the workplace, including teamwork, reliability, timekeeping, communication, responsibility and working safely.
Progression and Next Steps
Explore opportunities for further learning, employment and apprenticeships, with support to identify the next step that works for you.
Assessment
This is a practical, hands-on programme where you’ll learn through demonstrations, supported activities and real-life projects.
You’ll receive regular feedback from tutors as you develop your practical skills and workplace behaviours. Progress will be monitored throughout the programme, with opportunities to reflect on your achievements and identify your next steps.
There is a balance of practical and classroom-based learning, with assessment focused on your participation, development and ability to apply new skills in practical situations.
Entry Requirements
This course is aimed at 16–18 year-olds who are not currently in education, employment or training and are interested in practical, outdoor or creative careers.
No previous horticulture or creative craft experience is required.
You should be willing to take part in practical activities, work as part of a team and develop your skills and confidence.
Ready to get started?
Interested in joining a Get Into course? The quickest and easiest way to find out more and apply is to speak to our friendly Enquiries Team.
Call 01273 890 454
They can talk you through the course, answer any questions and help you with the next steps.
Bursaries
Financial support could be available to you depending on your household income, eligibility criteria, and level of study. A bursary, which is money given directly by the Government, could help fund bus travel, accommodation, course equipment, college meals, or educational trips.
Course Fees
Students aged 16-18 on 31st August in the year of starting the course do not pay tuition fees.
Students aged 19-23 studying their Level 1, 2 or first Level 3 may be entitled to tuition fee waiver depending on criteria eligibility.
Students aged 24+ who are studying a second Level 3 course or aged 24+ who are studying their first Level 3 course will have to pay tuition fees, depending on the course.
Students on low income who can prove they earn less than £25,000 (from September 2024); are unemployed; or receive state benefits could be entitled to a tuition fee waiver.
All students pay a standard facility fee of £150 to use communal, non-educational facilities.
Material fees apply to Floristry, Blacksmithing and Metalwork, Agricultural Engineering, and Motor Vehicle students, which contribute to quality resources and equipment for their studies.
