New Shoots Scholarships

Opening up work-based training opportunities and summer studentships to learners from lower socio-economic backgrounds

The RHS New Shoots initiative aims to increase the diversity of people entering horticulture as a profession. In this context, New Shoots offers top-up scholarships to RHS apprentices and learners on the RHS Professional Work Placements, as well as undergraduates undertaking a summer studentship placement in the RHS Science teams to support with accommodation or transport.

Who are we aiming to support?

We are aiming to support learners from lower socio-economic backgrounds who have been offered a placement on the following programmes:

How do I apply for a New Shoots scholarship?

If you are successfully offered and accept a position on an Apprenticeship, Professional Work Placement or Science Summer Studentship the New Shoots team will contact your to discuss your eligibility.

What does the scholarship look like?

Successful applicants for our Apprenticeships, Professional Work Placements*, Science Summer Studentship programmes may be eligible for financial support to help with accommodation near or transport to the RHS Gardens for the duration of your placement.
 
No additional application is needed – we might ask for proof of a household income of less than £25,000 per year for a single person, or £50,000 for 2 adults sharing income to evidence eligibility.
 
*Please note if you have already been offered RHS accommodation that you will not be eligible for this scholarship.

What kind of evidence will I be asked to submit?
Some of the common documents that can be used to evidence household income are
  • Pay slips, tax returns, bank statements
  • Benefit letters, council tax reduction letters
  • We reserve the right to carry out spot checks during the placement to ascertain continued need for financial support.
What counts as a household?
A single adult or a couple living at the same address and any dependent children or adults.
When will I hear whether I’ve been awarded a scholarship?

Once all evidence has been shared with us, we aim to make a decision within a working week.

What can the scholarship be used for?
You will be asked to provide evidence of how the scholarship has been used to support your accommodation or transport costs. Some common documents that can be used as evidence include appropriate receipts, invoices or bank statements.
What is the total amount of the scholarship?
  • For apprentices and learners on Professional Work Placements: £2,500 per programme year
  • For Science summer students: £800 for the duration of their placement
What do I need to do when I receive the scholarship?
The details of the scholarship conditions can be found here. 
Contact us
For more information or if you have a question, please get in touch with the New Shoots team. 


E-mail:
[email protected]

Qualifications and training

Qualifications and training

Careers in horticulture

New Shoots

New Shoots

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The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.