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Land-based Studies

Land-based Studies

Welcome to Land-based Studies

Sheffield is The Outdoor City, one of Europe’s greenest cities and the gateway to the Peak District. It’s stunning, inspiring, and makes for unrivalled and unique work environments. Studying one of our land-based study programmes in our automated glasshouses and workshops creates opportunities to maintain and design country gardens, landscape gardens or work as a grounds person.

Alternatively, our florists learn how to condition, design, package and sell flowers and foliage for retail in our industry-standard workshop. Keeping our countryside, green spaces, homes and event spaces looking beautiful is a rewarding and creative job!

Land-based Studies

“Doing an Apprenticeship jump starts your career which means you develop a strong work ethic. Since completing my Apprenticeship, I now have my own business where I employ another Apprentice.”

Alfie Hulbert, former Apprentice and Owner of Valley Landscapes

Why should I study a land-based qualification?

Picking the right course is the first step in your land-based career. Whether you choose a full-time study programme and pick your own specialism, or head straight into an Apprenticeship, we're sure to have something that suits you and your learning style.  

What key skills will I learn?

We’ll have you landscaping, growing, trading and arranging flowers in no time at all.

The opportunities to preserve, maintain and create Sheffield’s green spaces have never been better than here at The Sheffield College. We will train you to preserve our wonderful environment, devloping skills in:

  • Ground preparation and planting
  • Using horticultural tools and machinery 
  • Working in glasshouses 
  • Hard landscaping e.g. creating raised beds
  • Health and safety

Where will I be studying?

If you choose to study on one of our land-based study programmes, you'll be based at our Hillsborough Campus. Our facilities here include an industry standard floristry studio and fully automated glasshouses, adding to our industry standard workshops, and latest equipment and machinery. 

All of our facilities aim to replicate the standard of equipment you would be expected to use in the workplace, so that you're acquiring the skills you'll need for employment.

 

What can I do once I finish my studies?

Upon completion of one of our land-based study programmes, you could be maintaining and designing country gardens at grand halls like Chatsworth. You could be working as a grounds person, landscape gardener, garden centre operative or even at a historic garden in one of Sheffield’s many green spaces like the Botanical Gardens. Alternatively you could pursue a career as a pitch manager, creating carpet-like pitches at Bramall Lane, Hillsborough or maybe even Wembley.

Employers we work with

We work closely with local businesses and employers in your field to make sure you're developing the skills you need for the real world. These employers might set project briefs, invite you in for guided tours at their workplace, or even run workshops and seminars.

Recently we've worked with:

  • Royal Horticultural Society
  • Chatsworth House and Gardens
  • Sheffield Botanical Gardens Trust

Trips, Visits and Competitions

A key part of your learning experience will be getting out of the classroom so that you can see how things operate in the real world and not just in your textbook!

Some trips will be local, drawing on our brilliant connections and partnerships with nearby businesses and taking advantage of Sheffield's hugely diverse range of talent.

Our students have had some incredible opportunities over the last few years, from rennovating Sheffield United's training facilitiy to helping with floral installations at RHS Chatsworth. 

Work-related Activity and Industry Placements

We know that one of the best things we can do for our students is to give them practical experience of the sector they plan to work in so that they feel confident and prepared when it comes to entering the workplace. 

  • Improve your job prospects and gain knowledge of the work place in a variety of areas
  • Enhance your employability skills such as communication skills, problem-solving, social skills, time-management, commitment, enthusiasm, flexibility and team work
  • Previous experience of work can help you during interviews and it looks impressive on your CV
  • Helps you understand what motivates you and what you are passionate about so that you can apply this to your future career

Careers advice to help you go further

Choosing a career path when you've only just left school can seem like a daunting prospect, but our Careers Advice Team are on hand to offer you the best impartial careers guidance going. 

They can help you to figure out the kind of jobs that you might enjoy based on your interests, skills and hobbies; or if you already have a pretty good idea of what you'd like to do in the future they can give you some pointers on how to go further and land your dream job. You can talk to them whether you're still deciding on a course or even if you're about to make the jump from education into full-time work. 

Example careers

Ever wondered how much an accountant is South Yorkshire earns? Or what skills you need to become a developer?

Florist

Starting Salary
£17,293.80

Average Salary
£17,962.50

High-end Salary
£22,144.50

Gardeners and landscape gardeners

Starting Salary
£17,962.50

Average Salary
£21,090

High-end Salary
£24,253.50

What Courses are available

Land-based Studies icon

Horticulture

Hillsborough Campus
Level 1

More info