Horticultural Manager

Introduction

Horticultural managers work in commercial or amenity horticulture. Both aspects share common features. Managers are in charge of the day-to-day running of their establishment's activities, including deciding which crops to plant, using computers to monitor costs, and staff recruitment and supervision.

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Work Activities

Horticultural managers work in commercial horticulture and amenity or environmental horticulture. Some specialise in one area, although the distinctions are less marked and both aspects of horticulture share common features.

Managers are in charge of the day-to-day running of their establishment's activities. They decide which crops to plant and their rotation. They buy stock and equipment and order seed, plants and fertiliser. They use computers to monitor costs and are responsible for maintaining profits. This may involve analysing sales records to decide which products are most likely to sell well. This information is used to plan product lines.

Managers are also responsible for staff recruitment, supervision and the planning of work schedules, often through supervisory staff. They need to be in close touch with the work outside and they sometimes carry out practical tasks, such as spraying, mulching, watering, pruning, weeding and potting, to help their staff.

In commercial horticulture, managers are mainly concerned with the cultivation, harvesting, storage and sale of produce. This includes field vegetables, fruit, protected crops grown under glass or polythene, and hardy nursery stock, such as trees, shrubs, roses and herbaceous plants. In garden centres, the emphasis is on retail sales to the general public.

In amenity horticulture, managers traditionally deal with the large scale maintenance of sports greens, parks, public gardens, private estates, urban green areas and the landscaping of hard and soft verges. Some specialise in turf culture and tree management. Increasingly, amenity horticulture is expanding to include the provision and maintenance of countryside recreational facilities.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

Technological advances have led to increasing mechanisation and computerisation, so horticultural managers need a sound technical knowledge of maintenance, production and harvesting methods. You will also need practical skills in looking after plant stock and an interest in growing plants. This means being knowledgeable about plant biology, including methods of controlling pests and disease.

Business administration and information technology skills are important too as the industry becomes increasingly market orientated. Budgeting, price setting, buying and cost control require good analytical skills and numerical ability. Managers deal with a variety of specialists: suppliers, growers, distributors and retail organisations so you will need good negotiating and communication skills.

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Pay and Opportunities

Pay for horticultural managers varies depending on the sector they are employed in and the type of business they work for.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Managers earn in the range of £16,500 - £21,500 a year, rising to £25,000 - £27,500. Higher earners can make around £35,000 a year.

Horticultural managers work a basic 39-hour week. However, irregular hours and weekend work may be required, especially at harvest/peak selling times.

Commercial horticulture employs horticultural managers in market gardens, fruit farms, nursery stock and flower producing units. The fastest growing area of commercial horticulture is the garden centre business.

Most horticultural managers work in amenity horticulture. Employers are local councils, garden centres, horticultural contractors, large private estates and organisations such as the National Trust for Scotland.

Self-employment is possible in commercial and amenity horticulture.

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Adult Opportunities

It is now illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Working as a horticultural supervisor/worker can lead into management level posts.

If you don't have the qualifications you need to enter a degree or HND course, you might be able to start one after completing an Access course. You don't usually need any formal qualifications to start an Access course, although you should check individual course details.

Royal Horticultural Society examinations by distance learning are available from the Horticultural Correspondence College and the Institute for Horticultural and Rural Studies.

Funding for further study is available from the Studley College Trust. Candidates should see the Trust website to check on eligibility.

Funding for further study is available from the Merlin Trust. Candidates should see the Trust website to check on eligibility.

• 8% of people in occupations such as horticultural management work part-time.
• 14% have flexible hours.

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New Developments

Some people working in this occupation may be involved in the green jobs sector in areas such as conservation or countryside management.