The Professional Gardeners' Guild Trust.
WHY? The PGG Trust was established in 2004 to fund training and study for working gardeners in the UK and Ireland.
WHAT? The PGG Trust provides gardeners with the opportunity to acquire skills and gain qualifications through part-time courses. This enhances their careers and benefits the horticulture profession as a whole. Through the Finnis Scott Award, the Trust is able to support gardeners to gain experience through work placements in other gardens. The Trust can help not only in areas of practical horticulture but also through management studies, leadership, IT or presentation skills.
HOW? The Trust is funded by donations from horticultural trusts and organisations, private individuals and subscription contributions from PGG members. To make a donation to the PGG Trust or to help with our appeal, click here.
WHO? Applications are welcome from those whose main source of income is from working as a gardener. There is no age limit and it is not necessary to be a member of the Professional Gardeners' Guild.
EXAMPLES
• Are you looking for financial assistance to obtain a horticultural qualification?
• Do you need a chain saw operators certificate (CS30 or SC31) or a spraying certificate (PA1, 2, or 6)?
• Do you need training in supervisory or management skills, risk assessment, Health and Safety legislation?
• Do you have inadequate IT skills?
• Would you like to learn how to write reports, talk to groups, or give PowerPoint presentations?
• Do you need financial assistance to attend a specialist conference or seminar?
• Do you want to gain practical experience from a working placement in another garden? To view the Finnis Scott Award webpage, click here.
The Professional Gardeners' Guild Trust can help finance any of these.
- To download an application form, click here.
Record of awards: From small beginnings, in 2011 the PGG Trust was able to award 19 gardeners with £6900 for training and work placements. In all it has made awards totaling £13,000 to 43 gardeners; £2,700 of these as Finnis Scott Awards to 7 gardeners.
Examples of recent awards: In 2011,
• James Miller and Svenja Burckhardt, both full-time trainee gardeners, and Natasha Ransom, a self-employed gardener, received support to obtain spraying certificates PA1 and PA6.
• Alice Riches, a RHS Rosemoor gardener, and David Christie, a self-employed gardener, were awarded funding for chainsaw training and certificate CS30.
• Una Treanor, an instructor gardener at Threave garden, Scotland, was awarded travelling costs to help complete her BSc Horticulture through day release. Alice and Una receive VB Awards which are funded by an anonymous donor.
• Ian Donovan, employed at a private garden and Kate Hickmott, a self-employed gardener, were awarded funding to pay RHS level 3 (Diploma) module fees.
• Andrew Luckett, a sole employed gardener, was awarded the fees for a supervisory management correspondence course. Ian and Andrew receive Kenwyn Pearson Awards which are funded by PGG subscription contributions.
• Dan Kerins, an Eden Project gardener, was awarded the fees for a module of a design and landscape management award.
• Julian Borin, also an Eden Project gardener, was supported in a week's placement at Kew.
• Alistair McLean and Chris Young, who work in the propagation departments at Edinburgh Botanic Gardens and RHS Wisley, were awarded funding to enable a two week work exchange. These last three are Worshipful Company of Gardeners' Awards.
• Four other gardeners received Finnis Scott Awards
If you have any queries regarding the PGG Trust awards, please contact the Honorary Secretary
Helen Seal
8 Tenison Avenue
Cambridge
CB1 2DY
Tel. (outside of working hours) 07876 775266
email trust@pgg.org.uk
