Horticulture > Level 2 Award in Practical Horticulture Skills for Growers
Course Duration
3-5 weeks, depending on option
3-5 weeks, depending on option3-5 weeks, depending on option
Course Location
Greenmount Campus
Level 2 Award in Practical Horticulture Skills for Growers
The Level 2 Award in Practical Horticulture Skills is designed as part of the Growers’ Training and Support Pilot Scheme. It is awarded through City & Guilds and offers an excellent opportunity for anyone new to horticulture or seeking to improve their technical skills. Develop your knowledge of pests, diseases and disorders which impact the horticulture industry in Northern Ireland.
Course content
Within the course the following areas will be covered:
- Identification of pests, diseases and disorders and the symptoms they cause to plants
- Horticulture in Northern Ireland
- Plant Health
- Control methods
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
This course is designed primarily for anyone interested in applying for the Horticulture Pilot Scheme who is required to hold a minimum of a Level 2 Award in Horticulture. Depending on uptake, spaces may also be available for horticulture professionals seeking continued professional development.
Option 1:
3-week, full-day course based in Armagh
Start date: Tuesday 7 October 2025
Duration: 3 weeks
Delivery mode: In-person for 3 consecutive Tuesdays, 10:00 – 15:30, at DAERA Direct Armagh office, A:tek Building conference room plus 2-3 online learning sessions each week (completed at your convenience).
Book here for the Tuesday Armagh course – do not use the ‘Book this course for me’ button for this option, please follow the linked text.
Option 2:
5-week, half-day course based at Greenmount Campus, Antrim
Start date: Wednesday 8 October 2025
Duration: 5 weeks
Delivery mode: In-person every Wednesday morning (half-day) at Greenmount Campus plus one online learning session each week (completed at your convenience).
Book here for the Wednesday Greenmount course or use the ‘Book this course for me’ button
Option 3:
Wednesday 12, 19 & 26 November.
Greenmount Campus
Full-day course format – 9:30am – 3:00pm plus online content in the learner’s own time.
Book here for the November course, do not use the ‘Book this course for me’ button.
Course Entry Requirements
There are no formal entry requirements for the qualification. Preference will be given to those applicants wishing to apply for the Horticulture Pilot Scheme who do not yet hold a Level 2 Award or higher in Horticulture. Following this, other Horticulture Pilot Scheme applicants or professionals seeking CPD will be considered.
This is a professional qualification and not for amateurs, though new entrants to horticulture outside of the Horticulture Pilot Scheme will be considered. Where there is demand, the course will be run again following the Horticulture Pilot Scheme application process, when the course can be made more available to a range of applicants.
Greenmount Campus
Greenmount Campus is the centre of all things green – that’s agricultural, horticultural and environmental providing an idyllic rural setting for your land-based studies.
Facilities
