If you’ve ever been interested in a career in horticulture or garden design and wondered where to start, Donegal ETB’s Further Education and Training (FET) Service offers a range of courses in this area at various locations around the county from Levels 3-5.
Rory Keys, 23, from Convoy in County Donegal joined the full-time QQI Level 5 Horticulture course having previously been involved with Convoy Tidy Towns and a local allotment project in the Donegal village.
“I joined the course because I had a big interest in horticulture, especially in growing vegetables, and I wanted to develop my skills further for employability skills.
“I would highly recommend it, it was a very good course and I learned a lot from it.”
Since completing the course Rory has secured part-time employment on Ballyholey Farm near Raphoe within their Field Vegetable Production.
Former Horticulture Learner Rory Keys
“Since leaving the course I have entered into work,” he said. “I now manage the polytunnels and I am working out on the field.
“The course definitely gave me more of an understanding and it taught me more about horticulture, enabling me to take on this job.”
Rory also wanted to thank the tutor on the course, Gareth Austin, insisting he was always there to help when needed.
“My course tutor, Gareth (Austin) was very helpful and he always tried his best to help everybody understand and learn more.”
The ETB horticulture Level 5 course is currently recruiting for January 2019.
The course is based at the ETB’s Letterkenny Training Centre which has a greenfield site and polytunnel for fruit and vegetable production on site.
ETB Training Garden
On completion of this programme, learners will have the skills, knowledge and competencies to undertake horticulture operations independently or under direction in a range of fields.
If you are interested in this full-time course you can apply by clicking this link: https://www.fetchcourses.ie/course/finder?sfcw-courseId=228871
If a part-time option is more suitable, Donegal ETB’s FET Service also offers horticulture and garden design courses on a part-time basis at various locations around the county throughout the year.
Currently, Garden Design is on offer in Buncrana and you can apply through this link: https://www.fetchcourses.ie/course/finder?sfcw-courseId=232814 .
Other options can be checked out on the ETB’s website https://www.donegaletb.ie/further-education-training/course-finder/ using the keyword horticulture or by contacting their Adult Guidance and Information Service on 074 91 78088 or email adultguidance@donegaletb.
Donegal ETB’s horticulture courses are co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.
