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Paid traineeship
Role Summary
Payment: 80 hours at £12.60 per hour split over duration of traineeship paid in 7 equal monthly instalments. Up to £1,008 in total, subject to completing the full traineeship.
Location: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, covering reasonable travel and subsistence expenses for training and delivery sessions
Training Hours: 80 hours, over six-month period. Split into 40 hours for training, and 40 hours for delivery
Dates: September 2025 to March 2026
Deadline to apply: 28 July 2025, 10:00 am
No previous knowledge or experience in the environmental field is required.
Area: Community Engagement
Project: This traineeship is part of Planting Connections Project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund
Planting Connection project is looking for our new Biodiversity Ambassadors. A Biodiversity Ambassador is a paid trainee who will learn more about community engagement and biodiversity. They will then use this learning to create and delivered workshops about biodiversity importance with community groups.
This traineeship is for people who want to improve their community engagement skills while they learn about biodiversity and the plants in our Garden.
Applicants will demonstrate and be able to communicate their love for nature. They will have a desire to share this love and excitement with communities.
This opportunity could be for you if:
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You want to delve into the world of community engagement in the environmental field.
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You want to improve your facilitation, communication and leadership skills.
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You want to learn more about biodiversity and how the work of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is supporting nature in this climate emergency.
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You want to learn in a non-academic environment, learning from other trainees and staff, and from plants.
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You are comfortable answering emails and using the internet.
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You live in Scotland and are available to undertake the traineeship in person.
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You are eligible to work in the United Kingdom.
No previous experience or formal knowledge in environmental science is needed to be a Biodiversity Ambassador.
Please read our application pack for all the details about the traineeship.
If you have any questions, you can have a look at our Common Questions and Answers document here or email your question to pnino@rbge.org.uk
To apply
Please email recruitment@rbge.org.uk telling us:
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What would you like to learn from this traineeship?
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Why do you think it is important to speak with more people about nature and how we can care for it?
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You can submit your answer in video (max 2 minutes), audio (max 2 minutes), visual (such as a sketch, digital artwork or mind map), or writing (max 1 page).
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Provide a completed equal opportunities questionnaire*: EOQ form
*The equal opportunities monitoring online form will not be shared with anyone involved in assessing your application. Please complete as part of the application process.
Closing date: 28 July 2025, 10:00 Am
If you have any questions about access, please email pnino@rbge.org.uk
Full-time (35 hours), permanent, based at Dawyck Botanic Garden
Salary: £45,712 to £50,980 (pay award pending) plus generous holiday entitlement, Civil Service pension and other benefits
At the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), we’re passionate about plants and their power to inspire, educate, and connect people. We’re looking for a Curator to lead the team at Dawyck Botanic Garden—one of the world’s finest arboreta, nestled in 65 acres of breathtaking woodland and burnside walks.
This is a unique opportunity to combine your horticultural expertise with leadership, creativity, and a deep commitment to biodiversity and community engagement.
As Curator, you will play a central role in championing the care and cultivation of Dawyck’s living collection, using climate-conscious and biodiversity-friendly practices. You’ll lead and inspire a small, dedicated team, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. Working closely with our science, learning, and visitor teams, you’ll help create a welcoming and inclusive experience for all who visit. You’ll also represent Dawyck both locally and internationally, building strong relationships with communities and stakeholders. Importantly, you’ll contribute to shaping and delivering RBGE’s strategic goals, ensuring Dawyck continues to thrive as a place of beauty, learning, and connection.
We’re looking for someone with experience working with scientific plant collections in a botanic garden, strong leadership and communication skills, and a solid understanding of modern horticultural practices and plant conservation. You’ll bring proven project management abilities, a passion for engaging diverse audiences, and hold relevant horticultural qualifications along with a valid UK driver’s licence. Experience in budgeting, procurement, teaching, or fundraising would be an added bonus.
To arrange an informal discussion about the role, please contact Gillian Williamson at gwilliamson@rbge.org.uk
To apply, please email recruitment@rbge.org.uk with the following:
- Your CV
- A covering letter outlining the skills, knowledge and experience you would bring to the post
Please also electronically complete and submit an equal opportunities questionnaire using the following link: EOQ form. This form should not be included with your email application.
Closing date: Midday (BST) on Monday, 4 August 2025
Interview date: 14 August 2025 at Dawyck Botanic Garden
Recruitment information: Job description and person specification
If you have not heard from us within 2 weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has not been shortlisted. No recruitment agencies please.
Contact our recruitment team
If you have any questions, or require any documents in an accessible format, please email recruitment@rbge.org.uk or get in touch by using the enquiry form below.
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