Thinking about a career working with people and the land? The Growing Together Course could be for you.

Applications are now open for The Growing Together Course – a new training programme from Edible Estates, delivered in partnership with the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society and a range of community gardening and community farming organisations across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Funded by the Local Growth Fund, the course has been created to support the green transition while helping more people develop the skills, experience and confidence to build careers working with people and the land.

Running from September 2026 to March 2027, the free, part-time programme will offer 24 places for people living in Edinburgh. Participants will spend around seven hours per week combining practical placements with structured learning, while some travel and subsistence costs will also be covered.

Throughout the course, participants will gain hands-on experience in a range of real-world settings, including community gardens, market gardens, school farms, therapeutic gardens and community woodlands. Alongside their placements, they’ll take part in seminars and guided projects exploring topics such as community garden design, nature restoration, climate adaptation and working with community groups.

The course is designed for adults who already have some growing or horticultural experience and are interested in developing a career in community gardening, community food growing, nature restoration or other green roles. Participants will also have the opportunity to gain an accredited certificate in Community Horticulture.

Could your organisation get involved?

Alongside recruiting participants, the programme is looking for community gardens, farms and other growing projectsto offer placements between September 2026 and March 2027. Placement providers will host participants as they gain practical experience, with matching managed by the course team. A contribution towards placement costs will be available, with further details to be confirmed.

The course is also seeking experienced practitioners to deliver paid seminars and teaching sessions on topics related to community growing and working with people. Get in touch with Growing Together at hello@growingtogether.scot.