Qualification -Advanced Certificate Applied Management (Retail Nursery)

COURSE STRUCTURE

This course is comprised of:

*Core studies - Four units (400 hours) of compulsory subjects for all students.

*Elective studies – Three stream units for the development of knowledge in a chosen industry sector.

*Project – a workplace project of 200 hrs relevant to your field of study. The project specifically aims to provide the student with the opportunity to apply and integrate skills and knowledge developed through various areas of formal study. Contact the school for more information.

 

CORE UNITS Click on each module for more details
Office Practices
Develops basic office skills covering use of equipment, communication systems (telephone, fax, etc) and office procedures such as filing, security, workplace organisations, etc.

Business Operations
Develops knowledge of basic business operations and procedures (eg. types of businesses, financial management, business analysis, staffing, productivity, etc) and the skills to develop a 12 month business plan.

Management
Develops knowledge of management structures, terminology, supervision, recruitment and workplace health and safety.

Marketing Foundations.
Develops a broad understanding of marketing and specific skills in writing advertisements, undertaking market research, developing an appropriate marketing plan and selling.


STREAM STUDIES
1. Horticulture 1
The ideal course for the beginner, this is a basic, yet thoroughly practical course which gives you a sound broad technical grounding in horticultural principles and practices. A section of each lesson involves plant identification. YOU WILL LEARN:

To identify, propagate and care for 80 different types of plants.
The systematic way plants are classified.
Structure and parts of a flower.
To identify different leaf shapes.
Different ways to control weeds.
Simple soil tests.
Making propagating and potting mixes.
Identifying pest and disease problems.
How and why to prune different plants.
Drawing a simple garden sketch plan.
To plant or repair a lawn; and lots more.

2. Garden Centre Management
Designed originally in conjunction with a garden department manager of a major retail chain store; this course has been very successful in training both staff and managers of retail nurseries and garden centres across the world. It continues to be updated at least annually, and continues to be used by small nurseries through to major chain stores across the country.
The course is divided into 12 lessons as follows: 

1.  Introduction: Plant classification, plant cultural requirements, soil and nutrition, watering requirements, drainage, temperature, light, humidity.

2. Plant Health: How to diagnose a problem, pests, diseases, nutrient deficiencies, frost, sunburn, chemical damage, insufficient light, overwatering.

3. Stock Maintenance: Quality standards, buying new stock, inspecting stock, extending stock life, disposing of below-standard stock, watering techniques, fertilising, pest and disease control.

4. Display and Display Techniques: Display units, product location, sales area layout.

5. Garden Product Knowledge I: Plant containers, tags, soil mixes, equipment, tools.

6. Garden Product Knowledge II: Chemicals, fertilisers, baskets, terrariums, cut flowers.

7. Indoor Plants: Major groups, common problems, plants for specific situations, customer attitudes.

8. Container Stock: Trees and Shrubs.

9. Seedlings, Bulbs, Herbs and Perennials.

10. A: Deciduous Trees, Fruit, Nuts, Berries.

B. Seed.

11. Marketing: Pricing strategy, advertising, promotions.

12. Management: Staff control, staff productivity, work scheduling.


3. Sales Skills
There are twelve lessons in this course; as outlined below:

1. Presentation and selling

Personality. "Never judge a book by its cover." A wise old saying! but people who buy do make judgments especially about sales people. Dress and grooming are top priority in selling.As well you must learn how to develop a selling personality.

2. Communication and Conversational selling.

Learn the art of written and verbal communication in easy to understand terms.

3. Marketing (Buyer analysis and motivation)

Presentation of products to consumers and motivating them to buy.

4. Management (hierachy)

Dealing with upper management; learn how to get your point across. How to be assertive and positive when dealing with your superiors.

5. Helping the Product Sell Itself

6. Know your product and pre planning.

Through observation, reading and listening get to know your products (pre planning is essential in today's complex society).

7. Selling made as simple as A B C.

The procedure of selling.

8. "The Opening" (getting the attention of the buyer)

Creating the right atmosphere for a sale to take place.

9. "Closing a Sale" (overcoming objections).

Buyers will tend to look else where unless a salesman can close a sale in an appropriate amount of time (learn the secrets).

10. "Stress Management"

Learn the art of relaxation through stress management techniques.

11. The Law and Selling

12. Report Assessment Writing

 
Click here to view - Nursery Management 2nd Edition by ACS distance education Principal John Mason

Click here to view outlines of other books related to this subject

 

Horticulture Tutors

Diana Cole B.A. (Hons), Higher Dip. (Garden Design), RHS Advanced Cert. Horticulture, Cert Admin.Mgt., Dip. Inst. Personnel Management

In addition to her RHS horticulture, garden design, City & Guild construction, NPTC pesticide/legislation and business/management qualifications, Diana has a variety of skills drawn from setting up Arbella Gardens, a landscape gardening business. She also has administrative, management and training delivery experience drawn from her employment in other organisations such as the NHS and other educational institutions such as schools & universities. She has augmented her training expertise having gained the Preparing to Teach in the Life Long Learning Sector qualification. She also has experience gained through working as a volunteer in a number of different roles including amenity style gardening in parks and practical conservation work.

.Maggi Brown Cert.Ed.(Environment)
Maggi is regarded as an expert in Organic Growing throughout the UK, having worked for two decades as Education Officer at the world renowned Henry Doubleday Research Association (now Garden Organic). She has been active in education, environmental management and horticulture across the UK for more them three decades.

Yvonne Sharpe RHS Cert.Hort, Dip.Hort, M.Hort, Cert.Ed., Dip.Mgt.
Over 30 years of experience in horticulture, education and management, Yvonne hastravelled widely within and beyond Europe, and has worked in many areas of horticulture from garden centres to horticultural therapy. She has served on industry committees and been actively involved with amateur garden clubs for decades.

Thady Barrett M.Hort (RHS) Thady is a consultant to the horticulture industry in the UK, with particular interest in the ornamental plant sector. Previously a senior lecturer at Writtle College for 20 years which included being course tutor for RHS qualifications. Wide ranging practical horticultural experience but with specific interest in propagation techniques and plant production technologies. Member of the International Plant Propagators Society (IPPS) and awarded the Rose Bowl Award in 2009 in recognition of his contribution to the society