The Bedford College Group
Associate Lecturer - Horticulture
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Role: Associate Lecturer – Horticulture
Location: Shuttleworth College – Old Warden
Salary/Benefits: Salary is £21.00 per hour
Hours/Weeks: 18 hours per week
Contract Type: Sessional – Hourly Paid
This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.
About The Role
We are currently seeking an Associate Lecturer in Horticulture to join our Land-based Education department at The Bedford College Group.
As an Associate Lecturer, you play an important role in the success of our students through:
- Teaching & Learning Delivery - Plan, prepare, deliver, and assess high-quality horticulture programmes across RHS Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications, using both practical and theory-based teaching approaches to meet learner needs.
- Learner Progress & Student Support - Monitor, assess, and report on learner achievement and progress, providing guidance, support, and personal tutoring to help students achieve their goals and progress into further study or employment.
- Curriculum Development & Quality Assurance - Develop schemes of work, learning resources, and curriculum content while contributing to quality assurance processes and the continuous improvement of horticulture provision.
- Horticultural Resource & Industry Engagement - Maintain horticultural facilities, equipment, and learning resources, while developing strong employer and industry partnerships to enhance learner opportunities and curriculum relevance.
- Compliance & Professional Responsibilities - Uphold safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, health & safety, and professional development requirements, ensuring a safe, inclusive, and effective learning environment for all learners.
About You
- Qualifications & Industry Expertise - Level 3 Horticulture qualification (or higher), GCSE English and Maths, and a commitment to achieving a recognised teaching qualification, supported by recent horticulture industry experience and strong practical horticultural knowledge.
- Teaching & Learning Capability - Experience delivering teaching, training, or assessment activities, with the ability to plan and deliver engaging practical and theory-based learning that supports student achievement and progression.
- Communication & Assessment Skills - Strong communication, assessment, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to monitor learner progress, provide constructive feedback, and support a high-quality learning experience.
- Organisation & Professionalism - Well-organised, reliable, and adaptable, with the ability to manage responsibilities effectively, maintain professional standards, and remain learner-focused in all aspects of the role.
- Flexibility & Continuous Development - Holds a driving licence, committed to ongoing CPD and industry updating, and willing to work occasional evenings and weekends to meet programme and organisational needs.
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What is an Associate?
Associates work on a short-term basis as assigned. They teach or provide support services, and they work with and are supported by core staff. As an Associate you will be issued with an Associate Agreement, under this Agreement period you will be eligible to work on assignments offered to you.
For a more detailed breakdown of the job role and the requirements, please see the Job Description attached to this vacancy.
Interviews to be held: TBC
Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisational VISION values:
- Valuing Teamwork - We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
- Improving Continuously - We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
- Student Centred - At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
- Inclusive - We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
- Open and Caring - We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
- Nurturing Education Excellence - We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.
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About Shuttleworth College
Shuttleworth College is set within the stunning location of Old Warden Park, near Biggleswade. It's a specialist land-based college, offering agricultural and environmental education, alongside animal sciences, equine studies and outdoor adventure all delivered within acres of parkland, farmland, lakes and woodland.
About The Bedford College Group
The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year.
Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College in the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough; Shuttleworth College, a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, (the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford); The Corby Sixth Form, (opened in September 2023); and the National College for Motorsport alongside Silverstone race circuit. To widen accessibility to education and training, the Group also has community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Kettering which offer IT training.
Safeguarding our Students
The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to thorough vetting process which includes, an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. The Bedford College Group's policy on Employment of Ex-Offenders is attached to this vacancy.
Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.
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