Competencies required to become a Chartered Horticulturist

A Horticultural Knowledge

A1 What underpinning knowledge of the principals of horticulture do you have?
This includes, but is not limited to, the ability to:
• Critically analyse, interpret and evaluate complex information to determine sustainable courses of action.
• Understand the wider context in which the area of study or work is being undertaken.
• Reformulate and use practical, conceptual, or technological understanding of horticulture to develop ways forward in complex situations.

A2 How do you apply this knowledge?
This includes, but is not limited to, the ability to:
• Conceptualise and address problematic situations that involve many interacting horticultural factors.
• Determine and use appropriate methodologies and approaches.
• Critically evaluate actions, methods and results and their short and long-term implications.
• Actively learn from results to improve future solutions and approaches, and build best practice.
• Negotiate the necessary contractual and agreed arrangements with other stakeholders.

A3 Demonstrate your analysis and evaluation of problems.
This includes, but is not limited to, the ability to:
• Analyse and evaluate often complex problems from a horticultural perspective, working sometimes with incomplete data.
• Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and addressing problems.
• Demonstrate a critical awareness of current problems and anticipate the impact of future trends.
• Critically analyse and embrace new information and seek new knowledge, skills and competences in the field of horticulture.

B Leadership & Management

B1 How do you influence others?
This includes, but is not limited to, the ability to:
• Develop good practices [best practice] which others can follow by actively learning from results to improve future solutions and approaches.
• Help, mentor, and support others to understand the wider picture.
• Encourage others to actively contribute to good practice.

B2 How do you promote a strategic environmental approach?
This includes, but is not limited to, the ability to:
• Demonstrate self-direction and originality in developing strategies for development and improvement.
• Actively collaborate and engage with other disciplines and stakeholders and encourage multi- disciplinary and inter-disciplinary approaches to horticulture challenges.
• Identify constraints and exploit opportunities for the development and transfer of appropriate technology.
• Identify areas of uncertainty and risk including health and safety, environmental, technical, business and reputational.

B3 Demonstrate your leadership and management skills.
This includes, but is not limited to, the ability to:
• Exercise broad autonomy and judgement across environmental and sustainability issues
• Motivate and influence others to agree and deliver objectives.
• Identify individual needs, plan for their development, assess individual performance and provide feedback.
• Reflect on outcomes, identify and pursue improvements on previous practice.

C Communication & Interpersonal Skills

C1 How do you communicate the horticulture case?
This includes, but is not limited to, the ability to:
• Deliver presentations to a wide spectrum of audiences.
• Lead and sustain debates.
• Contribute to and chair meetings and discussions.
• Identify, engage with and respond to a range of stakeholders.

C2 Demonstrate your ability to liaise with and advise others, and handle conflict.
This includes, but is not limited to, the ability to:
• Understand the motives and attitudes of others and be aware of different roles.
• Influence decision-making.
• Seek the opinions and contributions of others.
• Promote development opportunities and activities.
• Champion group decisions and manage conflict for the achievement of common goals and objectives.

D Professional Standards

D1 How have you encouraged others to promote sustainability?
This includes, but is not limited to, the ability to:
• Inform and encourage others to consider issues and the consequence of their decisions and actions.

D2 When have you taken responsibility for professional development?
This includes, but is not limited to, the ability to:
• Recognise the value of CPD to the profession.
• Have a strong desire to learn.
• Value and actively pursue personal professional development.

D3 Demonstrate an understanding of ethical dilemmas.
This includes, but is not limited to, the ability to:
• Understand the nature of professional responsibility.
• Identify the ethical elements in decisions.
• Address and resolve problems arising from questionable practice.

D4 How do you comply with relevant codes of conduct and practice?

N.B. Masters level and its equivalence

Being of Masters level does not necessarily mean you hold a Masters level qualification.

Candidates who can demonstrate that they have knowledge and experience gained from a professional environment, which is equivalent to a Masters level qualification, would be considered to be of Masters level.