Sometimes, seasonal work is just the beginning.
Every year, our busiest seasons bring new faces to our sites. People join us for all sorts of reasons- some are looking for flexible work, some want to try something completely different, and others simply want an opportunity to get started.
But for some, that first seasonal opportunity can become something more.
Plenty of our permanent team originally started by taking on seasonal work. They arrived with different experiences and plans, but by being reliable, getting involved and taking opportunities to learn, they found themselves building their skills and opening the door to something longer term.
Here are three examples of how a first season can develop into something more.
Andrei- From Picking Orders to Nursery Specialist
“I came for the busy season and ended up finding something I was really good at”
Andrei first joined the team during the busy spring season, initially looking for regular work over the summer months.
He started out picking customer orders- finding the right plants, checking their quality and getting them ready for packing and dispatch. He hadn’t worked in plant production before, so there was plenty to learn, from recognising different products to understanding the standards required for customer orders.
As the season progressed, Andrei became confident in the role and started learning other parts of the operation process. He took opportunities to train in packing, loading trolleys and different areas of nursery work, giving him a much broader understanding of how an order moves from the nursery to the customer.
His reliability and willingness to learn meant he was able to take on more responsibility, eventually progressing to a long-term and supporting others within the nursery team.
What would you say to someone thinking about registering?
“Don’t worry if you don’t know anything about plants when you start. Be willing to learn, ask questions and try different jobs. The more you learn, the more opportunities you can find.”
Elena- From Seasonal Packing to a Permanent Production Role
“Being willing to learn opened up more opportunities”
Elena originally registered looking for seasonal work and started in one of the packing areas during a busy production period.
Her first role involved preparing plants for customer orders- checking quality, packing products carefully, labelling and making sure orders were ready for the next stage of their journey.
As she gained experience, Elena became interested in learning more about what happened outside the packing area. She took opportunities to work in picking, greenhouse production and other areas of the nursery, building up a wider range of practical skills.
Being able to work confidently across different areas made her increasingly versatile and meant there were more types of work she could undertake as demand changed throughout the seasons.
What began as seasonal work eventually developed into a permanent opportunity within production.
Her advice?
“Say yes to learning something new. I started in packing and didn’t realise how many different jobs there were. Learning different areas helped me understand the whole nursery and gave me more opportunities.”
David- From Seasonal Nursery Work to a Permanent Growing Role
“I came for a season- and ended up staying.”
David’s journey began when he registered for seasonal work during one of the nursery’s busiest periods.
He started with general nursery work, helping to move and space plants, prepare growing areas and support the teams caring for plants through the busy spring and summer months.
The work was active and fast-paced, but David enjoyed being outdoors and seeing the progress of the plants he was working with. As he gained experience, he became increasingly interested in the growing side of the operation.
He took opportunities to learn more about plant care, quality, watering and identifying when plants were ready for the next stage of production. Over time, he built the practical knowledge and experience needed to take on more skilled work.
His seasonal role eventually developed into a more long-term position within the growing team.
What surprised you most?
“How much there was to learn. When I started, I thought nursery work would be quite simple, but there’s lots that goes into producing and maintaining good quality plants. I liked learning this information and becoming more confident.”
Think this could be you? Register your interest below to get started!
Ready when you are
Takes about 3 minutes. No CV required.