RHS SHOW VOLUNTEER
Role Description
RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW 2015
19 – 23 May 2015
Before you complete the application form online, please read this role description carefully. It will
help you greatly if you keep this file open, or have a printed copy to refer to, while you are filling in
your application online, as you will need to refer to it for details such as dates and times.
Role Title
On-site daily
show contact
RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year Volunteer
Senior Contact
Annette Dalton, RHS Volunteer Manager
Overview of
Volunteer role
As an RHS Show Volunteer, your role will be to share your knowledge and
passion for plants and be a spokesperson for the show and the charity. You
will help to inform and direct show visitors, and excite them about what they
can see and experience at the show. You will welcome all with a smile, and
deal with difficult queries in a calm and pleasant manner, re-directing any
visitor whose query or complaint you cannot resolve.
In addition you will have responsibilities specific to the RHS Product of the
Year Volunteer role, which are outlined below.
Location
Jill Otway, Plant Committee Coordinator, RHS
RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Royal Hospital Chelsea, Royal Hospital Road,
London SW3 4SR.
Main Activities
 To be part of an enthusiastic team at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015, made up of RHS
staff, committee members and volunteers, and based at the RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year
Stand in the Great Pavilion.
 To tell visitors about the competition and talk to them about the shortlisted plants, sharing your
plant and gardening knowledge, or asking a colleague to help if needed.
 To direct visitors to the relevant exhibitors’ stands to get more in-depth or technical information
about the plants (for example breeding information).
 To encourage interested visitors to visit the relevant plant breeder’s stand, offering directions if
needed, and thereby drive visitor traffic to participating exhibitor’s stands within the show.
 To have an understanding of the work of the RHS, and our membership options and benefits,
and to direct visitors to the nearest location at the show where they can buy membership if they
express an interest in doing so.
 To be familiar with the layout of the showground and main show gardens, exhibitors, and general
areas and to share this knowledge with our visitors.
 To greet visitors, and deal with every query, even disgruntled people, with a smile and in a calm
solution-focussed manner.
 As an RHS Show Volunteer, there may be times when you are asked to support other teams at
the show.
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Your Qualities
 A passion for horticulture and gardening, and familiar with our charitable work.
 Some plant and horticultural knowledge to enable you to engage with visitors about the
shortlisted plants in a meaningful and educational way.
 Personable and approachable, with good communication skills and a polite manner.
 Enthusiastic, energetic and helpful, so that as many show visitors as possible have a chance to
see, and learn about, the shortlisted plants.
 Reliable and honest.
 Able to be on your feet for long periods (both standing and walking around).
 A good sense of direction and a sense of humour will be a plus.
The Benefits for you
 Enjoy the show between your allocated shifts.
 Meet like-minded people and be part of a fun, enthusiastic team.
 Learn more about the RHS charity and how to get involved.
 Develop your communications, customer service and organisational skills.
 Gain events experience and add it to your CV.
 Receive a copy of the official Show Guide.
 You can claim back out-of-pocket transport expenses up to a max £15 (round trip) for public
transport, or a 30 mile round trip at 45p per mile, and food up to a max £10 per volunteering day.
How much time you should offer
We ask everyone to offer a minimum of 2 days, but preferably 3 days during a show. In addition all
volunteers will be required to attend a show Briefing Day, and the Press Day, for the show at which
they will be volunteering.
Volunteer Selection Events – February 2015
All applicants who are shortlisted will be asked to attend a Selection Event lasting 3 hours. There
will be four selection events: 9am-12pm and 1-4pm on Tuesday 17th February and 9am-12pm and
1-4pm on Saturday 21st February.
Selection events will be held in London at the Conference Centre, RHS Lawrence Hall, Greycoat
Street, London SW1P 2QD. All candidates will be contacted in the 3 weeks following the event.
Volunteer Briefing Sessions
Those invited to join us as a Show Volunteer 2015 will be expected to attend a Briefing Session for
the show. Briefing sessions listed below will be held at 80 Vincent Square, London SW1P 2PE.
Chelsea Briefing Sessions
The main RHS Chelsea Flower Show briefing session is on Tuesday 5 May, from 9am to 11.30am.
For those who cannot attend on 5 May, due to work or other commitments, we will carry out a
second briefing session on Wednesday 6 May, from 5.15pm to 7.30pm
Press Day Orientation
Prior to the main volunteering days, all show volunteers will be required to attend the Press Day for
orientation at the show. This 3 hour session will involve a 2 hour self-guided tour to familiarise
yourself with the show, as well as the collection of any items you will require such as uniform.
Chelsea Press Day
RHS Chelsea Flower Show Press Day is on Monday 18 May 2015 with Orientation sessions from
9am to 12pm and 12.30pm to 3.30pm.
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Show Dates and Shift Pattern – RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is open to visitors:
Tues 19 to Fri 22 May 2015 - 8am to 8pm
Saturday 23 May - 8am to 5.30pm
Shift Pattern
Each day will be divided into three-hour shifts, with an early and a late starting group. Each
volunteer position will be covered by 2 volunteers, so we will rely on volunteers to return from breaks
in a timely fashion to ensure cover at all times.
early start
7.30am
Sign in
8 - 11am
3 hours volunteering
late start
10.30 Sign in
11am - 2pm
3 hours free
3 hours volunteering
2 - 5pm
3 hours volunteering
3 hours free
5 - 8pm
3 hours volunteering
Please note:
On Saturday 23 May, due to the 5.30pm closure of the show, volunteers doing the late start may be
asked to help ‘close up’ from 5pm for an hour or two, or may not be required for a second shift. This
will be discussed at your Saturday briefing.
Travel Expenses & Food
We will be delighted to reimburse the travel expenses you incur by travelling to the Selection Event,
the Briefing Session, Press Day and your volunteering days at the show(s). You can claim back
your actual transport expenses up to a max £15 (round trip) for public transport, OR a 30 mile round
trip at 45p per mile, for those days the days that you attend volunteer training at Vincent Square and
the on-site training at the Chelsea showground. Receipts must be supplied. At Chelsea we will
provide a lunch and on-site tea/coffee making facilities.
The Next Step
If you wish to offer your help as an RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year Volunteer, please complete the
application form at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VGMMP3K no later than 5pm on Friday 16
January 2015. (We suggest that you allow 20 – 30 minutes to complete your online application.)
Please make a note of available dates & times you offer in your application for your own records.
Thank you for your interest in supporting the charitable work of the Royal Horticultural Society
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