A scholarship worth £2,500 is available to students pursuing a research career in the horticultural industry.

As part of the David Colegrave Foundation Scholarship Season, the award will support applied research within the horticulture industry.

The Horticultural Research Scholarship is open to undergraduates, postgraduates and those studying for doctoral degrees.

Last year’s winner, Rakhee Dhorajiwala (pictrured) is completing a Doctor of Philosophy (Biosciences) at Cardiff University. Rakhee, who is targeting a career in horticulture, is passionate about being able to support the food and flower industry in providing consumers with the best quality fruit, vegetables and other commercially sold cut flowers and bedding plants in a sustainable way.

She said: “I feel very lucky to have won the DCF Horticultural Research Scholarship…This win has given me the opportunity to carry out part of my PhD (investigating the genetic and physiological regulation of lily flower opening) at Royal Holloway, University of London. I have had an extremely rewarding and interesting few months.”

The David Colegrave Foundation Scholarship Season is open now until 31 January 2020.

Applications are already coming in from the likes of The University of the Highlands and Islands - Argyll College UHI, The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise - Greenmount campus, Harper Adams University, Walworth School of Horticulture, Eden Project Learning, Nottingham Trent University, Myerscough College, Pershore college and Broomfield Derby college.

More colleges are encouraged to get on board and get their horticulture students applying.

To apply, visit the DCF website