News published: 12 November 2026

The International Plant Sentinel Network (IPSN), a technical network of BGCI, is collaborating with the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) to offer a dedicated mentoring scheme supporting staff working in UK botanic gardens, arboreta and other living collections organisations to gain professional recognition for their plant health and biosecurity knowledge, skills and experience.

The mentoring scheme will help participants prepare an application to join the RSB Plant Health Professional Register (PHPR) through structured training, professional mentoring and peer support.

 

What is the Plant Health Professional Register?

 

The Plant Health Professional Register (PHPR) provides recognition and validation of your plant health and biosecurity competencies, professional experiences and achievements. It is open to professionals across a range of sectors, including botanic gardens, arboreta, horticulture, forestry, plant science and environmental management.

The Register provides a framework for career progression with three levels of recognition: Associate, Registered and Senior Plant Health Professional.

Registration offers formal recognition of professional competencies, enhanced career opportunities, access to learning and networking opportunities, commitment to high biosecurity standards. For botanic gardens and arboreta, it also helps demonstrate staff expertise in maintaining healthy living collections, implementing effective biosecurity practices, and monitoring and managing plant pests and diseases.

 

About the IPSN – RSB mentoring scheme:

 

The mentoring programme is designed to support participants understand the PHPR competency framework, identify how their existing knowledge and experience meet its requirements, and prepare an application for professional registration.

The IPSN hopes to work with the RSB to establish a dedicated mentoring cohort for professionals working in UK botanic gardens, arboreta and other organisations managing living plant collections.

The mentoring programme combines:

• RSB membership: The cohort will become members of the RSB, which provides access to a range of benefits.
• Self-paced online training: Access to the Plant Health Professional Register Training and associated materials, covering competencies to become a Plant Health Professional.
• Interactive mentoring workshops: Opportunities to review the training, discuss the competencies and share experiences.
• Professional mentoring: Guidance and constructive feedback from experienced plant health professionals.

At the end of the training and mentoring programme, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to apply for the PHP Register.

More information here.

* Arrangements for a dedicated IPSN cohort remain subject to confirmation.

 

Who can participate?

 

The 2027 mentoring scheme offers two opportunities: joining as a mentee or supporting the cohort as a mentor.

All participants must be aged 18 or over, resident in the UK for the duration of the programme and able to commit the necessary time.

Mentees – Develop your professional skills

Aimed at early-career professionals with approximately one to two years’ experience in plant health and biosecurity. We particularly encourage applicants working in botanic gardens, arboreta and other living collections organisations.

Mentees will receive online training and benefit from guidance and feedback from experienced plant health professionals to help prepare their registration applications.

The estimated time commitment for mentees is approximately 30 hours.

Mentors – Share your knowledge and experience

We welcome experienced plant health professionals with more than two years’ experience who are interested in supporting others’ professional development. Membership of the Plant Health Professional Register is desirable but not essential.

Mentors will support up to three mentees, providing guidance and feedback on their applications.

The estimated time commitment is 6–7 hours.

 

Register your interest

 

If you would like to be considered for the proposed 2027 IPSN mentoring cohort, please complete our short expression-of-interest questionnaire.

Register your interest by 10 December 2026.

We encourage interested individuals to discuss the opportunity with their line managers, particularly in relation to the time commitment and any institutional support required.

Please note: Completing the questionnaire does not guarantee a place on the programme. Further details will be shared once arrangements have been confirmed with the RSB. 

 

Funding opportunity: Plant Health Professional Development Award

 

RSB membership and Plant Health Professional Registration involve associated fees, starting from £105 per year.

The RSB offers a Plant Health Professional Development Award, which provides successful applicants with one year’s free RSB membership and a free PHPR application, including their first year of registration.

The deadline for applications to the 2027 Development Award is 1 December 2026.

Please note that applying for the Development Award is a separate process from expressing interest in the IPSN-RSB mentoring scheme.