Apprentice Landscaper

Summary

A rare opportunity has arisen for a new apprentice to work closely with the business owner, creating the finest quality gardens of distinction. This creative role includes physical work in all weather such as, digging, groundworks, laying paving, brickwork, decking, building structures such as pergolas, fencing, planting, and turfing.

Annual wage

£15,600 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Pay is calculated as an hourly rate starting at £7.50 per hour moving up to minimum wage after the first year

Training course

Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

Hours

Monday to Friday 7.45am to 4.45pm. You will be paid the same rate whilst attending college for 1 day a week. Possibly may be asked to work occasional weekends but this would be unusual.

40 hours a week

Possible start date

Saturday 4 January

Duration

2 years

Positions available

1

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

The job involves digging, shovelling filling skips, moving materials, and working in uncomfortable weather but it is hugely rewarding to gain the skill and experience necessary to create gardens and driveways that stand out from those created by competitors and go above and beyond our clients' expectations. You will be trained at work in the correct, safe, and efficient use of various small machinery and the correct methods and procedures that we use. The role will give you the opportunity to progress, as you gain skills, to a standard where you will be able to complete any landscaping project from start to finish to the highest standard.

Duties include:

Learning safe and efficient working practices
Use of small machinery such as cement mixers, concrete breakers, compaction plates and angle grinders etc.
Reading and using scale plan drawings of gardens
Digging, shovelling and barrowing
Movement and grading of building materials
Assisting in all apsects of paving using natural stone, concrete, clay and porcelain
Installing Brickwork, block and stone walls from foundations upwards
building decks using softwood, hardwood and composite boards
Building structures such as pergolas from scratch and from kits
All aspects of Fencing
Planting, including design, planning, identification and handling.
Natural and artificial turfing installation
Installation oif garden lighting and irrigation systems.

Where you’ll work

148 READING ROAD

WOODLEY

READING

RG5 3AA

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

THE WINDSOR FOREST COLLEGES GROUP

Your training course

Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

Equal to GCSE

Course contents

(Core) Apply health and safety processes and procedures including risk assessments and or construction design management (CDM), manual handling, legislative requirements and organisational policies. Follow safe systems of work and safety information in line with employer requirements or site context (for example clearing their route before transporting materials).

(Core) Apply environmental mitigation measures including storage and disposal of waste, for example sorting materials for recycling or composting, acting in compliance with legal requirements, organisational policies and pollution controls.

(Core) Select, undertake a pre start check, set up, clean, store and safely operate tools, equipment and machinery (including pedestrian controlled and handheld) in line with current legislation and business policies.

(Core) Communicate with technical (for example supervisors or managers) and non-technical audiences (for example clients or the public) using language appropriate to the audience.

(Core) Identify plants commonly grown in the UK by scientific names including genus species and or cultivar.

(Core) Maintain the correct phytosanitary and bio-security procedures for the site, in accordance with legal requirements.

(Core) Identify and report symptoms and or signs of commonly found UK plant pests, pathogens and disorders.

(Core) Maintain plant health for example providing for basic needs such as water, nutrition (either organic or inorganic), light.

(Core) Cultivate, improve and preserve soils by mechanical methods and or by hand including amelioration and mulching (these might be imported or natural).

(Core) Clear unwanted vegetation, selecting techniques to be used (for example weeding).

(Core) Remove unwanted or damaged growth from plants using a pruning cut.

(Core) Plant shrubs and a tree using a simple tree pit.

(Core) Install turf for situation.

(Core) Mow turf using pedestrian controlled powered driven mower.

(Core) Maintain or protect hard surfaces, features or structures for example painting, re-gravelling, removing weeds from paving, drain clearance, cleaning.

(Core) Use digital tools and techniques for research, collaboration, continuous professional development and resolution of problems.

(Landscape construction) Measure and set out an uncomplicated site in preparation for landscape construction activities.

(Landscape construction) Use free hand cutting and or bench cutting of hard landscape materials using abrasive wheels.

(Landscape construction) Repair constructed landscape features (simple and noncomplex) for example re-grouting, re-sanding, damaged fencing.

(Landscape construction) Construct paved feature for example path, patio or shed base. Including setting levels, sub bases, laying bases, finishing.

(Landscape construction) Construct vertical landscape features including fences, ornamental vertical features, and walls.

(Landscape construction) Install drainage in landscaping.

(Landscape construction) Construct horizontal landscape features (excluding paving).

(Horticulture) Propagate plants by cuttings and seed sowing (this might be indoors or outdoors). Including selection of suitable growing media and or soil.

(Horticulture) Provide aftercare to recently installed turf and maintain established turf or species rich meadows including irrigation, maintenance, monitoring health and protection from use.

(Horticulture) Identify if plants are suitable to site, purpose and aesthetics.

(Horticulture) Maintain soft landscapes for example - staking or support, division, seasonal clearance, and re-planting.

(Horticulture) Monitor and control plant pests, pathogens, and disorders using basic control methods (including application of chemicals or organic equivalents).

(Horticulture) Plant herbaceous and seasonal planting (for example bedding, herbs or bulbs).

(Horticulture) Prune plants to achieve healthy growth and form (including natural habit and formal or trained form).