Grounds Maintenance Apprentice

Summary

Are you self-motivated, passionate about making a difference in your local community and keen to develop yourself? This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in grounds maintenance and horticulture to develop their skills as part of a small positive team, whilst working towards a nationally recognised qualification.

Annual wage: £23,088 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
Hours: Monday - Friday 8am - 4pm
37 hours a week
Possible start date: Friday 1 November
Duration: 2 Years 3 Months
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

We are looking for a Grounds Maintenance Apprentice to help maintain our allotments, cemetery, and other community sites.

Undertake duties as required within a work programme that ensures the Council’s grounds and sites are maintained to a high standard
Working as part of a team to ensure the maintenance schedule is implemented as per seasonal requirements
Undertake necessary training as required for manual handling and to operate machinery/equipment
Undertake maintenance tasks within the Councils land and properties (and facilities) including minor repair work and general maintenance to ensure a high standard of public service is always provided
To promote environmental good practice by taking positive steps to minimise damage to the environment and disturbance to habitats
To carry out regular daily duties including tasks such as litter picking, cleaning and emptying bins
To support the carrying out of safety inspections of the open spaces and play areas to ensure public access is safe and take corrective action as necessary where appropriate
To assist with the staging of events including setting up and dismantling of equipment and stewarding as necessary
To work evenings and weekends in line with the business needs of the council
To take day-to-day responsibility for specific tasks with minimal supervision (at times working alone) as instructed by Cemetery Supervisor and Grounds Maintenance Assistants
Ensure compliance with Council’s policies including Health & Safety, Equality and Data Protection
To fulfil the obligations of the apprenticeship programme
Undertake other duties appropriate to the grade of the post

Where you’ll work

Felixstowe Town Council Town Hall

IP11 2AG

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

SUFFOLK NEW COLLEGE

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).