Grounds Maintenance Apprentice

Summary

Do you love working outdoors? Do you like to learn more about horticulture, maintenance, and landscaping while at the same time gaining a great qualification? The Black Country Housing Group support over 2100 homes in the Birmingham, Black Country area so there is always enough work to keep you busy. Feel free to apply for this opportunity.

Annual wage: £15,392 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
Hours: Days: Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, shifts and different working patterns dependant on time of year. Breaks: 1 hr lunch (unpaid)
40 hours a week
Possible start date: Monday 30 September
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

Working under supervision within the following areas:

Provide a high-quality grounds and garden service, ensuring compliance with agreed standards, specifications and timescales
Represent BCHG on site, working with customers, contractors and colleagues to provide access, reporting responsive repairs, fly tipping, graffiti and safeguarding alerts
Record customer feedback and suggestions, acting on minor changes and collating information to support decisions on service improvement
Ensure company vehicles are kept in a clean condition, with regular maintenance and compliance checks taking place to ensure safety of use
Foster positive working relationships with customers, colleagues and contractors to improve the overall appearance of estates
Operate, store and maintain equipment to comply with health and safety procedures including COSHH, PPE and prompt reporting of incidents on site
Deliver services to standards and specifications, ensuring awareness of the need to deliver a cost-effective service to customers
Accurately record work, inspection outcomes and activity to capture costs during the delivery of services
Provide general support and assistance to the Homeforce Team
Report any issues which may cause concern to the reputation of BCHG/Homeforce or impact on the safety of its clients or staff such as reporting safeguarding issues, hoarding, aggression or any other concerns
Operate at all times within the framework of BCHG and Homeforce’s policies and procedures
Participate in activities whether internal or external that will promote and benefit BCHG, Homeforce, clients or colleagues
Attend and participate in staff meetings e.g. Toolbox Talks
Undertake relevant training in connection with this job role
Carry out any other duties which may be required from time to time and that are commensurate with the post
Work to operational procedures, safe working practices and Health and Safety procedures as required.

Other Duties

The post holder is responsible for maintaining their own portfolio, ensuring all units are completed as set out by the training body.
The post holder must, at all times, carry out their responsibilities with due regard for BCHG’s Equality & Diversity Policy.
Carry out any other reasonable duties consistent with the above as directed from time to time by the BCHG Management team.

Where you’ll work

134 High Street

Rowley Regis

West Midlands

B65 0EE

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

BIRMINGHAM METROPOLITAN 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).