Apprentice Gardener

COUNTRY COURT CARE HOMES LIMITED

Peterborough, PE4 6NA

Closes in 12 days (Thursday 10 October at 11:59pm)

Posted on 25 September 2024

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Contents

Summary

We are seeking a dedicated and passionate Apprentice Gardener to join our team at Castor Lodge. The successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining our beautiful grounds, ensuring they remain a tranquil and inviting environment for our residents and visitors throughout the year.

Annual wage
£18,720 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

£9 an hour

Training course
Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
Hours
40 Hours per week (Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 17:00).

40 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 14 October

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

  • Undertake gardening duties and tend to the garden, including grass-cutting, shrubs and pruning, watering of hanging baskets & eradication of weeds
  • Ensure all gardens & surrounding areas are kept tidy.
  • Complete mandatory and specialist training related to your role, on or off site as and when required to maintain, update professional knowledge and competence
  • Ensure general maintenance of the property and gardens is to a high standard.
  • Maintain all garden machinery and tools and carry out tests and checks as laid out and required.
  • Ensure that all tools and equipment used are stored in a safe place for the protection and safety.
  • Undertake general DIY jobs in and around the property.

Where you’ll work

Olympus House

Staniland Way

Peterborough

PE4 6NA

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

GREY SEAL ACADEMY LIMITED

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).
  • (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.

    • Your training plan

    Your training will be provided by both your employer and the Grey Seal Academy. All training is delivered face to face at the workplace either on site or videoconferencing; this includes x1 training session and x1 coaching session per month.  

    You will have access to an online portfolio and virtual learning environment to assist your training and assessment during your programme. During the Apprenticeship you will learn the following topics:

    • Communication; communicating with others, including clients, the public and colleagues. This may require basic IT system use
    • Team working; work alone and as part of a team effectively and recognise how all staff are dependent on each other to meet business objectives
    • Health and safety; apply relevant health and safety processes and procedures. Implement specific industry information on hazards relevant to horticultural environments
    • Follow safe systems of work and safety information provided by employers. Implement environmental protection policies and procedures
    • Environmental; prevent and control local pollution incidents e.g. use of spill kits
    • Planting, plant growth and development; care for plants correctly in different environments, including basic irrigation methods, planting methods and identifying plant deficiencies
    • Install various soft-landscape materials e.g. shrubs, trees, herbaceous, bedding, grass areas and seed. This will include site preparation, planting, sowing, turfing, preparation of seed beds and mulching
    • Soil cultivation; cultivating and improving soils by mechanical methods and by hand; making and amelioration of growing media and soils
    • Tools, equipment and machinery; safely use tools e.g. spades, rakes, shovels; equipment e.g. tape measure and spirit level and machinery e.g. pedestrian controlled mowers, hand held strimmer, hedgecutter
    • Vegetation control; following processes and methods of site clearance, using tools and machinery for pruning and vegetation control, including basic turf management
    • Follow weed control methods
    • Site presentation; work to a specified finish

    Maintain hard landscape surfaces e.g fences, walls, water features, timber features

    Upon completion of the Apprenticeship you will gain the following qualifications and standards:

    • Horticulture Operative Level 2 Standard
    • Emergency First Aid at Work Level 3
    • Safe use of Pesticides Level 2 OR Level 2 Award in the Safe Application of Pesticide Using Hand Held Equipment
    • Functional Skills in Mathematics Level 1 / 2 (if applicable)
    • Functional Skills in English Level 1 / 2 (if applicable

    Requirements

    Desirable qualifications

    GCSE or equivalent in:

    • English (grade 3)
    • Maths (grade 3)

    Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

    Skills

    • Communication skills
    • Organisation skills
    • Team working
    • Creative
    • Physical fitness
    • Motivated

    Other requirements

    This role requires you to work outside in all weathers.

    About this company

    Our homes are designed to be exactly that – a home. For our residents who are mobile, they’re a place to live as they would normally, with the added pleasure of having company (and no chores). For our residents in need of nursing, our facilities are exceptional, geared to the compassionate administration of individual medical care.

    https://www.countrycourtcare.co/ (opens in new tab)

    After this apprenticeship

    • There is the potential of being taken on a full-time role after the apprenticeship is completed.

    Ask a question

    The contact for this apprenticeship is:

    GREY SEAL ACADEMY LIMITED

    Sophie Masters

    sophie.masters@greysealacademy.co.uk

    01773829121

    The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000278081.

    Apply now

    Closes in 12 days (Thursday 10 October at 11:59pm)

    When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.