Apprentice Arborist

City of London Corporation

Epping, IG10 4AE

Closes in 18 days (Friday 18 October)

Posted on 27 September 2024


Summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen within Epping Forest Division of the City of London Corporation’s Open Spaces Department for an Apprenticeship position. We are looking for an enthusiastic and outgoing individual to join a dedicated team responsible for the care, management and maintenance of the trees at Epping Forest.

Annual wage
£24,000 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

City of London Corporation staff can take advantage of the pension scheme. They also receive discounts and special offers for a wide range of products and services.

Training course
Arborist (level 2)
Hours
Monday - Friday, between 7.40am - 3.45pm (3.15 pm Friday). Flexibility may be required for business needs.

37 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 2 December

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

Purpose of Post

  • Learn about trees and how to carry out Arboriculture maintenance tasks on the trees within Epping Forest in accordance with good Arboriculture practice.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Tree Maintenance    

Assist with preparation and implementation of work programmes, ensuring tree services meet best practice for:

  • Tree safety works-including tree climbing and machinery operation
  • Veteran tree management
  • Tree surveys
  • Pest & disease surveying
  • Clearance works, including those associated with complying with Highway Act
  • Tree health care operations
  • Felling operations
  • Pollarding/Coppicing
  • Woodland management
  • Tree planting

Communication and Responsibilities                               

  • To work as part of a team with the aim of ensuring productive working relationships within the team and with other employees, Team Leaders and external agencies.
  • To attend the nominated College in block release as part of the City of London
  • Corporation Apprenticeship Programme, and complete course work and examinations in a timely manner and to the best of your ability.

 Customer Care                                                                              

  • Be a visible presence to engender a sense of well-being for visitors and to speak with members of the public to ensure they are aware of the work on and around the trees of the site.
  • To assist in promoting the trees and associated ecology to local schools, colleges and other Heath user groups.

Health & Safety and Other Matters                                    

  • To ensure that you observe departmental safety procedures and use safe working practices specifically regarding PPE, and adherence to COSHH and Risk Assessments, reporting accidents and near misses to your Supervisor/Team Leader.
  • Actively seek to implement the City of London’s Occupational Health and Safety Policy in relation to the duties of the post, and at all times give due regard to the health and safety of both themselves and others when carrying out their duties.
  • Actively seek to implement the City of London’s Equal Opportunity Policy and the objective to promote equality of opportunity in relation to the duties of the post.
  • To undertake any other duties that may reasonably be requested appropriate to the grade.

Where you’ll work

Epping Forest

Nursery Rd,

Epping

IG10 4AE

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

COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LONDON

Your training course

Arborist (level 2)

Equal to GCSE

Course contents
  • Recognise health and safety needs onsite and work safely
  • Complete site-specific risk assessments and emergency action plans
  • Select appropriate equipment for tree work operations
  • Set out workplace signage (highway & non highway) and assists with traffic control
  • Process tree work arisings using appropriate machinery
  • Maintain and take appropriate care of tools, equipment and other onsite factors (such as customer or public buildings etc.)
  • Recognise a variety of tree species using common names
  • Carry out a range of formative pruning operations
  • Carry out branch removal up to 200mm diameter with hand tools (target pruning for final cut).
  • Fell and process small trees up to 380mm diameter.
  • Support aerial tree workers with transfer of equipment for aerial tree work operations
  • Perform an aerial rescue of colleague from a rope and harness
  • Work safely at height in the tree under supervision
  • Communicate technical information about arboricultural operations to fellow team members, clients and other stakeholders as required.
  • Your training plan

    • You will be supported to achieve the Aborist level 2 apprenticeship.
    • Theoretical training will be delivered by the training provider on a weekly basis.
    • Practical training and support will be given in the workplace allowing you to embed your learning in the working environment.
    • You will receive 6 hours per week to completed course work within your working hours.

    More training information

    The training will be delivered by Capel Manor Collage, training will be based at either Enfield or Regents park. Arboriculture (tree surgery) involves the planting, care and maintenance of individual trees in woodlands, rural and urban areas. It is closely linked to forestry, which is the science and practice of managing forests and woodlands.
    We offer the perfect location for your studies with over 30 acres of gardens, and over 200 acres of land spread across the capital. 
     
    You will gain invaluable subject knowledge, along with hands-on skills learning how to operate, maintain and use modern industry machinery and equipment. 

    Requirements

    Essential qualifications

    GCSE in:

    • English (grade 4)
    • Maths (grade 4)

    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
    • Attention to detail
    • Organisation skills
    • Customer care skills
    • Problem solving skills
    • Number skills
    • Logical
    • Team working
    • Non judgemental
    • Patience
    • Physical fitness

    Other requirements

    This apprenticeship is based outdoors, you will be exposed to elements of the weather throughout the year.

    About this company

    The school was founded in Brixton in 1854 to provide an education for the orphaned children of the City of London before moving to the present site, Ashtead Park, in 1926. We have a magnificent site with modern buildings alongside the original Main House set in a stunning 57 acres of parkland. This idyllic setting further supports the wellbeing of our students and staff, as being here, in the park, makes coming to work a pleasure. It looks striking in every season, and we are lucky to have a vast array of wildlife living in our woods. Today, Freemen’s is an independent day and boarding school for students aged 7-18, with a strong ethos of community and service in accordance with the values on which the school was founded. We are proudly co-educational and have been since 1854, which was radical at the time, and we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with our forward-thinking, progressive approach. It is the sister school of the City of London School and the City of London School for Girls, which are both independent single-gender schools located within the City of London itself. All three schools receive funding from the City of London Corporation.

    http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk (opens in new tab)

    Disability Confident

    Disability Confident

    A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

    You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

    After this apprenticeship

    On successful completion of the apprenticeship, we aim to offer a permanent role within the team if a position is available. Alternatively, we shall endeavour to secure an alternative position within the City of London Corporation. 

    Ask a question

    The contact for this apprenticeship is:

    City of London Corporation

    Grant Thornhill

    Grant.Thornhill@cityoflondon.gov.uk

    The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000279427.

    Apply now

    Closes in 18 days (Friday 18 October)

    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.

    After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.