General Estate Apprentice Worker

Summary

General Estate Worker to assist and work alongside the forestry and ground maintenance teams.

Annual wage: £16,640 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Countryside worker (level 2)
Hours: Monday - Thursday, 07.30 - 16.30. Friday, 07.30 - 15.30.
40 hours a week
Possible start date: Monday 9 December
Duration: 1 year
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 seeking an enthusiastic, self-motivated individual to join our forestry and ground maintenance teams at the Buckminster Estate situated between the towns of Melton Mowbray and Grantham. The successful candidate will be involved with the management of 900 acres of mixed commercial and amenity woodlands alongside the three person forestry team and will be working alongside the groundman to maintain other outdoor spaces on the Estate.

Main duties include:

General chainsaw work (subject to training & ability)
Assisting with forestry operations (felling, processing, chipping, transporting and stacking)
Assisting with identifying and felling dangerous trees on roadsides and around properties
Assisting tree surgeon contractors
Tree planting and aftercare
Hedge cutting and planting
Assisting with fetching, cutting, and loading timber for two biomass boilers
Christmas tree planting, maintenance and delivery
Assisting with firewood processing
Ivy clearance
Grass cutting, maintenance and improvement
Leaf collecting
Raking gravel & parking areas
Strimming and brush cutting (subject to training)
Removal of vegetation from walkways and pavements
Planting bulbs and trees
Weeding
Spraying (subject to training)
Litter picking verges and green spaces

Other duties may include:

Assisting game, farms and garden departments with a wide range of jobs
Assisting on shoot days
All other duties as required

Where you’ll work

Grange Farmyard

Main Street

Buckminster

Grantham

NG33 5SD

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 SMB GROUP

Your training course

Countryside worker (level 2)

Equal to GCSE

Course contents

Manage habitats using a range of specialist techniques such as coppicing, hedge laying, river/stream bank stabilisation and establishing native plants, using appropriate tools and equipment. This could also include new and developing sustainable practices such as using natural materials to manage excessive rainfall (in constructing leaky dams and bale dams) and subsequently manage erosion and flood damage.

Construct or repair boundaries including different fencing types (such as post and rail, stock fencing), hedging (establishing a new hedge or laying an existing hedge) and dry stone walling depending on the geographic location/landscape and local natural materials.

Construct or maintain access ways, for example a path surface using aggregate, stone pitching, slabs, bark, concrete or tarmac. This will include the skills to ensure that the path surface drains properly.

Manage vegetation in a range of different situations, for example strimming pathways, using pesticides, managing trees and hedgerows, eradicating invasive species in order to conserve native flora and fauna.

Construct and /or maintain site furniture for access and interpretation. For example, bridges, gates, stiles, boardwalks, signs/waymarks or information boards using sustainable materials where possible. This will involve both following standard methods and also undertaking site specific design. For example, installing a gate on a sloping field will involve modifying the standard method, while every river or stream crossing while require a different design.

Use a range of hand tools and powered tools safely such as hammers, panel saws, levels, drills, strimmers or chainsaws, hold the relevant certification for powered equipment and undertake the routine maintenance of the tools used.

Problem solving: be resourceful in finding solutions to problems that may arise in day to day work and know when to ask a supervisor for advice.

Identify a range of British flora and fauna native to the specific local area e.g. commonly seen birds, mammals, insects, herbs, flowers, trees or fungi to determine the appropriate habitat management needed.

Undertake surveys which feed in to site management plans and work plans, for example, survey habitats and species, numbers of visitors, the condition of Rights of Way or structures/furniture.

Write a simple dynamic risk assessment and be able to use it on site. Use the risk assessment as the basis of working safely; understanding the hazards on the site and involved in the wide range of practical tasks undertaken by Countryside Workers. Know how to reduce these risks to an acceptable level for themselves, the public and colleagues through using safe working practices and wearing personal protective equipment.

Communicate effectively in a range of situations e.g. through face to face interaction, electronic communication, telephoning or presenting to members of the public, contractors, colleagues or landowners.

Your training plan

Day release to Brooksby Campus
On-the-job training
Off-the-job training
Level 2 Countryside Worker apprenticeship

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 2/E)
Maths (grade 2/E)

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

Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Team working

Other requirements

- Travel due to location - Tractor driving experience is desired - An understanding of rural estates desired but not essential - Desired to have a driving license

About this company

Buckminster is a forward-thinking organisation responsible for the stewardship of land and buildings in and around the villages of Buckminster and the town of Grantham. Our main aim is to continue to enhance these assets through careful upgrade or development orientated to economic, social and environmental investment for the benefit of future generations. We make easy-to-manage commercial property investments both in and outside the area to ensure the diversified business model is sustainable.

After this apprenticeship

Full time position

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

THE SMB GROUP

Apprenticeships

apprenticeships@smbgroup.ac.uk

01530 519 001

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000284291.

Apply now

Closes in 17 days (Monday 25 November at 11:59pm)

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