Gardener Apprentice

Summary

We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Apprentice Gardener to join our team. This is an excellent opportunity for someone passionate about the outdoors, plants, and learning hands-on skills in gardening and horticulture.

Annual wage: £9,984 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
Hours: Monday to Friday between 9am-3pm
30 hours a week
Possible start date: Monday 2 December
Duration: 2 years
Positions available: 2

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

As an apprentice Gardener, you will work alongside our experienced garden volunteers and under the supervision of our Garden Consultant gaining practical experience and knowledge to develop your skills for a successful career in gardening.

Key responsibilities:

Assist with general gardening duties including planting, watering, weeding, pruning, and maintaining flowerbeds lawns, and shrubs.
Learn about soil preparation, planting techniques, plant care, and pest/disease control.
Use and maintain gardening tools and equipment safely and effectively.
Help with landscaping projects, including preparing and creating beautiful outdoor spaces.
Support the upkeep of paths, lawns, and garden structures.
Follow instructions from senior team members, working to enhance the visual appeal and health of the gardens.
Participate in seasonal tasks such as planting bulbs, clearing leaves, and preparing the grounds for different weather conditions.
Contribute to sustainability initiatives, such as composting, recycling green waste, and promoting biodiversity.
Maintain a safe and tidy workspace, adhering to health and safety guidelines at all times.

Where you’ll work

WHITSTABLE CASTLE

TOWER HILL

WHITSTABLE

CT5 2BW

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

NORTH KENT 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).
(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

You will be studing Level 2 Horticulture Operative at Hadlow College one day per month.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

3 (grade English)
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
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
Team working
Creative
Physical fitness

About this company

Whitstable Castle, or Tankerton Towers as it was first known, started life as a residence for the Pearson Family in the late 1790s. After a £3m refurbishment, in 2010, the Castle is now managed by the Whitstable Castle Trust. The Castle provides a unique and special venue for weddings, private parties, local classes, corporate and community events.

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

After this apprenticeship

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

NORTH KENT COLLEGE

Lucy Penniall

lucypenniall@northkent.ac.uk

01322629400

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000286325.

Apply now

Closes in 7 days (Friday 22 November at 11:59pm)

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