Apprentice Landscape Gardener

Summary

An opportunity to work alongside an experienced professional, to gain the skills needed to become a landscape gardener, including an insight into how to successfully run your own business. This role will develop your skills in gardening, and will involve various hard and soft landscaping activities. No previous experience necessary.

Annual wage

£12,480 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Pay will be reviewed after 6 and 12 months

Training course

Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

Hours

8.00am to 4.00pm, Monday to Thursday. Occasional overtime available.

30 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 20 January

Duration

1 year 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

Regular activities will include:

Weeding and pruning
Lawncare – mowing, scarifying, strimming
Hedge trimming
Raking, hoeing and leaf-blowing
Planting
Vegetation clearance and composting

Other project work will include:

Fencing
Patio laying
Decking
Raised beds
Sleeper walls
Ground preparation and turf laying

Where you’ll work

THE GRANARY

FILKINS

LECHLADE

GL7 3JJ

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

ABINGDON AND WITNEY 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

Delivery model:

Work-based training with your employer
Approximately 6 on-site assessment visits per year
20 days college attendance to complete Horticulture Principles and Practice course
4 days portfolio building sessions
1 day college attendance to complete Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid course
2 days college attendance to complete Level 2 PA1 Pesticides course (theory)
2 days college attendance to complete Level 2 PA6 Pesticides course (practical)
Level 1 Functional Skills in Maths and English (7 days at college for each, if required)
Off the job training will count for at least 6 hours a week of an apprentice’s time at work

Qualifications included:

Level 1 Functional Skills in English and Maths
Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid
Level 2 Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides
Level 2 Award In The Safe Application of Pesticides Using Pedestrian Hand Held Equipment
Level 2 Horticulture Operative Apprenticeship

End Point Assessment:

Knowledge test
Practical assessment
Professional discussion

More training information

Please apply as soon as possible for this role. Should the right candidate be found prior to the closing date, then the vacancy may be closed early.

Apprenticeship Assessment and Information Session:

Any new person applying for apprenticeship roles where Abingdon and Witney College deliver the training will be required to attend an Apprenticeship Assessment and Information Session at Witney or Abingdon campus.

This will consist of a series of initial assessments (required prior to any apprenticeship offer), completion of essential paperwork, the opportunity to find out more about the apprenticeship process, the training included, and a forum for your questions.

As a new Apprenticeship applicant you will only have to undergo this process once. If you would like to talk to us about the assessments or if you would need any extra support to attend the Apprenticeship Assessment and Information Session please call us on 01235 216216.

Qualification checks:

By applying for this vacancy you are giving Abingdon and Witney College permission to undertake a Learner Record Service check on your previous qualifications. We make every effort to ensure that applicants from non-traditional academic backgrounds or those who may not have the formal GCSE entry requirements can access apprenticeships where possible.

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) for Apprentices is £6.40 per hour from April 2024. This applies to 16 - 18 year old apprentices and those aged 19 and over during the first year of their apprenticeship. After this, the National Minimum wage appropriate to their age applies. The Wage for apprentices applies to both time spent on the job plus time spent training.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths & English (grade A*- C / 9 - 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
Problem solving skills
Logical
Team working
Initiative
Patience
Physical fitness

Other requirements

Driving licence and own transport preferred but not essential. An interest in gardening and the outdoors. Physical fitness to be able to carry out all aspects of this role.

About this company

Landscape gardening and garden maintenance business operating in and around the Burford/Witney area. This is a small business (1-2 employees) with a regular customer base for routine gardening work, and a frequent and varied selection of landscape gardening projects.

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

After this apprenticeship

There may be an opportunity to continue working with the company, either directly or sub-contract, or alternatively to establish your own business with the skills learnt.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE

Mike

apprenticeships@abingdon-witney.ac.uk

01235216216

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000290363.

Apply now

Closes in 17 days (Thursday 9 January at 11:59pm)

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