Horticulture Landscape Apprentice

Summary

Landscape Construction Apprentice – working as part of a team delivering a wide range of landscape construction projects. The works are primarily commercial work for public sector clients. Work on playgrounds such as installation of play equipment, safety surface installations and park furniture.

Annual wage: £17,680 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
Hours: Monday - Friday, 07.30 to 16.30. Assuming an 18+years apprentice. Hours will be reviewed for younger applicants Total hours per week: 42.50 (the hours are based on the candidate being over 18)
42 hours 30 minutes a week
Possible start date: Monday 3 March
Duration: 2 years 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

As part of our ongoing development and expansion, we are seeking a Landscape Construction Apprentice to join our team to work on both hard and soft landscape construction projects.

Scandor undertakes work for a wide range of mainly commercial clients, such as local authorities, county councils, parish councils, schools, and main contractors. The private client work is large scale projects and would be on site for weeks.

Tasks will be wide ranging, including but not limited to groundwork, such as:

Excavations to form levels
Putting in membranes and gravels
Form work for concrete features
Paving, kerbing and walling
Fencing and decking
Grading works together with drainage and top soiling
Work on playgrounds such as installation of play equipment, safety surface installations and park furniture

Soft landscape works will involve:

Tree and shrub planting, which can include semi-mature trees
Seeding, turfing, mulching
The candidate will be subject to satisfactory progression and will operate plant and equipment such as diggers and dumpers once they attain the relevant training and certificate which will be provided by the company

You will be required to learn about horticulture, including:

Plant identification and nomenclature - botanic and common names
Plant growth and plant health
Soil science and cultivation
Environment protection

Where you’ll work

HENSTING LANE

FISHERS POND

NR EASTLEIGH

HAMPSHIRE

SO50 7HH

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

SPARSHOLT 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 attend Sparsholt College on a day release basis during term time.

Training to be provided:

Horticulture and Landscape Operative Level 2
Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (Ofqual registered) minimum 1-day course
City and Guilds NPTC Level 2 Certificate of Competence in the Safe Use of Abrasive Wheel Machines OR Lantra Abrasive Wheel Machines Course
Apprentices without Level 2 English and maths achieve Level 1 and take the test for Level 2 before taking the end-point assessment

Apprentices will need to achieve the EPA's to achieve their apprenticeship:

On-line knowledge assessment - a 60-minute online test containing 40 multiple choice questions
Practical assessment EPA - a range of 4 practical activities taking no more than six hours undertaken in controlled conditions with responses to verbal questioning from the Independent End Point Assessor
The apprentice will undertake three tasks core tasks and one task from the optional route - Horticulture or Landscaping
Professional Discussion EPA - An hour-long professional discussion under controlled conditions between the EPA and the apprentice to allow the apprentice to demonstrate their knowledge

You will be required to attend Sparsholt College on a day release basis to learn about horticulture, to include:

Health & Safety
Use and maintain non-powered and handheld powered equipment
Use and maintain pedestrian-controlled equipment
Environment protection
Plant identification and nomenclature - Latin and common
Vegetation control
Soil science and cultivation
Plant establish & maintenance
Plant grown
Plant health
Establish and maintain amenity areas
Survey and mark out sites for landscaping features
Construct hard landscape features
Maintain hard landscape features

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

Maths & English (grade C/4 or above)

Other in:

Driving Licence (grade Full)

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
Customer care skills
Logical
Team working
Initiative
Physical fitness

Other requirements

• DBS check undertaken by Scandor on all employees. A full driving license is required for insurance purposes. Applicants will also need their own transport as the location is not accessible via public transport. • This is a physically demanding role where you will be required to work outdoors in all weathers

About this company

Established in 1973, Scandor have come far from modest beginnings as a two-man operation. Forty years later, and we’re now a flourishing landscaping contracting company which serves a diverse range of clients, including homeowners, commercial businesses, and local authorities, to name but a few. From small planting projects and private back gardens, to large scale business parks and local amenities, Scandor have played a part in many types of venture. We pride ourselves on our strong partnership with our customers, listening closely to their requirements to deliver products that are perfectly tailored to every individual or business.

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

After this apprenticeship

Landscape Operative initially but potential to lead to a Team Leader role (Foreperson)

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SPARSHOLT COLLEGE

Karen Jackson

karen.jackson@sparsholtservices.ac.uk

01962 797452

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000291806.

Apply now

Closes in 15 days (Monday 6 January at 11:59pm)

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