Landscaping & Gardening Apprenticeship

Summary

Fancy a career outdoors, creating and maintaining attractive and sustainable gardens and outside spaces? Want to be part of a friendly team at an award-winning company with a creative and ethical approach to landscaping and gardening? We offer competitive pay and conditions, and we’ll help you develop technical skills across various sites.

Annual wage

£9,984 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

There are annual pay reviews and any pay increases are aligned with skills, behaviours and competencies developed over time

Training course

Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

Hours

Monday to Friday, with occasional weekend working. A minumum of 30 hours per week, worked flexibly between 7:30am and 6.00pm.

30 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 10 February

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

Preparing and levelling the ground for planting and construction
Helping to install hardscape features such as paths, driveways, draining systems, fencing, decking, patios, steps and walls
Helping to install garden features including turfing, planting trees, shrubs, flowers, beds, pathways, and water features, according to design specifications
Helping to install irrigation systems and ensuring proper drainage
Cleaning and operating equipment and machinery, in line with Health & Safety requirements
Implementing company standards around cleaning, specifically site cleaning, equipment and vans and wearing appropriate uniform
Learning and following sustainable gardening practices, including composting, water conservation, and native plant cultivation
Working to develop a strong knowledge base of plants, gardening techniques, soil conditions, and pest management
Providing a friendly service to customers, answering any questions or passing on any queries or concerns to the management team, as appropriate

Where you’ll work

Cuxton Self Storage

Cuxton Industrial Estate

Station Road

Cuxton

ME2 1AJ

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

One day per week at college

Requirements

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
Creative
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Physical fitness

Other requirements

This work is carried out outdoors in almost all weathers and is very physically demanding, with a lot of digging and lifting heavy items such as slabs and machinery. In order to progress to a landscaper position at the end of the apprenticeship we require the individual to be able to drive our company vans.

About this company

We’re an award-winning company with a passionate and innovative approach to landscaping and gardening. We’re on a mission to transform outdoor spaces to the highest standard for our customers, with a focus on re-wilding and sustainable principles, as well as creating and maintaining more traditional garden designs. We’re small, but we're growing fast, with high ambitions and an honest, open, sociable and supportive working culture.

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

Company benefits

Regular social events

After this apprenticeship

Landscaper, with ongoing potential to progress to site team leader, site foreman or operations manager

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SUSTAINABLE GARDEN SOLUTIONS LTD

Aidan Thompson

aidan@sustainablegardensolutions.co.uk

07799 886118

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000295729.

Apply now

Closes in 21 days (Friday 31 January at 11:59pm)

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