Apprentice Horticulture/Landscape Construction Operative

Summary

Penryn College are offering an exciting opportunity to join their dynamic team as a Horticulture/Landscape Operative apprentice! Gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours to kickstart your career in this exciting industry.

Annual wage: £12,480 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am – 4pm with 30-minute lunch break.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
Possible start date: Monday 17 February
Duration: 2 years
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

The main purpose of the role is:

To undertake maintenance work of the College grounds and premises as designated by the Grounds Person or Premises Manager to ensure the College grounds are maintained in a tidy, presentable and safe state at all times.
To undertake general maintenance of the school buildings and facilities, provide practical support in arrangements for meetings/events and to assist in maintaining the security of the school buildings.

Duties will include:

To undertake a set programme of grounds maintenance activities to ensure all the College premises designated areas of the school grounds are maintained in a neat and tidy condition, including cutting and maintaining all perimeter hedges and fences, maintaining the school site field and maintaining flower beds in a neat and tidy way.
To maintain all the grounds and sports fields, using motorised, powered and other equipment as appropriate.
To accurately mark out sports fields and athletic tracks as directed by the Grounds Person and/or Premises Manager and in accordance with the specification for summer/winter activities.
To undertake chemical weed control in accordance with the Cornwall Council Safe Working Procedures for the Use of Chemicals.
To carry out basic maintenance of all equipment, liaising with the Grounds Person and/or Premises Manager on major problems.

Where you’ll work

Penryn College

Kernick Road

Penryn

Cornwall

TR10 8PZ

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

CORNWALL 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 working towards a Horticulture & Landscape Operative Intermediate Apprenticeship Level 2 which includes:

Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work
Level 2 Award in Safe Use of Pesticides (subject to pathway)
You will need to attend Duchy College Rosewarne one day per week.
You will receive on and off the job training and support from an assessor and your employer.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

English (grade 3/D)
maths (grade 3/D)

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
Non judgemental
Patience

Other requirements

A driving licence is required for this role.

About this company

At Penryn College, we work hard to prepare students to achieve whatever they aspire to, however great or small. Our role is to help them meet their personal challenges and provide opportunities that will enable them to thrive in the 21st century. We’re a lively, thriving school, and we pride ourselves on offering the very best for our students. We cater for children and young people aged 11-16 who live in Penryn and the surrounding villages of Constantine, Flushing, Mabe, Mawnan Smith, Mylor, Perranwell and Ponsanooth. Students also join us from Falmouth and other outlying villages and towns.

https://penryn-college.cornwall.sch.uk/the-school/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Possible full-time position available for the right candidate.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CORNWALL COLLEGE

Holly

01209 616452

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000296364.

Apply now

Closes in 30 days (Friday 14 February at 11:59pm)

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