Apprentice Arborist

Summary

Porters Tree Care is a growing local tree surgery company led by a highly skilled and knowledgeable arborist. The company offers an excellent opportunity to work alongside one of the industry’s top climbers. With varied daily tasks, hands-on learning, and clear career progression, this role is both dynamic and rewarding.

Wage: £12,480 to £22,308 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Arborist (level 2)
Hours: Monday-Friday - 8.00 am - 4.30 pm and some weekend work if willing/required.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
Possible start date: Monday 3 March
Duration: 1 year 6 months
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

Daily tasks will vary, but will include:

Hedge cutting
Planting
Tree felling
Tree reductions
Tidying up worked areas
Using the woodchipper & stump grinder
Loading the vans
General estate maintenance
Climbing and tree work
Chipping waste and stump grinding
Basic equipment maintenance
Driving company vehicles

Where you’ll work

11 RIDING LANE

HILDENBOROUGH

TONBRIDGE

TN11 9HX

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

PLUMPTON COLLEGE

Your training course

Arborist (level 2)

Equal to GCSE

Course contents

Recognise health and safety needs onsite and work safely
Complete site-specific risk assessments and emergency action plans
Select appropriate equipment for tree work operations
Set out workplace signage (highway & non highway) and assists with traffic control
Process tree work arisings using appropriate machinery
Maintain and take appropriate care of tools, equipment and other onsite factors (such as customer or public buildings etc.)
Recognise a variety of tree species using common names
Carry out a range of formative pruning operations
Carry out branch removal up to 200mm diameter with hand tools (target pruning for final cut).
Fell and process small trees up to 380mm diameter.
Support aerial tree workers with transfer of equipment for aerial tree work operations
Perform an aerial rescue of colleague from a rope and harness
Work safely at height in the tree under supervision
Communicate technical information about arboricultural operations to fellow team members, clients and other stakeholders as required.
Recognise health and safety needs onsite and work safely
Complete site-specific risk assessments and emergency action plans
Select appropriate equipment for tree work operations
Set out workplace signage (highway & non highway) and assists with traffic control
Process tree work arisings using appropriate machinery
Maintain and take appropriate care of tools, equipment and other onsite factors (such as customer or public buildings etc.)
Recognise a variety of tree species using common names
Carry out a range of formative pruning operations
Carry out branch removal up to 200mm diameter with hand tools (target pruning for final cut).
Fell and process small trees up to 380mm diameter.
Support aerial tree workers with transfer of equipment for aerial tree work operations
Perform an aerial rescue of colleague from a rope and harness
Work safely at height in the tree under supervision
Communicate technical information about arboricultural operations to fellow team members, clients and other stakeholders as required.

Your training plan

The apprentice will study at Plumpton College with a blended learning model with a mix of in college practical and theoretical learning over three day blocks on a monthly basis between October and January and in March and June.

More training information

Arborist L2 Apprenticeship Standard

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4)
Maths (grade 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
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
Administrative skills
Number skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Physical fitness
Time Keeping
Work Ethic

Other requirements

We are in a rural location, so having your own/ reliable transport is highly advised.

About this company

A well established and busy company operating in Kent/East Sussex area specialising in arboriculture and horticulture. Porters Tree Care has built a reputation for delivering high-quality estate management services including tree care, hedge trimming and topiary, garden design and horticulture. We deliver quality services with integrity, professionalism and an eye for the details. This way of working is allowing us to grow and expand rapidly yet sustainably. We are now looking for a variety of keen, professional staff to come on board in specialist and more general positions. Within Porters we have two expert arborists with 50+ years experience working on the every day to highly complex jobs, on common trees and specimen trees. Staff joining our team can expect to be supported in their own growth and challenged to deliver the quality of work, consistently, that we are known for. While we are looking for certain skill sets to join the business, even more important to us is understanding our standards, showing initiative, supporting other team members and recognising that helping our business grow helps us better support and reward our team.

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

After this apprenticeship

To become a fully qualified climbing arborist.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: