Landscaping and Horticulture Apprentice

Summary

This apprenticeship offers experience across grounds maintenance, soft landscaping (the establishment of plants in cultivated areas), hard landscaping (the establishment of hard surfaces and structures in addition to the establishment of plants in cultivated areas) and fencing.

Wage

£16,881.80 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

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£7.55 an hour for the 1st year

Training course

Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

Hours

Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 16:30pm

42 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 29 September 2025

Duration

2 years

Positions available

6

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you’ll do at work

Installation of various garden fence types
Installation of various security fence types
Installation of other timber products, for example sheds and decks
Preparation and laying of turf to gardens, also including sowing of seed to larger areas
Preparation and planting shrubs, trees, hedges to gardens and large open spaces
To maintain commercial and residential spaces to YGS high standards, for example cutting hedges level, weed identification and killing, mowing grassed areas and cleaning down existing sites
Use of various machinery to assist the role

Where you’ll work

ELFORDLEIGH NURSERY
8 LARCH GROVE
PLYMPTON
PLYMOUTH
PL7 5EB

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

CITY COLLEGE PLYMOUTH

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

L2 Horticulture or Landscape Construction Operative
https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/horticulture-or-landscape-construction-operative-v1-1
Training will take place through our various client base. Ranging from national housebuilders to domestic gardens. To include refurbishments, new housing estates, new retail parks and new business parks. You will be working with numerous commercial contractors, supporting and realising all types of developments
This apprenticeship is in conjunction with City College Plymouth and you will attend College one day a week
Qualifications include the following;
- Functional Skills in English and maths if required
- Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (Ofqual registered) minimum 1-day course
- (Horticulture Operative) Lantra Awards Level 2 Award in Safe Use of Pesticides OR City and Guilds Level 2 Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides
- (Horticulture Operative) Lantra Awards Level 2 Award in the Safe Application of Pesticide Using Handheld Equipment OR City and Guilds Level 2 Award In The Safe Application of Pesticides Using Pedestrian Handheld Equipment
- (Landscaping construction) City and Guilds NPTC Level 2 Certificate of Competence in the Safe Use of Abrasive Wheel Machines or Lantra Abrasive Wheel Machines Course

More training information

Personal Qualities

Have a positive and motivated attitude towards work, including having pride in one’s work
Good attendance and resilient when met with a challenge
Ability to show dignity, respect and empathy when dealing with others, including clients, the public and colleagues

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

English (grade Grade D/3 or above)
Maths (grade Grade D/3 or above)

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
Team working
Dignity
Respect
Empathy
Motivated
Positive

Other requirements

Apprentices will work outside in all weathers. Often people new to the industry will start in a ‘hands-on’ role covering a range of practical tasks, with specialist skills being learnt through progression. A wide range of machinery and tools are used and additional training may be required depending on the nature of the work undertaken.

About this company

YGS Landscapes' remit includes all aspects of landscaping, fencing and decking, grounds maintenance and tree care. Their client base ranges from national housebuilders to domestic gardens. They have worked with numerous commercial contractors, supporting and realising all types of developments, from new housing estates, new retail parks, new business parks and refurbishments. They advise on all aspects of a design, highlighting issues from a budgetary or programming perspective, and giving their clients the tools to make commercial decisions to aid first-class delivery. They consistently deliver real value engineering proposals to their clients and believe in supporting projects from inception to completion, reviewing progress against targets and ensuring their clients get consistent best value.

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

After this apprenticeship

Upon completion of your apprenticeship, you will be able to work as:

Gardener
Grounds maintenance operator
Horticulturalist
Landscaper
Alternatively, you could progress on to the Landscape or Horticulture Supervisor

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