Horticultural Crop Technician Apprentice
WALBERTON NURSERY LIMITED
Walberton Arundel, West Sussex
Closes on Monday 30 June 2025
Posted on 22 April 2025
Contents
Summary
As a Crop Technician Apprentice, you will learn all aspects of production from propagation to despatch. This will include growing a successful crop, including general care, watering, feeding, crop monitoring and adjusting the growing environment.
- Wage
-
£15,311.40 to £24,761.88, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
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Salary for apprentices will be £18,252 - £24,761.88 Paid on an hourly basis + overtime based on qualifying hours for the weekly hours for that shift Those aged 16 & 17 will be on a young workers rate of £8.50 per hour Total annual hours of 2028
- Training course
- Crop technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Nov-Feb (Mon-Fri 0830-1545) 32.5hr/week.
Mar-Jun (Mon-Thu 0730-1715 Fri 0730-1615 Sat 0800-1200) 44hr/week.
Jul-Oct (Mon-Thu 0800-1645 Fri 0800-1545) 39hr/week.
Note: Working hours for young persons are adjusted according to regulations.
39 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 July 2025
- Duration
-
2 years
- Positions available
-
1
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
General nursery tasks, which may include all or some of the following:
- Despatch work: selecting, tray up, collecting, preparing plants for despatch, labelling, packing, and cling wrapping, assembly of Danish trolleys
- Potting: machine potting, planting, setting plants down, supplying
the machine with pots and plants. Hand potting of young plants or final pots - Plant care: trimming, weeding, caning, tying, watering using a hose and lance
- Propagation: filling trays, collecting, preparing, and sticking in the
cuttings - Mini-tractor driving: including transportation of plants and Danish
trolleys - Nursery hygiene: including the disposal of dead or diseased plants and the cleaning of growing areas
- Maintenance: assisting with work on nursery structures, roads and
facilities - Any other duties as requested by your Team Leader, Supervisor or
Manager - Ensuring that health and safety procedures are adhered to
throughout and risk assessments followed
You will undertake training on crop protection, allowing you to recognise and manage common pest and diseases through the application of biological controls and chemical crop spraying.
Where you’ll work
This apprenticeship is available in these locations:
- Haven Nursery, Eastergate Lane, Walberton Arundel, BN18 0BA
- Walberton Nursery, Yapton Lane, Walberton, West Sussex, BN18 0AS
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
WARWICKSHIRE COLLEGE
Your training course
Crop technician (level 3)
Equal to A level
Your training plan
Level 2 Awards in: Safe Use of Pesticides.
On completion of the pesticides foundation unit above also choose one of the following units:
- Boom sprayer, mounted, trailed or self-propelled equipment
- Granular applicator equipment
- Handheld applicator equipment
- Level 3 award in Emergency First Aid at Work
Apprentices aged 16-18 at the start of their apprenticeship and without Level 2 English and Maths (GCSE grade 4 or C or above) will need to achieve this level prior to taking the end-point assessment. Those aged 19+ at the start of their apprenticeship and without Level 2 English and Maths (GCSE grade 4 or C or above) will have the option as to whether they would like to achieve this.
Training at Pershore College.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English, 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
- 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
Other requirements
Role involves working inside and outside in all weathers and where temperatures can be extreme. The role requires a reasonable level of fitness and mobility, you will be required to lift and carry and walk around large areas. As plants are grown on the floor the role will require a great deal of bending over to undertake essential tasks.
About this company
Walberton Nursery is part of the Tristram Plants and Farplants group. A market leading customer focussed group producing and supplying high quality container grown perennials and shrubs to the wholesale market. Walberton Nursery was founded in 1973, based in West Sussex with two production sites.
After this apprenticeship
- Crop Protection
- Production Team Leader/Supervisor
- Crop Grower
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
WARWICKSHIRE COLLEGE
SARAH ASHMORE
sashmore@warwickshire.ac.uk
07740419319
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000316469.
Apply now
Closes on Monday 30 June 2025
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