Horticultural Crop Technician Apprentice

Rochfords

HERTS (SG14 2PB)

Closes on Monday 16 June 2025

Posted on 29 April 2025

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Summary

Kickstart your career in horticulture! Join us as a Crop Technician Apprentice in Letty Green, Herts. Get hands-on with plant care, gain a Level 3 qualification, and grow with a passionate team. Great pay, full training, and a future in sustainable growing awaits.

Wage

£14,722.50 to £23,809.50, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Under 18 - £16575 Over 18 - £23901

Training course
Crop technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday 08:00 to 16:30

37 hours 30 minutes 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

  • Assist in the growing of trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials
  • Plant care and maintenance
  • Application of crop control measures
  • Recording of crop data
  • Potting on young plants and nursery stock
  • Monitoring and application of plant irrigation
  • Working with team members, and other departments
  • Customer order collation
  • Selection and display of plants for Rochfords cash and
    carry

Where you’ll work

PIPERS END
LETTY GREEN
HERTFORD
HERTS
SG14 2PB

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 pesticide's 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

More training information

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

The role is mainly outdoor based, there will be a lot of physical activity and will need to be on your feet for most of the day. Plants can be heavy, and most are grown outdoors, so a love of the outdoor world is essential, one should be of a hardy nature. We will provide waterproofs. Multiple location Addresses: The Birch Green Site, The Old Coach Road Birch Green Hertford SG14 2FB

About this company

​Joseph Rochford Gardens Ltd is a leading wholesale nursery based in Letty Green, Hertfordshire. Established in 1974, the company operates over 40 acres of container production and sources plants from across Europe to meet diverse client needs. Serving landscape professionals, garden designers, and local authorities, Rochfords offers a trade-only Cash & Carry—one of the largest in the UK. Known for its fast turnaround, quality plants, and friendly service, the company is committed to sustainable practices, with an eye for detail on plant health, and peat free growing, it is an active member of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), and holds Ornamental Horticulture Assurance Scheme (OHAS) accreditation, ensuring high standards across the business.

http://www.rochfords.net (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Overtime can be expected and is paid at 1.5 x hourly rate

After this apprenticeship

A full-time position may be available on completion of a successful apprenticeship.

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 VAC1000317438.

Apply now

Closes on Monday 16 June 2025

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