Grounds Maintenance Apprentice
SCOFELL LANDSCAPES LTD
Newbury, RG14 2FN
Closes on Friday 28 February
Posted on 20 January 2025
Contents
Summary
Scofell Landscapes Ltd is looking for a Grounds Maintenance Apprentice (Horticulture Level 2). You will learn a range of skills that will help develop your career and will work in a friendly and supportive environment. The role will involve tasks such as seasonal hedge pruning and mixed border work.
- Annual wage
-
£17,680 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
The pay may be negotiated and may rise after a probation period has been successfully completed.
- Training course
- Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 7.30am - 4.00pm
40 hours a week
- Possible start date
-
Monday 14 April
- Duration
-
2 years 3 months
- 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
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 role would include:
- Seasonal hedge pruning
- Mixed border work
- Leaf blowing and collection
- Planting
- Landscaping
- Grass cutting and strimmingTrained in the use of a variety of hand tools and machinery such as strimmers, leaf blowers, lawnmowers and hedge cutters
Training is run in conjunction with Sparsholt College, Sparsholt, SO21 2NF where you will attend college one day per week during term time, the course runs for approximately 2 years. In return we offer a competitive salary starting at £340 per week. This is an ideal way of starting your grounds maintenance career as you will get paid whilst completing your education.
You will be required to attend Sparsholt College on a day release basis to learn about horticulture, to include:
Health & Safety:
- Use and maintain non-powered and handheld powered equipment
- Use and maintain pedestrian controlled equipment
- Environment protection
- Plant identification and nomenclature, Latin and common
- Vegetation control
- Soil science and cultivation
- Plant establish & maintenance
- Plant grown
- Plant health
Where you’ll work
Vodafone House
The Connection
Newbury
RG14 2FN
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
SPARSHOLT 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
- Day release to Sparsholt College during term time
More training information
Horticulture and Landscape Operative Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard:
- Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (Ofqual registered) minimum 1-day course, City and Guilds NPTC Level 2 Certificate of Competence in the Safe Use of Abrasive Wheel Machines OR Lantra Abrasive Wheel Machines Course
- Apprentices without Level 2 English and maths achieve Level 1 and take the test for Level 2 before taking the end-point assessment
Apprentices will need to achieve the EPAs to achieve their apprenticeship:
- On-line knowledge assessment - a 60-minute online test containing 40 multiple choice questions
- Practical assessment EPA - a range of 4 practical activities taking no more than six hours undertaken in controlled conditions with responses to verbal questioning from the Independent End-Point Assessor
- The apprentice will undertake three tasks core tasks and one task from the optional route - Horticulture or Landscaping
- Professional Discussion EPA - An hour-long professional discussion under controlled conditions between the EPA and the apprentice to allow the apprentice to demonstrate their knowledge
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade D(3) or above)
- Maths (grade D(3)or above)
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade C(4) or above)
- Maths (grade C(4) or above)
Other in:
- License (grade Full)
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
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- Physical fitness
- An interest in horticulture
- An interest in working outdoor
- Can do attitude
- Reliable with good timekeeping
Other requirements
Candidates need to be 18 years or older for insurance purposes. They need to be able to travel to The Connection, in Newbury, four-days per week and to Sparsholt College 1-day per week.
About this company
About this company We provide professional grounds maintenance services, landscaping, and tree services to a range of clients in many industries and sectors, from business and retail parks to schools, hotels and more.
After this apprenticeship
- Candidates may be offered a permanent position upon successful completion of their apprenticeship
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
SPARSHOLT COLLEGE
Karen Jackson
karen.jackson@sparsholtservices.ac.uk
01962 797452
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000297162.
Apply now
Closes on Friday 28 February
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