Horticultural Apprentice

SWALLOWS NURSERY & PLANT CEN

Ocfordshire, NN13 5RR

Closes in 8 days (Friday 30 August at 11:59pm)

Posted on 15 July 2024

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Contents

Summary

Swallows Nurseries & Gardens is looking to appoint an enthusiastic, bright and hard working apprentice to join our growing team. This exciting role is varied, with work on all aspects of propagation, plant maintenance and health, as well as developing new Show Gardens and conducting garden maintenance to the very highest standards.

Annual wage
£17,290 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

3% pension contribution available.

Training course
Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
Hours
Working hours is 35 hours a week between 9.00am and 5.00pm, with a one hour lunch break Monday to Saturday, though this is flexible to suit the Apprentice and the business. Some overtime may be available.

35 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 9 September

Duration

1 Year 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

The Apprentice will have opportunity to gain experience and skills over a wide range of horticultural activities, including:

  • Plant propagation, including from cuttings
  • Attending to plants in polytunnels and watered Efford beds
  • Checking and treating for pests and diseases (no chemicals )
  • Maintaining plant health, including feeding, for shrubs, perennials, trees, hedging and annuals
  • Maintaining horticultural records, signage, labelling and stock taking
  • Maintaining and implementing irrigation systems and watering schedules
  • P1 and P6 certified chemical weed killer applications systems
  • First aid and fire marshalling training
  • Maintaining plant database applications
  • Reporting on maintenance requirements
  • Keeping compost bins in good order
  • Planting up new gardens, and maintaining Show Gardens and National Collections garden open to the public (including digging, mulching, and pruning)
  • Assisting Site Supervisor with mowing and hedging and other tasks.
  • Interact with customers

Where you’ll work

Mixbury

Brackley

Ocfordshire

NN13 5RR

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

ABINGDON AND WITNEY 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

    Duration:

    • 15 months practical training period, plus 3 months for End Point Assessment

    Delivery model:

    • Work-based training with your employer
    • Approximately 12 on-site assessment visits per year
    • 14 days college attendance to complete Horticulture Principles and Practice course
    • 1 day college attendance to complete Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid course
    • 2 days college attendance to complete Level 2 PA1 Pesticides course (theory)
    • 2 days college attendance to complete L2 PA6 Pesticides course (practical)
    • Level 1 Functional Skills in Maths and English (7 days at college for each, if required)
    • Off the job training will count for at least 6 hours a week of an apprentice’s time at work

    Qualifications included:
    • Level 1 Functional Skills in English and Maths
    • Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid
    • Level 2 Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides
    • Level 2 Award In The Safe Application of Pesticides Using Pedestrian Hand Held Equipment
    • Level 2 Horticulture Operative Apprenticeship

    End Point Assessment:
    • Knowledge test
    • Practical assessment
    • Professional discussion

    Requirements

    Essential qualifications

    GCSE or equivalent in:

    • Maths & English (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
    • Attention to detail
    • Organisation skills
    • Customer care skills
    • Team working
    • Creative
    • Physical fitness

    Other requirements

    Must have a demonstrated interest in horticulture Drivers License is essential Ability to work without supervision and a good team player (we are an all female team) Reliable and trustworthy. Physically fit. Excellent attention to detail Verbal and written communication skills are a must. Please apply as soon as possible for this role. Should the right candidate be found prior to the closing date, then the vacancy may be closed early. Apprenticeship Assessment and Information Session: Any new person applying for apprenticeship roles where Abingdon and Witney College deliver the training will be required to attend an Apprenticeship Assessment and Information Session at Witney or Abingdon campus. This will consist of a series of initial assessments (required prior to any apprenticeship offer), completion of essential paperwork, the opportunity to find out more about the apprenticeship process, the training included, and a forum for your questions. As a new Apprenticeship applicant you will only have to undergo this process once. If you would like to talk to us about the assessments or if you would need any extra support to attend the Apprenticeship Assessment and Information Session please call us on 01235 216216. Qualification checks: By applying for this vacancy you are giving Abingdon and Witney College permission to undertake a Learner Record Service check on your previous qualifications. We make every effort to ensure that applicants from non-traditional academic backgrounds or those who may not have the formal GCSE entry requirements can access apprenticeships where possible. The National Minimum Wage (NMW) for Apprentices is £6.40 per hour from April 2024. This applies to 16 - 18 year old apprentices and those aged 19 and over during the first year of their apprenticeship. After this, the National Minimum wage appropriate to their age applies. The Wage for apprentices applies to both time spent on the job plus time spent training

    About this company

    We are a rapidly expanding retail nursery growing shrubs, border plants and annuals direct for the public and trade customers. We propagate shrubs on site, as well as grow on liners sourced from other nurseries. Our popular Show Gardens demonstrate excellence in design and plant maintenance, and give inspiration to our customers. We promote widely to younger customers, and share our experience and knowledge directly in person at our beautiful plant centre. A new coffee shop is under development, as is a plant-focussed shop. We also manage a stock of trees and hedging plants, and have a wide range of suppliers in the UK and internationally. Set in 4 acres, we maintain our site to a high standard, and are building new polytunnels to meet demand in the business. We are currently building the National Collection of Echinacea, and are creating a garden to house the nearly 200 varieties. We are also developing new gardens to display horticultural techniques, such as fruit tree growing and training. The post holder will be able to work without supervision, reliable and trustworthy, and physically fit. Excellent attention to detail as well as verbal and written communication skills are a must. There is good opportunity to progress to a permanent role for the right candidate.

    http://www.swallowsnursery.oo.uk (opens in new tab)

    After this apprenticeship

    • Chance to gain a permanent role, including as Head of Horticulture for outstanding candidates

    Ask a question

    The contact for this apprenticeship is:

    ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE

    Mike

    apprenticeships@abingdon-witney.ac.uk

    01235216216

    The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000264864.

    Apply now

    Closes in 8 days (Friday 30 August at 11:59pm)

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