Grounds Maintenance Apprentice

Cark Manor

GRANGE OVER SANDS, LA11 7PG

Closes in 29 days (Saturday 30 November at 11:59pm)

Posted on 10 October 2024


Summary

Cark Manor are looking to recruit a Grounds Maintenance Apprentice to assist with their busy portfolio of gardens. This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone with a keen interest in horticulture to work closely alongside a RHS and National Trust trained Head Gardener and gain the experience needed to pursue a career as a professional Gardener.

Annual wage
£13,520 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

£6.50 per hour

Training course
Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
Hours
Monday – Friday, 7.30 – 4.30. Half hour lunch and 2x 15 min breaks.

40 hours a week

Possible start date

Sunday 15 December

Duration

1 year 6 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

  • To help maintain our gardens to a high standard at all times according to work lists
  • Carrying out horticultural tasks such as pruning, mulching, weeding, planting out
  • Machinery operation and maintenance such as strimming, mowing, hedgecutting
  • Selecting and using tools and equipment consistent with risk assessments
  • Keeping appropriate levels of quiet and space for guests when in residence and always being considerate and polite
  • Selecting and wearing appropriate footwear and clothing, Personal Protective Equipment
  • Establishing and maintaining effective. working relationships with colleagues; Head Gardener, House manager, group employees
  • Any other duties as required to achieve the expected standard, such as retrieve items for House attic space, help to cover absent colleagues

Where you’ll work

CARK MANOR

CARK IN CARTMEL

GRANGE OVER SANDS

LA11 7PG

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

MYERSCOUGH 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

    Training will be provided in the workplace through Myerscough College where you will work towards a Level 2 Horticulture or Landscape Operative Apprenticeship.

    Core Qualifications

    The following qualifications will be required prior to taking the end point assessments:

    • Emergency First Aid
    • Level 2 Principals of the Safe Handling and application or Pesticides Guidance

    OR

    • Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of Pesticides

    Alongside these course requirements the applicant will receive training in the use of tractor and trailer operations, garden design/development, horticultural plant husbandry and garden history.

    Requirements

    Essential qualifications

    GCSE in:

    • 2 other subjects (grade 2-9/E-A*)
    • English (grade 2-9/E-A*)
    • Maths (grade 2-9/E-A*)

    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

    • Attention to detail
    • Organisation skills
    • Physical fitness
    • Good communication skills
    • Punctual
    • Positive Attitude
    • Self-Motivated
    • Ability to follow instruction
    • Willingness to work outdoors

    Other requirements

    Cark-in-Cartmel has a train station 5 minutes walk from Cark Manor with direct links to Barrow and Lancaster. To ensure your application has the best chance of being considered for the vacancy you must provide information on all qualifications undertaken stating highest grades achieved in every subject, paying particular attention to maths and English. Along with this you need to state any previous work experience.

    About this company

    Cark Manor is part of a growing portfolio of luxury manor houses and holiday lets within the beautiful countryside of the Cartmel peninsula in Cumbria. Set within 5 acres of landscaped garden, Cark Manor was built over 200 years ago and recently has been completely renovated to host up to 20 guests for family parties or health spa retreats. As with the luxury in the manor, the garden is also undergoing a revival, although it retains many mature trees which were planted at the same time as the manor was first built. The garden is located in a sheltered south facing aspect near the coast, which enables half-hardy shrubs and perennials to thrive.

    https://www.carkmanor.com/ (opens in new tab)

    After this apprenticeship

    After completing this apprenticeship, the applicant would be well placed to progress in the profession, along-side taking further training to gain a full-time position.  As Head Gardener I would take personal time to suggest skills and knowledge that enhance a Gardeners appeal to future employers or clients and in doing this, nurture a growing passion for horticulture which is essential to a professional Gardener.

    Ask a question

    The contact for this apprenticeship is:

    MYERSCOUGH COLLEGE

    Employer Services

    employerenquiries@myerscough.ac.uk

    01995642255

    The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000281651.

    Apply now

    Closes in 29 days (Saturday 30 November at 11:59pm)

    When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.