Horticultural Apprentice

Summary

Two-year apprenticeship in the gardens as a member of the horticultural team.

Annual wage: £12,480 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
Hours: Monday to Friday between 8am to 4pm
37 hours a week
Possible start date: Monday 13 January
Duration: 2 years
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

Yotes Court Garden was redesigned and recreated in 2012 by gold medal garden designer Tom Stuart-Smith. The garden is maintained by a team of four staff, managed by the head gardener, to a very high horticultural standard.

We have a wide variety of areas, such as a wildflower meadow, formal beds, ornamental woodland garden, lawns, topiary, vegetable and cut-flowers gardens. The successful applicant will be involved in all tasks involved in. The maintenance of a private estate and guided by the head gardener to achieve their full potential. This position is a great start to a career in horticulture and would suit a keen individual with an interest in plants, nature and working outdoors.

Applications will be considered as they arrive. We may ask candidates for an interview and if successful, for a work day with the team.

Where you’ll work

YOTES COURT

MEREWORTH ROAD

MEREWORTH

MAIDSTONE

ME18 5JQ

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

NORTH KENT 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

You will be studing at Hadlow College one day a week.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4)
Maths (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
Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Patience
Physical fitness
Enthusiastic
Approachable

Other requirements

Willingness to carry out physical work, outdoors in all weathers. A driving licence and car would be highly beneficial as we have few options for public transport. The nearest bus stop is Mereworth School, connecting to Maidstone or Tonbridge.

About this company

A magnificent Manor House, Vineyard and Cellar Door, transformed with care from a tired house with an overgrown garden and fruit farm in need of investment. “You need to recognise you can’t do everything yourself. You must seek out and employ the best people with the appropriate skills, trust them, support them, and give them the space to excel.” This philosophy underpins everything that Yotes Court owner Susannah Ricci has done, from the restoration of the property, the re-landscaping of the grounds, the training of her racehorses, the cultivation of the vines and the making of Yotes Court wines. She has sought out the most skilled people in their fields to transform this corner of Kent from a tired house with an overgrown garden and a fruit farm in need of investment into the magnificent Manor House, Vineyard and Cellar Door it is today.

https://yotescourt.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

With a completed LVL2 apprenticeship and the varied experience from this workplace, the candidate will have a solid basis to advance their career to higher level gardening positions, if available on site or in gardens elsewhere.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

NORTH KENT COLLEGE

Lucy Penniall

lucypenniall@northkent.ac.uk

01322629400

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000289019.

Apply now

Closes in 5 days (Monday 9 December at 11:59pm)

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