Apprentice Gardener

Undertake gardening duties and tend to the garden, including grass-cutting, shrubs and pruning, watering of hanging baskets & eradication of weeds Ensure all gardens & surrounding areas are kept tidy. Complete mandatory and specialist training related to your role, on or off site as and when required to maintain, update professional knowledge and competence Ensure general maintenance of the property and gardens is to a high standard. Maintain all garden machinery and tools and carry out tests and checks as laid out and required. Ensure that all tools and equipment used are stored in a safe place for the protection and safety. Undertake general DIY jobs in and around the property.

Training:

Your training will be provided by both your employer and the Grey Seal Academy. All training is delivered face to face at the workplace either on site or videoconferencing; this includes x1 training session and x1 coaching session per month.  

You will have access to an online portfolio and virtual learning environment to assist your training and assessment during your programme. During the Apprenticeship you will learn the following topics:

Communication; communicating with others, including clients, the public and colleagues. This may require basic IT system use Team working; work alone and as part of a team effectively and recognise how all staff are dependent on each other to meet business objectives Health and safety; apply relevant health and safety processes and procedures. Implement specific industry information on hazards relevant to horticultural environments Follow safe systems of work and safety information provided by employers. Implement environmental protection policies and procedures Environmental; prevent and control local pollution incidents e.g. use of spill kits Planting, plant growth and development; care for plants correctly in different environments, including basic irrigation methods, planting methods and identifying plant deficiencies Install various soft-landscape materials e.g. shrubs, trees, herbaceous, bedding, grass areas and seed. This will include site preparation, planting, sowing, turfing, preparation of seed beds and mulching Soil cultivation; cultivating and improving soils by mechanical methods and by hand; making and amelioration of growing media and soils Tools, equipment and machinery; safely use tools e.g. spades, rakes, shovels; equipment e.g. tape measure and spirit level and machinery e.g. pedestrian controlled mowers, hand held strimmer, hedgecutter Vegetation control; following processes and methods of site clearance, using tools and machinery for pruning and vegetation control, including basic turf management Follow weed control methods Site presentation; work to a specified finish

Maintain hard landscape surfaces e.g fences, walls, water features, timber features

Upon completion of the Apprenticeship you will gain the following qualifications and standards:

Horticulture Operative Level 2 Standard Emergency First Aid at Work Level 3 Safe use of Pesticides Level 2 OR Level 2 Award in the Safe Application of Pesticide Using Hand Held Equipment Functional Skills in Mathematics Level 1 / 2 (if applicable) Functional Skills in English Level 1 / 2 (if applicable

Training Outcome:
There is the potential of being taken on a full-time role after the apprenticeship is completed.

Employer Description:
Our homes are designed to be exactly that – a home. For our residents who are mobile, they’re a place to live as they would normally, with the added pleasure of having company (and no chores). For our residents in need of nursing, our facilities are exceptional, geared to the compassionate administration of individual medical care.

Working Hours :
40 Hours per week (Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 17:00).

Skills:
Communication skills,Organisation skills,Team working,Creative,Physical fitness,Motivated