Horticulture or Landscape Construction Operative apprentice

Role Purpose:

To provide horticultural and landscaping support across Eden, whilst being provided with on-the-job training. The role will involve working in all horticultural areas at Eden, including the Rainforest biome, Mediterranean Biome, 30-acre Outdoor Garden, Eden’s bespoke plant-growing nursery, Eden’s 200-acre estate and grounds, and occasionally with hard landscaping and horticultural technical support teams.

Key Accountabilities

To support and learn from the horticultural team in jobs such as pruning, planting, seed sowing, watering, weeding and all plant care along with habitat management. To assist and learn about the creation and maintenance hard and soft landscaping – such as hedgerows, walling, fencing, pathways and bridleways. To learn about and share the responsibility for the use, care and maintenance of hand tools and small machinery used in horticultural tasks, including equipment for grass and hedge cutting, strimming, planting, pruning, and the use of golf buggies.  To continuously and enthusiastically strive to increase your own horticultural knowledge - including plant care and knowledge and plant identification, pests and diseases, soil management, sustainable practices, garden management and design and efficient working practices.

Demands of the Role

Education & qualifications:

There are no formal qualifications required for this position; however, the job holder will be required to have a good level of literacy and numeracy.

Knowledge & skills

The job holder will be expected to have a basic-level understanding of plants and the natural world and a thirst to learn more. An interest in and love for horticulture and a desire to embark on a career in horticulture are essential. The job holder will be required to have an intermediate level of IT skills.

Decision-making:

Decisions will be low level and routine in nature, with minimal business impact. Any complex or difficult decision-making will be guided and supported by the mentorship of a senior team member.

Resourcefulness

The job holder will need to collaborate with colleagues and senior staff to devise innovative and creative ways to improve horticultural efficiency.

Communication & visitor experience:

The job holder is required to engage, communicate and interact with colleagues, horticulturalists from other gardens and members of the public and both verbally and in writing.

Operational environment:

The role requires physical effort daily, such as bending, lifting and carrying, digging, working on slopes and in cold, hot or inclement weather. 

Training:

You will be working towards a Horticulture & Landscape Operative Intermediate Apprenticeship Level 2 which includes:

Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work.  Level 2 Award in Safe Use of Pesticides (subject to pathway). You will need to attend Duchy College Rosewarne one day per week.  You will receive on and off the job training and support from an assessor and your employer.

Training Outcome:

After completing the Level 2 Horticulture or Landscape Construction Operative apprenticeship, apprentices may go on to become professional landscapers or gardeners. 

Employer Description:
At the Eden Project – iconic tourist attraction, social enterprise and educational charity – we’re on a mission to connect people with each other and the living world, exploring how we can work towards a better future. We're one of the top 100 best not-for-profits to work for in the UK. Come and join us.

Working Hours :
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 4pm. Very occasional weekend work.

Skills:
Communication skills,Problem solving skills,Number skills,Team working,Initiative,Patience