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Grounds Maintenance Apprentice BLACK COUNTRY HOUSING GROUP LIMITED

Do you love working outdoors? Would you like to learn more about horticulture, maintenance and landscaping while at the same time gaining a great qualification? The Black Country Housing Group support over 2100 homes in the Birmingham, Black Country area, so there is always enough work to keep you busy. Feel free to apply for this opportunity.

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Closing date: 30 Sep 2022

Apprenticeship summary

  • Annual wage

    £10,004.80

    Wages explained

    Apprentices are paid for their normal working hours and training that's part of their apprenticeship (usually one day per week).

    Minimum Wage Rates

  • Working week

    Hours: 8am - 5pm. Days: Monday - Friday. Breaks: 1 hr each day (unpaid).

    Total hours per week: 40

  • Expected duration

    27 Months

  • Possible start date

    05 Oct 2022

  • Date posted

    08 Jun 2022

  • Apprenticeship level

    Intermediate
    Level 2 (GCSE)

  • Reference number

    VAC1000053323

  • Positions

    1 available

What will the apprentice be doing?

Working under supervision within the following areas:

  • Provide a high-quality grounds and garden service, ensuring compliance with agreed standards, specifications and timescales
  • Represent BCHG on site, working with customers, contractors and colleagues to provide access, reporting responsive repairs, fly tipping, graffiti and safeguarding alerts
  • Record customer feedback and suggestions, acting on minor changes and collating information to support decisions on service improvement
  • Ensure company vehicles are kept in a clean condition, with regular maintenance and compliance checks taking place to ensure safety of use
  • Foster positive working relationships with customers, colleagues and contractors to improve the overall appearance of estates
  • Operate, store and maintain equipment to comply with health and safety procedures including COSHH, PPE and prompt reporting of incidents on site
  • Deliver services to standards and specifications, ensuring awareness of the need to deliver a cost-effective service to customers
  • Accurately record work, inspection outcomes and activity to capture costs during the delivery of services
  • Provide general support and assistance to the Homeforce Team
  • Report any issues which may cause concern to the reputation of BCHG/Homeforce or impact on the safety of its clients or staff such as reporting safeguarding issues, hoarding, aggression or any other concerns
  • Operate at all times within the framework of BCHG and Homeforce’s policies and procedures
  • Participate in activities whether internal or external that will promote and benefit BCHG, Homeforce, clients or colleagues
  • Attend and participate in staff meetings e.g. Toolbox Talks
  • Undertake relevant training in connection with this job role
  • Carry out any other duties which may be required from time to time and that are commensurate with the post

What training will the apprentice take and what qualification will the apprentice get at the end?

Horticulture or Landscape Operative level 2. 

As of 1st August 2020, the new standard has replaced the previous framework apprenticeship.

Standards are occupation focused, they are not qualification-led. The learning happens throughout the apprenticeship. And the apprentice is assessed at the end.  There is a focus on key areas – knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSB).

Highlights of the new standard:

  • There is a major shift from assessing to learning. Instead of continually assessing learners, assessors will be more like tutors or mentors – planning activities, sending feedback and supporting apprentices until the EPA (End Point Assessment). The EPAO (End Point Assessment Organisation) will then be responsible for assessing the apprentice
  • Instead of assessing apprentices, on-programme learning will meet all the KSBs in the standard and prepare apprentices for their EPA. Mentors will need to check which assessment methods are used in the EPA and do mock tests and practice runs as the apprentice approaches the EPA 
  • The standards include a 20% off-the-job training requirement. This means providers and employers need to work together to plan learning activities outside of the apprentice's normal working duties. Off-the-job training is mandatory and will be audited, so it needs to be properly organised and recorded 
  • Apprentices are now graded according to their performance in the EPA. This means mentors will need to work closely with their learners to get the most out of them – planning activities to coach borderline apprentices and stretch and challenge high achievers 

What is the expected career progression after this apprenticeship?

On completion of the apprenticeship, a permanent position could be available to the right individual.

Requirements and prospects

Desired skills and personal qualities

Communication skills, Attention to detail, Team working

Qualifications

GCSE or equivalent 3 GCSEs to include English and maths at Grades C/4 (Grade 3-9/D-A) Essential

Things to consider

As part of this apprenticeship, you will be required to travel to both the employer location and also attend college (in most cases). Please ensure that you have researched your travel arrangements and are happy with the time it will take and distance required to travel before you apply for this vacancy.

About the employer

Founded in 1974, we have grown significantly both in terms of the number of homes we rent and the breadth of other housing related services we now offer. We help thousands of customers every year making a real difference to their lives. We have over 2,100 homes across the Black Country and Birmingham and two purpose built Residential Care Homes. More than a registered provider of social housing, we support our local communities by offering free services that help individuals with self-achievement and aspiration through our career development, training and employment services. At Black Country Housing Group our values are not just a set of words but are at the heart of the way our organisation works and how our colleagues interact in their day-to-day activities.

Employer

BLACK COUNTRY HOUSING GROUP LIMITED

Address

134 High Street

Rowley Regis

West Midlands

B65 0EE

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Training

Training provider

BIRMINGHAM METROPOLITAN COLLEGE

Contact

Ricardo Ward

ricardo.ward@bmet.ac.uk

Apprenticeship standard

Horticulture or landscape operative

Level 2 (GCSE)

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