Apprentice Groundsman

Summary

To maintain the Town council's cemeteries, sports pitches, parks, gardens, allotments, verges and open spaces to high standard by carrying out a wide range of grounds maintenance tasks including but not exclusively: * Grass cutting, lawn cultivation and maintenance * Strimming, hedge cutting, hedge laying, leaf blowing * Pruning, tree maintenance

Wage

£14,526.20 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

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Training course

Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

Hours

Monday - Thursday, 07:30 - 16:00 and Friday, 07:30 - 12:00 Attending ARU Writtle College one day a week 09:00 - 17:00

37 hours a week

Start date

Thursday 11 September 2025

Duration

2 years

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Planting out shrubs and flowers and hanging baskets
Weeding and pruning
Tree lopping and maintenance
*o drive and operate safely and wide range of vehicles, plant and equipment includingtractor drawn mower, cylinder and rotary mowers, strimmers, hedge trimmers, leaf blowers etc
To undertake daily routine safety and maintenance checks ensuring that vehicles, machinery and equipment used is well maintained, kept clean and not exposed to the risk of damage or loss/theft
To undertake routine maintenace on equipment and vehicles such as oil change, spark plug changes, blade sharpening etc
To ensure all equipment, machinery and buildings are secure including setting building alarms and undertake lock up duties
To keep the tool shed/mess room clean and tidy

Building and property maintenance:

To undertake building and property maintenance ina ccordance with work schedules or ad hoc projects such as, but not exclusively
Plumbing and drainage
Carpentry
Hard landscaping
Concreting
Tiling
Groundworks
Painting and decorating
Repairs to buildings and other property
Street furniture maintenance

Where you'll work

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

Courtaulds Sports Ground, Colchester Road, Halstead, CO9 2ET
QUEENS HALL, CHIPPING HILL, HEAD STREET, HALSTEAD, CO9 2BY

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

WRITTLE COLLEGE LIMITED

Your training course

Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

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

Horticulture or Landscape Construction Operative
Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard
Attending ARU Writtle College CM1 3RR one day a week 09.00-17.00

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 2 or E)
Maths (grade 2 or E)

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

Organisation skills
Team working
Physical fitness

Other requirements

The majority of the work is done outdoors, and there is alot of manual work- a good level of fitness and strength will be required.

About this company

Halstead Town Council is responsible for maintaining property and grounds within the town.

After this apprenticeship

The plan is to take on the Apprentice as a groundsperson when they complete their training

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