Horticulture Apprenticeship Level 2

Summary

To work as part of a team to ensure that the site is maintained to the highest possible standards in accordance with the contract and good horticulture practice for the enjoyment, recreation and safety of site employees and visitors.

Wage

£15,704 to £25,396.80, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

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Training course

Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

Hours

Monday to Friday, 07.30 to 16.00.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 7 July 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

To work as part of a team to ensure that the site is maintained to the highest possible standards in accordance with the contract and good horticulture practice for the enjoyment, recreation and safety of site employees and visitors.

Responsibilities:

To undertake the full range of grounds maintenance duties as instructed by your line manager as follows: Horticultural operations including formative pruning for a range of plants, annual seasonal bedding operations, pest & disease control, general grass cutting, watering of trees, shrubs, and bedding plants. Hedge cutting, irrigation, strimming, edge reformation. Litter picking operations. Weed control.
To work as part of a team with the aim of ensuring productive and professional relationships within team, with other employees, managers, clients, and external agencies.
Ensure hand/power tools and grounds maintenance equipment, machinery and vehicles in your charge are secure, in good working order, carry out routine maintenance and refer major mechanical problems to your line manager.
Empty bins, including bag removal and bag replacement where appropriate and recycle where necessary
Undertake regular checking and reporting of the physical infrastructure of the site including paths.
Assist with hard and soft landscaping projects including preparation of ground, paving, simple construction, grubbing out, planting including trees/shrubs and other general landscaping operations where appropriate.

Where you'll work

Tivoli Services part of the Nurture Group, Admiralty House, Watford Road
Northwood
HA6 3PQ

Training

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

College or training organisation

CENTRAL YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION

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

Full Horticulture level 2 apprenticeship
Functional Skills where required

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

Maths and English (grade 3)

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
Team working
Physical fitness

Other requirements

This role is labour intensive and requires a certain degree of physical capability. Willingness to work outdoors, work within a team, good communicator, strong work ethic. This position requires a DBS. Applicants must be 18 years old to comply with insurance requirements. A driving licence is desirable.

About this company

The Nurture Group is a multi-award-winning, nationwide service provider encompassing five well established brands, delivering ‘one stop’ integrated services to a diverse client base across the UK. Nurture Landscapes provides Grounds Maintenance, Interior & Exterior Plant Displays and Winter Gritting to clients predominantly within the corporate sector. Gavin Jones Ltd provides landscape construction services to commercial and private clients and landscape maintenance services largely to the commercial sector, but also including government and MOD sites, public open spaces, and university campus estates. Nurture Pest Control provides pest solutions and prevention services to both commercial and domestic customers, and are of the UK’s leading pest control companies. Gristwood & Toms delivers expert arboricultural services, offering specialist tree care and management. Tivoli, since joining the Nurture Group in October 2024, continues its legacy as one of the UK’s most respected providers of landscape and grounds maintenance services. Offering a comprehensive range of services, Tivoli deliveres high-quality, sustainable solutions that enhance green spaces and nurture biodiversity. Our clients span across a diverse and broad range of disciplines, from corporate headquarters, science parks, shopping centres, business and industrial parks, to leisure facilities, schools, sporting venues, hotels, universities, public open spaces and the public sector. As a carbon neutral business in compliance with the global PAS 2060 standard, the group has been successful in nurturing lasting relationships with its customers, colleagues and supply partners.

After this apprenticeship

A career path and plan will be put in place for the successful candidate.

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