Apprentice Arborist

Summary

At Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, we’re not just offering you an apprenticeship - we’re offering a launchpad for your future. We are a bold, brave, and innovative council — working as one team, embracing diversity, delivering on our promises, striving for excellence, and putting our community at the heart of everything we do.

Wage

£14,526.20 to £23,492.04, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

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Training course

Arborist (level 2)

Hours

Monday to Friday, shifts to be confirmed.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

1 year 6 months

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

Gain valuable and varied experience assisting with the delivery of the Council’s arboricultural and horticultural work programmes.
Enhance your knowledge, understanding and skills of the arboricultural and horticulture industry.
Tree pruning, felling and dismantling; woodland and annual maintenance operations; operating and maintaining tools and machinery; aerial tree inspections and ground operations using ladders, climbing equipment and elevated platforms.

Where you'll work

Yarm Road
Stockton-On-Tees
TS18 3RU

Training

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

College or training organisation

EAST DURHAM COLLEGE

Your training course

Arborist (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Recognise health and safety needs onsite and work safely
Complete site-specific risk assessments and emergency action plans
Select appropriate equipment for tree work operations
Set out workplace signage (highway & non highway) and assists with traffic control
Process tree work arisings using appropriate machinery
Maintain and take appropriate care of tools, equipment and other onsite factors (such as customer or public buildings etc.)
Recognise a variety of tree species using common names
Carry out a range of formative pruning operations
Carry out branch removal up to 200mm diameter with hand tools (target pruning for final cut).
Fell and process small trees up to 380mm diameter.
Support aerial tree workers with transfer of equipment for aerial tree work operations
Perform an aerial rescue of colleague from a rope and harness
Work safely at height in the tree under supervision
Communicate technical information about arboricultural operations to fellow team members, clients and other stakeholders as required.
Recognise health and safety needs onsite and work safely
Complete site-specific risk assessments and emergency action plans
Select appropriate equipment for tree work operations
Set out workplace signage (highway & non highway) and assists with traffic control
Process tree work arisings using appropriate machinery
Maintain and take appropriate care of tools, equipment and other onsite factors (such as customer or public buildings etc.)
Recognise a variety of tree species using common names
Carry out a range of formative pruning operations
Carry out branch removal up to 200mm diameter with hand tools (target pruning for final cut).
Fell and process small trees up to 380mm diameter.
Support aerial tree workers with transfer of equipment for aerial tree work operations
Perform an aerial rescue of colleague from a rope and harness
Work safely at height in the tree under supervision
Communicate technical information about arboricultural operations to fellow team members, clients and other stakeholders as required.

Your training plan

Day release - one day a week.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4 or above)
Maths (grade 4 or above)

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
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Analytical skills
Team working
Initiative

About this company

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council prides itself on being a great place to work where staff are trusted, valued and supported to make a positive contribution at work. We truly value our Apprentices and recognise that they enable us to identify new talent and build new skills in our workforce.

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

There is also the potential for you to secure long term employment with the Council upon completion of your qualification, and the ability to also apply for internal vacancies restricted to employees throughout your apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: