Countryside Ranger Apprentice

Summary

Elmbridge has a diverse countryside estate with heathland, woodland and wetland habitats along with more formal greenspace sites. This role will involve practical conservation work along with organising and developing volunteers and creating management plans.

Wage

£23,650 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Countryside ranger (level 4)

Hours

Monday to Friday, seasonal working hours between 06:30-16:00.

36 hours a week

Start date

Monday 6 October 2025

Duration

2 years 4 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

Undertake practical estate management works on Elmbridge countryside sites and greenspaces as instructed.
Undertake site management plans as directed.
Recording and managing incidents.
Managing invasive species.
Operate machinery to undertake estate management tasks.
Undertake training as required to operate machinery.
Supervise volunteers.
Create and manage work programmes for volunteer groups.
Produce site interpretation and promotional material as directed.
Able to deal with public enquiries and disseminating information to the public and other stakeholders.
Undertake and manage small projects.
Undertaking risk assessments for volunteers.
Understanding of legislation and policies covering work.
Work collaboratively with stakeholders and other Council teams.

Where you'll work

Civic Centre
High Street
Esher
Surrey
KT10 9SD

Training

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

College or training organisation

BRIDGWATER AND TAUNTON COLLEGE

Your training course

Countryside ranger (level 4)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Assess, prioritise, maintain and evaluate a safe working environment following relevant legislation, work place policies and procedures including identifying hazards, assessing risk and minimising risk and implementing and complying with control measures.
Comply with and ensure others comply with legal requirements, industry regulations and standards and organisational policies, processes, procedures and professional codes and ethics.
Comply with environmental best practices and procedures and follow sustainability and waste management practices.
Organise and prioritise environmental and land management work activities such as habitat management, work associated with public access or assets such as bridges and scheduled monuments. This includes assessing tasks, identifying and allocating the required resources to deliver the task effectively and review completed work.
Manage a range of habitats and species using a variety of specialist techniques and resources which takes account of the local area, habitat, species of flora and fauna and levels of associated protection such as felling, pruning, planting, cutting, mowing, coppicing, thinning, spraying and uprooting, livestock grazing and controlling vegetation and invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed.
Produce short or medium term work, site, habitat action or small scale project plans for the delegated areas of responsibility for and in line with organisations requirement and based on sound knowledge of ecological principles and in line with relevant legislation.
Delegate tasks to volunteers/ team members.
Deliver work and projects on time, to a high standard, using allocated resources, to planned budget, method and quality and represent value for money e.g. environmental and land management, public engagement, interpretation or survey work.
Manage workload, taking into account competing and changes in priorities and demonstrate problem solving ability.
Communicate with the correct authorities and seek advice on land, nature conservation and asset management, such as Historic England for Scheduled Monuments or ecologists.
Organise and prioritise asset and infrastructure construction, maintenance and management works including any surveys and alternative plans.
Construct, maintain and manage a range of boundaries, public access routes, infrastructure and assets using a variety of specialist techniques, tools, equipment and resources.
Correctly identify the unique range of native and invasive species and habitats in the geographical area.
Survey, analyse, communicate and evaluate results for habitats, species and countryside assets.
Select and use a range of work-based tools, machinery and equipment e.g. 4WD vehicles, trailers, winches and other powered and non-powered tools such as chainsaws, brushcutters, hedge trimmer and hand tools, mobile devices and other technology such as GPS, tablets and cameras.
Instruct others how to use tools and machinery correctly and safely and ensure operator competence.
Complete records associated with tools and machinery e.g. maintenance, use, vibration and noise levels etc.
Engage and communicate clearly and effectively with stakeholders including the public, landowners, tenants, contractors and colleagues.
Supervise, motivate and work alongside others while undertaking habitat management, construction and maintenance of boundaries, access routes and associated countryside assets.
Present information to the public and relevant stakeholders on planned works, site designation, its species and habitats and techniques used to manage an area.
Deal with emergencies and incidents as appropriate within the limits of their responsibility, authority and level of training.
Design, produce and evaluate various types of environmental interpretation and information provision for a range of audiences.
Speak in public and engage with a wide range of audiences such as stakeholders e.g. tenants, local community or interest groups, volunteers, educational and corporate groups and members of the public on a range of topics. For example, planned or ongoing habitat or access management, local flora and fauna or history and archaeology of an area.
Recognise strengths and areas for development, creates SMART objectives in line with organisational objectives, participates in development opportunities and regularly seeks feedback.
Make decisions based on the organisations principles and relevant and accurate information.
Assess, prioritise, maintain and evaluate a safe working environment following relevant legislation, work place policies and procedures including identifying hazards, assessing risk and minimising risk and implementing and complying with control measures.
Comply with and ensure others comply with legal requirements, industry regulations and standards and organisational policies, processes, procedures and professional codes and ethics.
Comply with environmental best practices and procedures and follow sustainability and waste management practices.
Organise and prioritise environmental and land management work activities such as habitat management, work associated with public access or assets such as bridges and scheduled monuments. This includes assessing tasks, identifying and allocating the required resources to deliver the task effectively and review completed work.
Manage a range of habitats and species using a variety of specialist techniques and resources which takes account of the local area, habitat, species of flora and fauna and levels of associated protection such as felling, pruning, planting, cutting, mowing, coppicing, thinning, spraying and uprooting, livestock grazing and controlling vegetation and invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed.
Produce short or medium term work, site, habitat action or small scale project plans for the delegated areas of responsibility for and in line with organisations requirement and based on sound knowledge of ecological principles and in line with relevant legislation.
Delegate tasks to volunteers/ team members.
Deliver work and projects on time, to a high standard, using allocated resources, to planned budget, method and quality and represent value for money e.g. environmental and land management, public engagement, interpretation or survey work.
Manage workload, taking into account competing and changes in priorities and demonstrate problem solving ability.
Communicate with the correct authorities and seek advice on land, nature conservation and asset management, such as Historic England for Scheduled Monuments or ecologists.
Organise and prioritise asset and infrastructure construction, maintenance and management works including any surveys and alternative plans.
Construct, maintain and manage a range of boundaries, public access routes, infrastructure and assets using a variety of specialist techniques, tools, equipment and resources.
Correctly identify the unique range of native and invasive species and habitats in the geographical area.
Survey, analyse, communicate and evaluate results for habitats, species and countryside assets.
Select and use a range of work-based tools, machinery and equipment e.g. 4WD vehicles, trailers, winches and other powered and non-powered tools such as chainsaws, brushcutters, hedge trimmer and hand tools, mobile devices and other technology such as GPS, tablets and cameras.
Instruct others how to use tools and machinery correctly and safely and ensure operator competence.
Complete records associated with tools and machinery e.g. maintenance, use, vibration and noise levels etc.
Engage and communicate clearly and effectively with stakeholders including the public, landowners, tenants, contractors and colleagues.
Supervise, motivate and work alongside others while undertaking habitat management, construction and maintenance of boundaries, access routes and associated countryside assets.
Present information to the public and relevant stakeholders on planned works, site designation, its species and habitats and techniques used to manage an area.
Deal with emergencies and incidents as appropriate within the limits of their responsibility, authority and level of training.
Design, produce and evaluate various types of environmental interpretation and information provision for a range of audiences.
Speak in public and engage with a wide range of audiences such as stakeholders e.g. tenants, local community or interest groups, volunteers, educational and corporate groups and members of the public on a range of topics. For example, planned or ongoing habitat or access management, local flora and fauna or history and archaeology of an area.
Recognise strengths and areas for development, creates SMART objectives in line with organisational objectives, participates in development opportunities and regularly seeks feedback.
Make decisions based on the organisations principles and relevant and accurate information.

Your training plan

We have partnered with Bridgwater & Taunton College to deliver this Level 4 Countryside Ranger apprenticeship via a mix of virtual and face-to-face training.

Studies will be undertaken in Elmbridge Borough Countryside and Greenspace sites, online with optional across 2 years at Bridgwater & Taunton College – Cannington Campus.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

inc English & maths (grade (Grade 9 to 4 (A* to C)))

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
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Team working
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Open to working outside
Interacting with the public
Written & Oral skills

Other requirements

You will be expected to work outdoors as well as work in the office. You would need to be physically fit to undertake the role. You will need to hold a full, valid driver's licence, to enable travel across sites.You will be expected to work outdoors as well as work in the office. You would need to be physically fit to undertake the role. You will need to hold a full, valid driving licence, to enable travel across sites.

About this company

Elmbridge Borough Council is responsible for delivering a range of services to our local area. We are a progressive organisation and pride ourselves on listening to our customers and to providing high quality services as cost effectively as possible.

http://elmbridge.gov.uk (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

On successful completion of this apprenticeship, you could develop a career in a management role in a countryside ranger position.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

Elmbridge Borough Council

Emma Campbell

ECampbell@elmbridge.gov.uk

01372474474

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000328782.

Apply now

Closes on Sunday 10 August 2025

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