Apprentice Horticulturist - University of Oxford - Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum

University of Oxford

Oxford (OX1 4AZ)

Closes in 12 days (Thursday 17 July 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 4 July 2025


Summary

The University of Oxford Botanic Garden is recruiting two apprentice horticulturists as part of a dedicated and enthusiastic team responsible for the cultivation and maintenance of the plant collections at Oxford’s historic university botanic garden. You will develop skills in cultivating a wide range of plants in both the garden and glasshouses.

Wage

£25,331 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Pending August 1st pay review.

Training course
Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
Hours
You will complete an 18 month apprenticeship, including End Point Assessment within a 2 year employment contract. 9am-5pm Monday to Friday. Weekend duties approx. once a month as part of a rota (overtime paid/time off in lieu granted as appropriate).

36 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

2

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

Through training and direct hands-on experience, the Apprentice Horticulturist’s main responsibilities and duties will include the following. 

Regular duties:

  • Developing skills in general maintenance of the area of the Botanic Garden to which they are assigned
  • Working closely with the Horticultural Team to learn skills in cultivation of the plant collections
  • Learning about safe use of machinery and ladders
  • Answering enquiries from the public
  • Attending botanical and horticultural training
  • Attending staff meetings and staff events 

    Intermittent duties:
  • Learn compliance with procedures to manage risk to yourself, the team, volunteers, visitors and contractors
  • Interacting with visitors e.g. Friends’ coffee morning guided tours
  • With support, assisting with the preparation of the education programmes and outreach work
  • Any health & safety training required, as identified by your line manager
  • Any other duties supporting the work of the Botanic Garden and Arboretum at the request of line managers 
     
    Hazard-specific / Safety-critical duties:

This job includes the following hazards or safety-critical activities which will require successful pre-employment health screening through our Occupational Health Service before the successful candidate will be allowed to start work: 

  • Working at heights 
  • Lone working
  • Work in hot or cold environments
  • Driving on University business
  • Regular manual handling
  • Working with allergens
  • Work with substances 

Where you'll work

Botanic Gardens
High Street
Oxford
OX1 4AZ

Training

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

College or training organisation

ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE

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

Qualifications included:

  • Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid
  • Level 2 Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides
  • Level 2 Award In The Safe Application of Pesticides Using Pedestrian Hand Held Equipment
  • Level 2 Horticulture Operative Apprenticeship

More training information

Training is delivered by Abingdon & Witney College and takes place across both of the following campuses - please ensure you can get to both sites, as well as the workplace before you apply:

Common Leys Farm Campus, Pitts Lane, Hailey, Nr Witney OX29 9UU.

Abingdon Campus, Wootton Road, Abingdon OX14 1GG.

 

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

  • English (grade A*-C 9/4)
  • Maths (grade A*-C 9/4)

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
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Customer care skills
  • Team working
  • Physical fitness
  • Aptitude for horticulture
  • Keen to learn about plants
  • Awaren of OBG's public setting

Other requirements

This job includes hazards or safety-critical activities. If you are offered the post, you will be asked to complete a health questionnaire which will be assessed by our Occupational Health Service , and the offer of employment will be subject a successful outcome of this assessment. Working at heights, working in hot or cold environments, regular manual handling are all a part of the role. Your application will be judged solely on the basis of how you demonstrate that you meet the selection criteria stated in the job description. Please use your own words to answer the questions as AI generated answers tend to score lower and don't give the Hiring Manager a sense of why you are the right candidate for the role. As part of the recruitment process, longlisted candidates will be contacted directly by the Apprenticeship Training Provider and will be required to complete initial assessments in English and maths, provide an up-to-date CV and book onto a short eligibility assessment telephone call where you can also find out more about the apprenticeship and ask any questions you may have. Please note that you must respond promptly to training provider email and phone requests for information or your application may be rejected. By applying for this vacancy, you are giving the Training Provider permission to undertake a Learner Record Service check on your previous qualifications. The Training Provider for this apprenticeship is Abingdon & Witney College. If you would like to talk to them about the assessments, please call on 01235 216216. We make every effort to ensure that applicants from non-traditional academic backgrounds or those who may not have the formal GCSE entry requirements can access apprenticeships where possible. This advert may close early if applications exceed the required number. Please apply early so that you don't miss out.

About this company

The University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Harcourt Arboretum forms a collection of plants which today is more diverse and comprehensive than at any time since its founding in 1621. The plants grown at the Botanic Garden and Harcourt Arboretum are not only grown for their amenity value, but are used for educational activities, reference, conservation and research. The University of Oxford Harcourt Arboretum was established by the Harcourt family in 1835 but has been managed by the University of Oxford Botanic Garden since 1963. The Arboretum has a diverse collection of trees and shrubs from around the World, which are complemented by native woodlands, parkland and meadows.

http://www.botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

University employees enjoy 38 days’ paid holiday, generous pension schemes, travel discounts, and a variety of professional development opportunities. Membership of the University Club is free for all University staff.

After this apprenticeship

Over 80% of our apprentices continue with us in the role they have been trained for after their Apprenticeship and that’s just the start of their career. 

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE

apprenticeships@abingdon-witney.ac.uk

01235 216216

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000329852.

Apply now

Closes in 12 days (Thursday 17 July 2025 at 11:59pm)

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