Horticultural Crop Technician Apprentice

Summary

Kickstart your career in horticulture! Join us as a Crop Technician Apprentice in Letty Green, Herts. Get hands-on with plant care, gain a Level 3 qualification, and grow with a passionate team. Great pay, full training, and a future in sustainable growing awaits.

Wage

£14,722.50 to £23,809.50, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Under 18 - £16575 Over 18 - £23901

Training course

Crop technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 16:30.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 1 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

Assist in the growing of trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials
Plant care and maintenance
Application of crop control measures
Recording of crop data
Potting on young plants and nursery stock
Monitoring and application of plant irrigation
Working with team members, and other departments
Customer order collation
Selection and display of plants for Rochfords cash and
carry

Where you'll work

PIPERS END
LETTY GREEN
HERTFORD
HERTS
SG14 2PB

Training

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

College or training organisation

WARWICKSHIRE COLLEGE

Your training course

Crop technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Identify and mitigate risks to promote and maintain health, safety and security. (Core)
Manage accurate paper or digital records within the workplace. (Core)
Maintain and operate machinery and equipment in accordance with manufacturer operating instructions. (Core)
Maximise economic sustainability by optimising plant growth when carrying out operations. (Core)
Establish crops to ensure efficient and sustainable growth. (Core)
Operate vehicles in accordance with manufacturer operating instructions. (Core)
Control pests, weeds and diseases using integrated pest management. (Core)
Apply and store pest management treatments in accordance with standard operating procedures, legislation and regulations. (Core)
Carry out plant nutrient application or irrigation tasks required by the crop. (Core)
Carry out harvesting and dispatch operations. (Core)
Assess and monitor crops for quality, performance and specification requirements. (Core)
Select harvesting techniques taking account of crop condition and quality requirements. (Core)
Maintain biosecurity and hygiene practices in line with legislation, regulations and organisational requirements. (Core)
Keep harvested crops in suitable conditions to maintain quality. (Core)
Maintain soils or substrates to ensure sustainable, efficient and healthy growth. (Core)
Sample and evaluate soil or substrate health to determine nutrition requirements. (Core)
Comply with health and safety legislation, regulations, guidelines and procedures relevant to own role. (Core)
Participate in learning and CPD activities. (Core)
Manage own time to achieve tasks to schedule. (Core)
Consider different approaches to current working practices, identifying improvements, developments and innovative ideas. (Core)
Set and monitor machinery performance to ensure good seed or plant establishment and crop growth. (Soil based)
Set machinery and equipment taking into account the crop, environment, soil condition and specification requirements. (Soil based)
Maintain non-productive areas. (Soil based)
Assess the impact of machinery on soil structure and identify potential damage in accordance with legislation. (Soil based)
Optimise growth conditions for crops, based on the specific needs of the plant relative to the environment. (Container based)
Maintain productive and non-productive areas. (Container based)
Plan for and carry out the removal of waste materials following harvest or dispatch. (Container based)
Evaluate and select different growing mediums taking into account site conditions and production requirements. (Container based)
Identify and mitigate risks to promote and maintain health, safety and security. (Core)
Manage accurate paper or digital records within the workplace. (Core)
Maintain and operate machinery and equipment in accordance with manufacturer operating instructions. (Core)
Maximise economic sustainability by optimising plant growth when carrying out operations. (Core)
Establish crops to ensure efficient and sustainable growth. (Core)
Operate vehicles in accordance with manufacturer operating instructions. (Core)
Control pests, weeds and diseases using integrated pest management. (Core)
Apply and store pest management treatments in accordance with standard operating procedures, legislation and regulations. (Core)
Carry out plant nutrient application or irrigation tasks required by the crop. (Core)
Carry out harvesting and dispatch operations. (Core)
Assess and monitor crops for quality, performance and specification requirements. (Core)
Select harvesting techniques taking account of crop condition and quality requirements. (Core)
Maintain biosecurity and hygiene practices in line with legislation, regulations and organisational requirements. (Core)
Keep harvested crops in suitable conditions to maintain quality. (Core)
Maintain soils or substrates to ensure sustainable, efficient and healthy growth. (Core)
Sample and evaluate soil or substrate health to determine nutrition requirements. (Core)
Comply with health and safety legislation, regulations, guidelines and procedures relevant to own role. (Core)
Participate in learning and CPD activities. (Core)
Manage own time to achieve tasks to schedule. (Core)
Consider different approaches to current working practices, identifying improvements, developments and innovative ideas. (Core)

Your training plan

Level 2 Awards in:

Safe Use of Pesticides

On completion of the pesticide's foundation unit above also
choose one of the following units:

Boom sprayer, mounted, trailed or self-propelled equipment
Granular applicator equipment
Handheld applicator equipment
Level 3 award in Emergency First Aid at Work
Apprentices aged 16-18 at the start of their apprenticeship and without Level 2 English and maths (GCSE grade 4 or C or above) will need to achieve this level prior to taking the end point assessment

More training information

Pershore College.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English, Maths (grade 3/D+)

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
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
Administrative skills
Number skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Physical fitness

Other requirements

The role is mainly outdoor based, there will be a lot of physical activity and will need to be on your feet for most of the day. Plants can be heavy, and most are grown outdoors, so a love of the outdoor world is essential, one should be of a hardy nature. We will provide waterproofs. Multiple location Addresses: The Birch Green Site, The Old Coach Road Birch Green Hertford SG14 2FB

About this company

Joseph Rochford Gardens Ltd is a leading wholesale nursery based in Letty Green, Hertfordshire. Established in 1974, the company operates over 40 acres of container production and sources plants from across Europe to meet diverse client needs. Serving landscape professionals, garden designers, and local authorities, Rochfords offers a trade-only Cash & Carry—one of the largest in the UK. Known for its fast turnaround, quality plants, and friendly service, the company is committed to sustainable practices, with an eye for detail on plant health, and peat free growing, it is an active member of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), and holds Ornamental Horticulture Assurance Scheme (OHAS) accreditation, ensuring high standards across the business.

http://www.rochfords.net (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Overtime can be expected and is paid at 1.5 x hourly rate.

After this apprenticeship

A full-time position may be available on completion of a successful apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

WARWICKSHIRE COLLEGE

SARAH ASHMORE

sashmore@warwickshire.ac.uk

07740419319

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000330876.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 15 August 2025

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