Horticulture Apprentice

Summary

At Painshill, we have an exciting opportunity for an apprentice gardener to join our landscape team for two years. Painshill is a Grade I listed 18th century landscape garden of international renown, attracting approximately 200,000 visitors a year.

Wage

£14,918.80 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

Hours

Number of Hours: 37.5 Working days: 5 Lunch break length: 2 x half hour breaks Start Time: 7.30am Finish Time: 4pm

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Thursday 11 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

Outline of day-to-day duties:

To work with the landscape team in maintaining the 18th century grounds and surrounding gardens.
Maintenance of the landscape including general gardening tasks such as digging, mulching, watering, weeding, lawn edging, pruning, bed preparation and planting.
To assist with plant propagation and nursery stock production.
To help in the kitchen garden with sowing, harvesting and cultivating the crops.
Use of some machinery including backpack blowers, strimmers, mowers and hedge cutters.
To assist in some Estate duties e.g. fencing, path repairs, emptying bins and building maintenance etc.
Ensure Health and Safety regulations are adhered to at all times.
Assist with the set-up, take down and safe/smooth running of events.

This job description indicates only the main duties and responsibilities of the post. It is not intended as an exhaustive list.

Where you'll work

PAINSHILL PARK
PORTSMOUTH RD
COBHAM
SURREY
KT11 1JE

Training

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

College or training organisation

ACTIVATE LEARNING

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

Horticulture or landscape construction operative, Level 2 (GCSE)
Dedicated Performance Coach

24 months programme

Merrist Wood College day release

Functional Skills Maths and English if applicable

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths and English (grade 4 (C) or Functional Skills L2)

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
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Physical fitness
Postive attitude

Other requirements

DBS checks required. Travel – There is onsite, free car parking. Cobham, Stoke d'abernon train station is the nearest train station to Painshill. It’s approx. 35 to 40 min walk from Painshill. A bus runs from the train station to Painshill. Occasional heavy lifting will be required. Working in most weather conditions, including rain.

About this company

Painshill is a Grade I listed 18th century landscape garden of international renown, attracting approximately 200,000 visitors a year. Inspired by landscape paintings and the Grand Tour through Europe, the Hon Charles Hamilton created Painshill between 1738 and 1773. A registered charity, the landscape at Painshill Park is managed by a team of gardeners and volunteers dedicated to ensuring the plant collections, history and heritage of Hamilton’s vision for Painshill can be enjoyed by everyone. In addition to the designed landscape, there are kitchen gardens, walled gardens, poly tunnels and herbaceous borders. Painshill is also custodian of a national plant heritage collection.

http://painshill.co.uk (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Free parking 25 days holiday plus bank holidays

After this apprenticeship

The usually expected career progression would be to become a gardener at a public / heritage garden or landscape. There is a possibility of a full-time post becoming available on completion at Painshill, depending on staffing levels / budgets, but there is no guarantee.

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