Gardener Apprentice

Summary

Are you passionate about horticulture, grounds maintenance & gardening? We have an exciting opportunity for a gardener apprentice. We are responsible for upkeep of parks, housing, sports pitches, planting, weeding, mowing, strimming, public interaction, monitoring safety as well as the less glamourous functions like daily checks for litter & waste.

Wage

£19,292 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

After completed first year National Minimum Wage for your age will apply but no less than starting salary.

Training course

Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

Hours

Standard working hours are Monday - Friday 7.30am - 3.30pm

37 hours a week

Start date

Wednesday 1 October 2025

Duration

1 year 9 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

You will gain knowledge in all areas of horticultural operations, for example, mowing, strimming, hedge trimming, planting, pruning, rotovating, site preparation, turfing, seeding and weeding
You will also learn customer service skills as well as gaining invaluable experience in the workplace in applying and putting this learning into practice
You will build and develop inclusive working relationships with colleagues, customers and other stakeholders from all diverse backgrounds
You will work within a supportive team to meet the requirements of the service
Additionally, you will learn how to assist in more advanced horticultural operations for example, pruning, planting, bedding, compaction reduction and potentially design
You will develop skills to identify the most common horticultural pests and diseases and determine and carry out an appropriate method of eradication, in line with current legislation
You will learn how to assemble sports equipment safely and assist with marking out sports pitches
You will learn how to identify hazards and take remedial action and report hazards to the Team Leader
You will also follow Health and Safety policies, procedures and risk assessments
You will be taught how to carry out playground inspections and maintain reports to satisfactory agreed standards
You will learn how to complete pre-use checks and basic maintenance on tools, equipment, machinery and vehicles to ensure they are in good and safe working order
You will comply with Health and Safety regulations and report any defects to the Team Leader

Where you'll work

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

Hove Park, Hove, BN3 6BG
Easthill Park, Portslade, BN41 2FA

Training

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

College or training organisation

PLUMPTON 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

The Intermediate Horticultural Operative Level 2 Apprenticeship is run by Plumpton College who are responsible for supporting you with your learning, online recording of evidence of competence, off the job training and carrying out assessments of competence in roles using various machines and tools etc
If necessary, you'll complete Functional Skills in English and maths
Your work experience will be linked to the knowledge, skills and behaviours in the apprenticeship standard and once you are competent in all these areas you will take an independently monitored End Point Assessment before successfully completing
You will receive additional support if required, from a nominated workplace mentor, throughout the duration of the Apprenticeship
Delivery is weekly, alternating between virtual and face to face at Plumpton College, so you would need to be able to travel to Plumpton College
Further learning will occur in the workplace

Requirements

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
Problem solving skills
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Physical fitness

About this company

We are one of the largest employers in Sussex employing around 8,000 staff who deliver more than 700 services to local residents. Working for us is more than just a job. It’s all about making a real difference to people’s everyday lives. We firmly believe that our staff are our greatest asset and it’s important to us that they are happy, healthy and productive at work. We are an accredited Living Wage employer and offer a range of financial and non-financial benefits.

http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

You will receive all the benefits of being an employee of Brighton & Hove City Council. As an Apprentice, you are eligible for an apprentice NUS discount card and can take advantage of bus travel discounts with Brighton & Hove buses.

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

Although this is a fixed term position, the ongoing Apprenticeship programme has been specifically designed to train committed and dedicated individuals
There may be opportunities to be the future Operatives, Team leaders and Managers if you have the right passion, outlook and commitment and where vacancies arise

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