Apprentice Gardener (Trinity Hall)
TRINITY HALL CAMBRIDGE
Cambridge, CAMBRIDGE
Closes on Monday 1 September 2025
Posted on 22 July 2025
Contents
Summary
A fantastic apprentice gardener opportunity at a historic Cambridge college to work alongside a skilled team of gardeners in a wide range of garden settings with varied features including formal lawns, mixed borders, topiary, woodland planting, tender display areas, glasshouse, nursery and sports pitches.
- Wage
-
£15,704 to £25,396.80, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
- Training course
- Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday, 07:30 – 15:30 including two breaks for morning tea and lunch with a daily meal allowance.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 8 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
The role of Apprentice Gardener offers the successful applicant the opportunity to work alongside a skilled team of gardeners in a wide range of garden settings with varied features including formal lawns, mixed borders, topiary, woodland planting, tender display areas, glasshouse, nursery and sports pitches.
Tasks include:
- Plant propagation and cultivation
- Developing new planting areas
- Maintaining borders
- Pruning and specialist training of plants
- Mowing
- Hedge trimming
- Turf care
- Range of seasonal tasks such as leaf raking and composting
Where you'll work
This apprenticeship is available in these locations:
- Wychfield Site, Storeys Way, Cambridge, CB3 0DZ
- TRINITY HALL, CAMBRIDGE, CB2 1TJ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
KEITS TRAINING SERVICES LTD
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.
Training schedule
- Full training to be provided by the employer and KEITS at the place of employment
- The applicant will be working towards a Level 2 Horticulture and Landscape Operative Apprenticeship Standard
- The learner will be allocated an industry-specific training consultant who will provide both remote and on-site visits throughout the apprenticeship
- The apprentice will work towards an End Point Assessment (EPA) at the end of their apprenticeship
Requirements
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Organisation skills
- Presentation skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Physical fitness
- Basic plant and gardening
Other requirements
Uniform for the role provided. KEITS Training Services Ltd reserves the right to close the vacancy earlier than the listed closing date should the need arise. To apply, click Apply for this Role and for our top tips on how to fill out your application form, click here.
About this employer
Trinity Hall is the fifth oldest College in the University of Cambridge. It was founded in 1350 by Bishop Bateman, originally for the study of canon and civil law. The College consists of undergraduates and postgraduates across a range of subjects, Fellows, staff and alumni worldwide. Located in central Cambridge by the river, the College has a further site at Wychfield (off Storey’s Way) and accommodation on Thompson’s Lane. As one of the 31 Colleges at the University of Cambridge, Trinity Hall is an autonomous, self-governing community of scholars. The College exists to be a hub of knowledge and a centre of learning, ensuring each generation of students that calls Trinity Hall ‘home’ benefits from academic excellence and new learning experiences. To ensure this is the case, Trinity Hall is a registered charity and is overseen by a governing body. As a registered charity, Trinity Hall’s purpose is to advance education, religion, learning and research for public benefit. This is done through the provision, support and maintenance of a college at the University of Cambridge. Admitting approximately 650 undergraduate and postgraduate students, the College provides financial and other support to its members so it can achieve this purpose.
After this apprenticeship
- Gardener Roles
- Level 3 Horticulture Supervisor Apprenticeship Role
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
KEITS TRAINING SERVICES LTD
Heidi Clear and Bethany Wylie
recruit@keits.co.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000333105.
Apply now
Closes on Monday 1 September 2025
Sign in with your GOV.UK One Login to apply.
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.