Horticulture Operative Apprentice
FCC RECYCLING (UK) LIMITED
London (E10 7AS)
Closes in 13 days (Monday 18 August 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 4 August 2025
Contents
Summary
Are you passionate about plants and the environment. Join our dynamic team and cultivate your career with hands-on experience in horticulture. This apprenticeship offers you the chance to work with experts, learn sustainable practices, and contribute to beautiful landscapes. grow your skills and make a green impact today.
- Wage
-
£20,592 a year
- Training course
- Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
4 days from Monday to Friday one day in College. Shifts to be confirmed
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 16 September 2025
- Duration
-
2 years
- Positions available
-
3
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
As a Horticulture Operative Apprentice your daily tasks will include:
- Plant Care. Watering, pruning and fertilizing plants to ensure their health and growth
- Soil Management. Preparing soil by digging, planting and mulching
- Pest Control
- Identifying and managing pests and diseases using environmentally friendly methods
- Landscape Maintenance. Mowing lawns, trimming hedges and maintaining garden beds
- Tool Maintenance
- Cleaning and maintaining gardening tools and equipment
- Customer Interaction
- Assisting customers with plant selection and care advice
Where you'll work
Low Hall Depot
Argall Avenue
London
E10 7AS
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
CAPEL MANOR COLLEGE
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
Horticulture or Landscape Construction Operative
Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard:
- Training for the Horticulture Operative Apprenticeship will be a blend of on the job experience and classroom learning
- Most of your training will take place at our main site, where you will work alongside experienced horticulturists
- You will get hands on experience with daily tasks and projects, learning directly in the field
- You will also attend classes at Capel manor College located at Enfield
More training information
- These sessions will cover the theoretical aspects of horticulture, including plant biology, soil science and sustainable practices.
Typically, you will spend four days per week at the work site and one day a week at the college - This schedule ensures you get a balanced mix of practical and theoretical knowledge
- This comprehensive training approach will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the horticulture industry
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4)
- Maths (grade 4)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Customer care skills
- Presentation skills
- Team working
- Creative
- Problem solving
Other requirements
Outdoor work. This role involves working outdoors in various weather conditions, including rain, heat and cold. Being comfortable with outdoor environments is essential. Physical Demands. The job requires physical stamina and strength, as you will be lifting heavy objects, digging and performing other manual tasks. Seasonal variations: Workloads can vary with the seasons, with busier periods during planting and harvesting times. Safety Protocols. Adherence to safety guidelines and proper use of tools and equipment is crucial to prevent injuries. Team Collaboration. You will be working closely with a team, so good communication and teamwork skills are important. Attention to detail. Precision in tasks such as planting, pruning and pest control is necessary to ensure plant health and garden aesthetics.
About this employer
FCC Environment – the waste and resource management company that looks at the bigger picture. We care for both our customers and the environment. We help local authorities and businesses minimise the amount of waste that goes to landfill by transforming it into valuable resources, and we retrieve the full value of the resources we collect and process, so they can be used again and again. Waste that cannot be recycled, we transform into energy.
https://www.fccenvironment.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)
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
Upon successful completion of the Horticulture Operative Apprenticeship, you will have a variety of exciting career paths to explore:
- Horticulturist: Specialise in plant care, garden design, or landscape management
- Arborist: focus on the care and maintenance of trees, including pruning and disease management
- Parks and Recreation Manager: Maintain and enhance public parks and recreational areas
- Further education and Specialisation: pursue additional qualifications or certifications in specialised areas of horticulture, such as botany, plant pathology or sustainable agriculture
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CAPEL MANOR COLLEGE
Tony Parsons
Tony.parsons@fccenvironment.co.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000334390.
Apply now
Closes in 13 days (Monday 18 August 2025 at 11:59pm)
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