Apprentice Ranger
West Sussex County Council
West Sussex (PO20 7AW)
Closes in 30 days (Monday 1 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 1 August 2025
Contents
Summary
The Apprentice Ranger will help with practical countryside management duties, such as habitat maintenance, footpaths and access infrastructure, surveys, and working with conservation volunteers.
- Wage
-
£19,240 a year
- Training course
- Countryside worker (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday - Thursday, 08:00 - 16:00 and Friday, 08:00 - 15:30
Occasional out of hours work as required.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 6 October 2025
- Duration
-
1 year 6 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
- To positively work as part of the Ranger Team
- To help with practical habitat site improvement projects and the maintenance of footpath and access infrastructure
- To undertake occasional conservation surveys, including some based on water
- To assist with the Friends of Chichester Harbour Conservation Work Parties (volunteers)
- To adhere to Chichester Harbour Conservancy risk assessments, and health and safety policies
- To take care of equipment that belongs to Chichester Harbour Conservancy
- To attend relevant meetings, practical and applied training courses and conferences as required
- To occasionally lone work as required
- To undertake any other relevant duties commensurate with the role
The Apprentice Ranger will report to the Lead Ranger and work alongside another Ranger.
The role is part of the National Landscape team, comprising professionals across conservation, ecology, nature recovery, farming, education, planning, and communications and engagement.
Where you'll work
The Harbour Office
The Street, Itchenor
Chichester
West Sussex
PO20 7AW
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
SPARSHOLT COLLEGE
Training course
Countryside worker (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Manage habitats using a range of specialist techniques such as coppicing, hedge laying, river/stream bank stabilisation and establishing native plants, using appropriate tools and equipment. This could also include new and developing sustainable practices such as using natural materials to manage excessive rainfall (in constructing leaky dams and bale dams) and subsequently manage erosion and flood damage.
- Construct or repair boundaries including different fencing types (such as post and rail, stock fencing), hedging (establishing a new hedge or laying an existing hedge) and dry stone walling depending on the geographic location/landscape and local natural materials.
- Construct or maintain access ways, for example a path surface using aggregate, stone pitching, slabs, bark, concrete or tarmac. This will include the skills to ensure that the path surface drains properly.
- Manage vegetation in a range of different situations, for example strimming pathways, using pesticides, managing trees and hedgerows, eradicating invasive species in order to conserve native flora and fauna.
- Construct and /or maintain site furniture for access and interpretation. For example, bridges, gates, stiles, boardwalks, signs/waymarks or information boards using sustainable materials where possible. This will involve both following standard methods and also undertaking site specific design. For example, installing a gate on a sloping field will involve modifying the standard method, while every river or stream crossing while require a different design.
- Use a range of hand tools and powered tools safely such as hammers, panel saws, levels, drills, strimmers or chainsaws, hold the relevant certification for powered equipment and undertake the routine maintenance of the tools used.
- Problem solving: be resourceful in finding solutions to problems that may arise in day to day work and know when to ask a supervisor for advice.
- Identify a range of British flora and fauna native to the specific local area e.g. commonly seen birds, mammals, insects, herbs, flowers, trees or fungi to determine the appropriate habitat management needed.
- Undertake surveys which feed in to site management plans and work plans, for example, survey habitats and species, numbers of visitors, the condition of Rights of Way or structures/furniture.
- Write a simple dynamic risk assessment and be able to use it on site. Use the risk assessment as the basis of working safely; understanding the hazards on the site and involved in the wide range of practical tasks undertaken by Countryside Workers. Know how to reduce these risks to an acceptable level for themselves, the public and colleagues through using safe working practices and wearing personal protective equipment.
- Communicate effectively in a range of situations e.g. through face to face interaction, electronic communication, telephoning or presenting to members of the public, contractors, colleagues or landowners.
Training schedule
- Countryside Worker Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard
- Apprenticeship to be delivered by Sparsholt College
- Block release delivery – commencing Monday 6th October 2025
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade D(3))
- Maths (grade D(3))
Other in:
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade C (4))
- Maths (grade D(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
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Team working
- Physical fitness
- an interest in conservation
- Good work ethic
Other requirements
The Apprentice Ranger will need to be able to move around the National Landscape and get to and from Sparsholt College as required. Due to the nature of the role and the candidate having to be able to more around the harbour, a full driving license is required.
About this employer
Chichester Harbour Conservancy was established in 1971 with functions around safety of navigation, leisure, recreation, and the conservation of nature. Chichester Harbour is a designated National Landscape.
After this apprenticeship
- Rangers are employed by National Parks, National Landscapes, Wildlife Trusts, the RSPB, the National Trust, the Forestry Commission, private estates, and many other countryside organisations
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
SPARSHOLT COLLEGE
Helen Mitchell
helen.mitchell@sparsholtservices.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000335214.
Apply now
Closes in 30 days (Monday 1 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
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