Apprentice Horticulture Operative Supervisor

Riverlution

Sheffield (S9 2TW)

Closes in 31 days (Friday 26 September 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 26 August 2025

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Contents

Summary

EN:Able Futures, an award-winning Apprenticeship Employer, is partnering with Riverlution, a Social Enterprise that operates a Stewardship Partnership in various rivers, to employ an Apprentice Horticulture Operative Supervisor. The role will suit anybody who has a passion for environmental projects, as well as supervising apprentices.

Wage

£25,350 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Water environment worker (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday 08:30 - 16:30.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 29 September 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

WATER MAINTENANCE AND HABITAT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS
Assist in managing waterway maintenance and habitat improvement projects from planning through to execution and review. Ensure that smaller conservation projects align with overall waterway improvement goals, contributing to the team’s broader objectives in South Yorkshire.

SUPERVISION OF APPRENTICES AND VOLUNTEERS
Provide day-to-day supervision and guidance to apprentices and volunteers, ensuring work is carried out effectively and safely. Support the development of skills within the team and encourage active participation in conservation tasks.

VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP
Lead and coordinate volunteer events related to environmental improvement, ensuring tasks are completed to a high standard and in line with project goals. Motivate and guide volunteers, ensuring their contributions positively impact the environment and the wider community.

HEALTH AND SAFETY
Assist in ensuring compliance with all health and safety regulations during projects. Conduct risk assessments and promote safe working practices among the team, volunteers, and apprentices.

Where you'll work

Newhall Road Industrial Estate
Sanderson Street
Sheffield
S9 2TW

Training

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

Training provider

RIVERLUTION BY RSC CIC

Training course

Water environment worker (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Work safely and effectively, identify hazards, assess risk and comply with internal and external control measures. Dynamically assess risk and challenge unsafe activities when carrying out their duties, for their protection and that of others (e.g. contractors, members of the public), and take the necessary actions to minimise potential risks
  • Take proactive steps to manage their personal wellbeing, especially when working in high risk environments such lone working, confined spaces, in or near water. Implement lone working device in accordance with own organisation’s procedure.
  • Communicate HSW controls and safe working systems that are to be followed by you and others when working outdoors, e.g. pre-briefing before work commences
  • Select and use a range of maintenance tools, plant, equipment and resources so that asset maintenance plans can be delivered in safe manner whilst also protecting the environment, e.g. start-up checks, correct use of plant, etc. taking into account the working conditions and water environment status
  • Report relevant asset information which contributes to ensuring assets are well maintained in a timely manner
  • Apply soft engineering principles and practices to reduce erosion and manage stabilisation and safety of shorelines and the area surrounding watercourses, while enhancing habitat, improving aesthetics and saving money
  • Design, plan and build boundaries and apply sound principles and best environmental practices to preserve the natural environment within the context of the legal framework
  • Communicate clearly and effectively with the public, land owners, contractors and colleagues to deliver business outcomes, e.g. explaining their work to a landowner, provide feedback to contractors and colleagues to improve ways of working and responding to queries from members of the public. Vary their communication style to fit differing situations e.g. handling a complaint, describing their work
  • Use technology solutions available to communicate with others internally, e.g. email, social media etc.
  • Comply with environmental practices and procedures e.g. prevent cross contamination of invasive species, follow sustainability and waste management practices, plan work to adhere to legislation
  • Operate in a way which reduces pollution of our waterways and land nearby
  • 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
  • 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
  • Enhance the organisation’s reputation by the way in which they work with contractors and other partners to deliver their work. Promote the work of the organisation in a positive light, referring to others when necessary
  • Plan and deliver projects using best practice project management techniques, including management of risks and resources, time management and value for money and the natural environment, e.g. work on a river bank could also create a habitat for wildlife
  • Demonstrate appropriate tool and material selection to carry out their duties safely, taking into account the ground/ working conditions
  • Adapt working practices to take account of new, improved ways of working, especially with regard to safe working practices, such as new materials available, lessons learned from health and safety incident reviews, and new environmental practices
  • Work with their line manager to develop their performance objectives and supporting activities. Demonstrate evidence towards achieving their objectives, using their organisation's systems and processes
  • Actively seek opportunities to develop themselves, seeking feedback from peers, attending training and putting into practice, with evidence-gathering, etc.
  • Handle media requests for information in accordance with policy and procedures
  • Work collaboratively, ensuring everyone involved follows safe working practices at all times, such as using safe winching techniques to remove obstructions, and driving four wheel drive vehicles safely off the public highway on agricultural land
  • Work effectively, safely and sustainably on the local priorities defined by the asset maintenance schedule
  • Work with other teams to help develop condition assessments and a work programme allied to maintenance standards
  • Review the impact of the ‘recovery phase’ of incident response and identify when an asset reaches the correct status
  • Identify work which could improve habitats at the same time as improving assets
  • Plan for volunteer involvement on-site
  • Effectively contribute to a successful volunteer recruitment campaign
  • Manage day to day requirements for volunteers involved on site
  • Contribute to the delivery of sustainable volunteering offer, based on volunteer’s skills and interest areas
  • Able to effectively communicate with volunteers
  • Able to assess the task and identify the required Volunteering resource to deliver the task effectively
  • Plan work activities for a wide range of volunteer groups and different tasks
  • Carry out risk assessments for a wide range of tasks carried out by volunteers, including working close to water
  • Sensitive to the needs of the group including recognising the volunteers as customers. Takes personal responsibility to ensure that they have a great experience
  • Able to plan tasks as volunteering "events" for corporate groups by applying knowledge of resource requirements for each task
  • Assess heritage value. Plan & execute work appropriately to context. Take advice from appropriate colleagues & stakeholders
  • Follow technical advice and guidance in Environmental/ Heritage Assessments
  • Improve the organisation's reputation, with particular reference to their conservation standards and credentials, by the way in which they work with contractors and other partners to deliver their work
  • Promote the conservation work of the organisation in a positive light, referring to others when necessary
  • Apply best practice to the safe use of a range of maintenance tools, plant and equipment specific to heritage conservation and appropriate for heritage materials (including Stone Masonry Tools & Chisels)
  • Select and carry out minor repair work using the correct equipment and materials appropriate to heritage conservation (for example materials used to protect completed work)
  • Demonstrate decision making that includes heritage value
  • Identify and implement safe systems of work to deploy interventions in a timely manner
  • Collate or report accurate data which ensures assets are well maintained in a timely manner
  • Explain the purpose of managing water levels and watercourses in the context of organisational objectives, powers and responsibilities
  • Operate individually or as part of a team to manage welfare of self and others in all weather conditions and times of day
  • Take readings and interpret information from relevant technology such as gauge board, on-line telemetry, internet weather forecasts
  • Take optical level survey to establish fixed datum for installation of water level monitoring equipment e.g. gauge board or telemetry site
  • Record and present information to inform operational decisions e.g. water level diary or spreadsheet
  • Appreciate risk of different types of livestock in rural settings and adapt working practices to accommodate those risks
  • Work safely and effectively, identify hazards, assess risk and comply with internal and external control measures. Dynamically assess risk and challenge unsafe activities when carrying out their duties, for their protection and that of others (e.g. contractors, members of the public), and take the necessary actions to minimise potential risks
  • Take proactive steps to manage their personal wellbeing, especially when working in high risk environments such lone working, confined spaces, in or near water. Implement lone working device in accordance with own organisation’s procedure.
  • Communicate HSW controls and safe working systems that are to be followed by you and others when working outdoors, e.g. pre-briefing before work commences
  • Select and use a range of maintenance tools, plant, equipment and resources so that asset maintenance plans can be delivered in safe manner whilst also protecting the environment, e.g. start-up checks, correct use of plant, etc. taking into account the working conditions and water environment status
  • Report relevant asset information which contributes to ensuring assets are well maintained in a timely manner
  • Apply soft engineering principles and practices to reduce erosion and manage stabilisation and safety of shorelines and the area surrounding watercourses, while enhancing habitat, improving aesthetics and saving money
  • Design, plan and build boundaries and apply sound principles and best environmental practices to preserve the natural environment within the context of the legal framework
  • Communicate clearly and effectively with the public, land owners, contractors and colleagues to deliver business outcomes, e.g. explaining their work to a landowner, provide feedback to contractors and colleagues to improve ways of working and responding to queries from members of the public. Vary their communication style to fit differing situations e.g. handling a complaint, describing their work
  • Use technology solutions available to communicate with others internally, e.g. email, social media etc.
  • Comply with environmental practices and procedures e.g. prevent cross contamination of invasive species, follow sustainability and waste management practices, plan work to adhere to legislation
  • Operate in a way which reduces pollution of our waterways and land nearby
  • 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
  • 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
  • Enhance the organisation’s reputation by the way in which they work with contractors and other partners to deliver their work. Promote the work of the organisation in a positive light, referring to others when necessary
  • Plan and deliver projects using best practice project management techniques, including management of risks and resources, time management and value for money and the natural environment, e.g. work on a river bank could also create a habitat for wildlife
  • Demonstrate appropriate tool and material selection to carry out their duties safely, taking into account the ground/ working conditions
  • Adapt working practices to take account of new, improved ways of working, especially with regard to safe working practices, such as new materials available, lessons learned from health and safety incident reviews, and new environmental practices
  • Work with their line manager to develop their performance objectives and supporting activities. Demonstrate evidence towards achieving their objectives, using their organisation's systems and processes
  • Actively seek opportunities to develop themselves, seeking feedback from peers, attending training and putting into practice, with evidence-gathering, etc.

Training schedule

The successful candidate will work towards a Level 3 Water Environment Qualification, which will take between 13-18 months (including End Point Assessment) and will be on a block release basis.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 5)
  • Maths (grade 5)

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
  • Problem solving skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative

Other requirements

The successful applicant must be able to swim due to the nature of the role.

About this employer

EN:Able Futures, award-winning Shared/Flexi Job apprenticeship service will support you through your apprenticeship journey and professional development. We employ our apprentices directly and are listed on the Flexi Job Apprenticeship Register. We work with hosts in Yorkshire and the North East to provide apprentices in the construction and civil engineering industry.

After this apprenticeship

Progression onto a higher level qualification and/or a full-time position within the company.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

Riverlution

Nicola Charlesworth

Nicola.Charlesworth@the-rsc.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000338822.

Apply now

Closes in 31 days (Friday 26 September 2025 at 11:59pm)

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