Horticulture Apprenticeship Level 2
JAMES BIRD LANDSCAPES LTD
Sheffield (S7 2AX)
Closes in 23 days (Sunday 28 September 2025)
Posted on 3 September 2025
Contents
Summary
Are you passionate about working outdoors and maintaining beautiful spaces? Do you want to start a career in grounds keeping and landscaping? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you! We are seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Grounds Maintenance Apprentice to join our team.
- Wage
-
£17,274.40 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
07:30 - 17:00 Monday - Thursday 07:30 - 16:00 Friday
44 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 6 October 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
Vacancy Overview:
James Bird Landscapes, South Yorkshire’s leading garden landscapers and designers. Working across Sheffield, South Yorkshire and Derbyshire we design, install and maintain beautiful gardens for a range of clients.
Are you passionate about working outdoors and maintaining beautiful spaces? Do you want to start a career in groundskeeping and landscaping? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you! We are seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Grounds Maintenance Apprentice to join our team.
Vacancy Description:
Key Responsibilities:
- Assist in maintaining and enhancing outdoor spaces, including private and public owned gardens
- Learn to use a variety of groundskeeping tools and equipment such as mowers, trimmers, and leaf blowers
- Follow guidance and instruction from experienced team leaders
- Perform routine maintenance tasks with attention to detail
- Always adhere to health and safety regulations
- Develop knowledge of ground maintenance, and plant care
- Work both independently and as part of a team
- Participate in planting, pruning, watering, and weeding activities
Where you'll work
James Bird Landscapes, 1-5 Buttermere Road
Sheffield
S7 2AX
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
CENTRAL YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
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 Horticulture apprenticeship level 2
- Functional skills if required
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE or equivalent in:
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
- Team working
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
You must be able to get to the depot. Be prepared to work outside in all weathers. Working hours will be shifts within the standard working hours dependent on weather and the season with an average of 40 hours a week throughout the year.
About this employer
James Bird Landscapes is a long established, award winning company, with a focus on creating and maintaining beautiful gardens and outdoor spaces for a range of domestic clients.
After this apprenticeship
- Full-time position after apprenticeship has been passed
- Progression through the company
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CENTRAL YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000340260.
Apply now
Closes in 23 days (Sunday 28 September 2025)
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