Apprentice Gardener

Summary

Are you passionate about plants, the outdoors, and learning new skills? Our Grounds Team based at Lackham campus a historic Georgian estate, featuring stunning formal gardens, arboretums and green spaces is looking for a new team member. You will gain hands-on experience in garden design, maintenance, glasshouse care, and plant propagation.

Wage

£14,566 a year

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Your hourly rate of pay will increase within your second year of apprenticeship from the national apprenticeship wage to the national minimum wage for your age group.

Training course

Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

Hours

This is a fixed term, two-year apprenticeship study programme, (full time, 37 hours per week, 52 weeks per year) including 1 day per week at college. Monday - Thursday, 8.30am - 5.00pm. Friday, 8.30am - 4.30pm. 1 hour unpaid lunch break.

37 hours a week

Start date

Thursday 6 November 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

Maintain and develop the gardens and arboretums on our picturesque campus
Assist with glasshouse care and plant propagation projects
Support the weekly upkeep of grounds across our three additional campuses
Learn from experienced team members who have progressed through the apprenticeship program
Maintain and develop the gardens and arboretums on our picturesque campus
Assist with glasshouse care and plant propagation projects
Support the weekly upkeep of grounds across our three additional campuses
Learn from experienced team members who have progressed through the apprenticeship program

Where you'll work

Lackham Campus
Lacock
Chippenham
SN15 2NY

Training

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

Training provider

WILTSHIRE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CENTRE

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

You’ll attend Wiltshire College and University centre Lackham campus one day per week as part of the program, with the potential to progress onto Level 3 qualifications. With guidance from team members who have successfully transitioned from apprentices to full-time employees, you’ll have every opportunity to develop your career.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 1 or above)
Maths (grade 1 or above)

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
Problem solving skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Physical fitness

Other requirements

We embrace diversity, recognising the valuable perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and cultures individuals from different backgrounds bring. Committed to safeguarding, we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. As a Disability Confident Employer, we pledge to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for a job vacancy and assess them based on their abilities.

About this employer

Wiltshire College & University Centre plays a vital role in Wiltshire’s economy, inspiring people to develop the skills they need to achieve. Our four main campuses are learning hubs in their communities, and we aspire to be an outstanding, and agile provider, achieving our clear social mission on behalf of learners and employers across Wiltshire and beyond. Our campuses deliver a diversity of facilities from the country estate and farm of our Lackham campus to new hi-tech digital and state of the art facilities at our Trowbridge, Salisbury and Chippenham sites. We have invested £65 million in our estate over the past 10 years. Our turnover is £45 million per annum and growing, we employ some 650 staff, and support around 11,500 students.

https://www.wiltshire.ac.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 your apprenticeship programme, there maybe the potential to progress onto Level 3 qualifications.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

WILTSHIRE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CENTRE

The apprenticeship team

apprenticeships@wiltshire.ac.uk

01249465282

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000342110.

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Contents

Summary

Work

What you'll do at work

Where you'll work

Training

Training provider

Training course

What you'll learn

Training schedule

Requirements

Essential qualifications

Skills

Other requirements

About this employer

Disability Confident

After this apprenticeship

Ask a question

Apply now

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Apprentice Gardener

Contents

Summary

Work

What you'll do at work

Where you'll work

Training

Training provider

Training course

What you'll learn

Training schedule

Requirements

Essential qualifications

Skills

Other requirements

About this employer

Disability Confident

After this apprenticeship

Ask a question

Apply now