City Gardens Apprentice Gardener

Summary

This opportunity gives you experience and skills in horticulture in the centre of the City of London. You will work towards ensuring that our award-winning gardens are maintained to the highest standards for the enjoyment of the public and other users. In addition, you will work on improvement projects usually undertaken during the winter period.

Wage

£25,280 a year

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Training course

Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

Hours

Monday to Thursday 7.30 am – 3.30 pm, Friday 7.30 am – 3 pm. Two 30-minute breaks at 9 am and 1 ppm – one paid, one unpaid. Flexibility may be required to support business needs.

35 hours a week

Start date

Monday 5 January 2026

Duration

2 years

Positions available

4

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

Garden Maintenance

To undertake general horticultural maintenance such as grass cutting, pruning, planting, irrigation, edge- strimming, pruning, annual seasonal bedding, weeding and clearance/maintenance of hard surfaces, drains/gulleys /ponds, under supervision.
To undertake basic repair, maintenance and installation of
fences/barriers/gates/bollards and the repair, maintenance & installation of seats, signs, paths and bins, under supervision.
Use basic hand/power tools and grounds maintenance equipment under supervision.
To pick up litter and dispose of it safely through the use of a Litter Pick and emptying bins, including bag removal and bag replacement. Sweeping the footpaths so as to keep the City Gardens in a clean and tidy condition at all times.
To learn and assist the Gardeners and Team Leaders with hard and soft landscaping projects, including the preparation of ground, paving, simple construction, planting, including trees/shrubs and other general landscaping operations.

Communication and Responsibilities

To attend monthly staff meetings and learn about the site specific project meetings as appropriate.
To work as part of a team with the aim of ensuring productive working relationships within the team and with other employees, Team Leaders and external agencies.
To attend college one day per week as part of the City of London Apprenticeship Programme, and complete coursework and examinations in a timely fashion and to the best of your ability.

Customer Care

To provide a highly visible presence to engender a sense of well-being for customers and to speak to members of the public to ensure they are aware of the work of the City Gardens section.
To assist in promoting City Gardens to local schools, colleges and other City Gardens service groups.

Health & Safety and Other Matters

To ensure that you observe departmental safety procedures and use safe working practices specifically with regard to PPE, and adherence to COSHH and Risk Assessments, reporting accidents and near misses to your Supervisor.
Actively seek to implement the City of London’s Occupational Health and Safety Policy in relation to the duties of the post, and at all times give due regard to the health and safety of both themselves and others when carrying out their duties.
Actively seek to implement the City of London’s Equal Opportunity Policy and the objective to promote equality of opportunity in relation to the duties of the post.
To undertake any other duties that may reasonably be requested appropriate to the grade

Where you'll work

City of London
Guildhall
Gresham Street
LONDON
EC2P 2EJ

Training

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

Training provider

COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LONDON

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 will be supported to achieve the Horticulture Level 2 apprenticeship. Theoretical training will be delivered by the training provider. Practical training and support will be given in the workplace, allowing you to embed your learning in the working environment. You will receive 6 hours per week to support your apprenticeship studies.

Requirements

Essential 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
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Logical
Team working
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Physical fitness

Other requirements

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Basic.

About this employer

The City Corporation with a rich history that precedes parliament, the City Corporation has been an ever constant throughout history adapting in order to meet modern demands of the City it serves, and is home to some of the world’s most striking modern architecture. The City of London Corporation forms part of London as a whole, along with the 32 London Boroughs who have responsibility for local government services within their local area. Based at the Guildhall the City Corporation looks after and promotes the City of London.

http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

City of London Corporation staff can take advantage of the pension scheme. They also receive discounts and special offers for a wide range of products and services.

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

On successful completion of the apprenticeship, we aim to offer the opportunity to progress to a level 3 apprenticeship, then a permanent role within the team if a position is available. Alternatively, we shall endeavour to secure an alternative position within the City of London Corporation.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LONDON

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000348355.

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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

Company benefits

Disability Confident

After this apprenticeship

Ask a question

Apply now

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City Gardens 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

Company benefits

Disability Confident

After this apprenticeship

Ask a question

Apply now