L2 Land Based Service Engineer Apprenticeship

THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Surrey (GU23 6QB)

Closes on Sunday 22 February 2026

Posted on 9 January 2026


Summary

Are you interested in machinery and engineering but new to the industry?

The Level 2 Land-Based Service Engineer apprenticeship programme at RHS Garden Wisley will support you to learn and develop your knowledge and skills by working alongside our skilled and experienced engineer and associated teams in the workplace.

Training course
Land-based service engineer (level 2)
Hours
Monday to Friday 7.30am -4pm, with occasional weekend working with time off in lieu.

38 hours a week

Start date

Wednesday 5 August 2026

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

During the apprenticeship at RHS Garden Wisley, you will:

  • Carry out practical work, in all weathers and across the seasons
  • Complete a Level 2 qualification at college (equivalent to GCSE level)
  • Spend time with the onsite engineer, the Garden Site Services Team Leader and associated teams. For more details on the range of garden areas you would work in, visit https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/garden-highlights  
  • Learn how to use appropriate techniques to maintain and service tools and machinery which is used to cultivate, establish and care for our plant collections all year round
  • Develop the knowledge and skills to service, maintain and repair a wide range of horticultural, agricultural and forestry machinery
  • Work safely and sustainably 

Where you'll work

RHS Garden Wisley
Woking
Surrey
GU23 6QB

Training

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

Training provider

THE WINDSOR FOREST COLLEGES GROUP

Training course

Land-based service engineer (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Prepare and reinstate the work area for land-based engineering activities.
  • Clean land-based machinery and equipment.
  • Select and use PPE, tools and equipment required to undertake land-based engineering activities.
  • Prepare land-based prime-movers, machinery and equipment for service, maintenance and repair activities.
  • Prepare parts, components and sub-assemblies prior to reassembly, including inspecting, cleaning, refurbishing, sharpening, resealing, straightening, and balancing.
  • Refit and re-assemble parts, components and sub-assemblies, ensuring their compatibility and relationship including timing and alignment.
  • Select the appropriate lifting, supporting and securing equipment.
  • Apply thermal bonding and separation methods to join, fabricate and repair materials and components.
  • Complete organisational documentation and reports.
  • Carry out work in compliance with legislative and organisational requirements.
  • Lift, support and secure loads, land-based machinery, equipment and assemblies.
  • Setup land-based prime movers, machinery and equipment to meet customer requirements.
  • Connect, attach and fit land-based machinery equipment to prime movers.
  • Service and maintain land-based prime-movers, machinery and equipment to manufacturer’s recommendations.
  • Adopt safe working practices that ensure personal safety and the safety of others and the environment.
  • Conduct static and basic operational inspections and check compliance with legislative safety requirements and system tests to establish actions to be taken.
  • Interrogate control systems to view error codes, reset indicators and verify software updates.
  • Carry out checks and tests to ensure prime-movers, machinery and equipment meet manufacturers specifications before and after repair.
  • Identify and follow technical documentation and perform hydraulic or electrical repair activities on land-based machinery.
  • Perform transmission or engine repair activities on land-based machinery.
  • Record and interpret technical information relating to land-based service, maintenance and repair operations.
  • Apply the principles of customer care when dealing with internal and external customers relevant to own role.
  • Maintain service and warranty records, record data and report findings to stakeholders.
  • Carry out pre delivery inspections and conduct assembly as required on land-based equipment and prime movers.
  • Check settings and make adjustments on land-based equipment to meet customer requirements.
  • Carry out land-based machinery inspections.
  • Prepare and reinstate the work area for land-based engineering activities.
  • Clean land-based machinery and equipment.
  • Select and use PPE, tools and equipment required to undertake land-based engineering activities.
  • Prepare land-based prime-movers, machinery and equipment for service, maintenance and repair activities.
  • Prepare parts, components and sub-assemblies prior to reassembly, including inspecting, cleaning, refurbishing, sharpening, resealing, straightening, and balancing.
  • Refit and re-assemble parts, components and sub-assemblies, ensuring their compatibility and relationship including timing and alignment.
  • Select the appropriate lifting, supporting and securing equipment.
  • Apply thermal bonding and separation methods to join, fabricate and repair materials and components.
  • Complete organisational documentation and reports.
  • Carry out work in compliance with legislative and organisational requirements.
  • Lift, support and secure loads, land-based machinery, equipment and assemblies.
  • Setup land-based prime movers, machinery and equipment to meet customer requirements.
  • Connect, attach and fit land-based machinery equipment to prime movers.
  • Service and maintain land-based prime-movers, machinery and equipment to manufacturer’s recommendations.
  • Adopt safe working practices that ensure personal safety and the safety of others and the environment.
  • Conduct static and basic operational inspections and check compliance with legislative safety requirements and system tests to establish actions to be taken.
  • Interrogate control systems to view error codes, reset indicators and verify software updates.
  • Carry out checks and tests to ensure prime-movers, machinery and equipment meet manufacturers specifications before and after repair.
  • Identify and follow technical documentation and perform hydraulic or electrical repair activities on land-based machinery.
  • Perform transmission or engine repair activities on land-based machinery.
  • Record and interpret technical information relating to land-based service, maintenance and repair operations.
  • Apply the principles of customer care when dealing with internal and external customers relevant to own role.
  • Maintain service and warranty records, record data and report findings to stakeholders.
  • Carry out pre delivery inspections and conduct assembly as required on land-based equipment and prime movers.
  • Check settings and make adjustments on land-based equipment to meet customer requirements.
  • Carry out land-based machinery inspections.

Training schedule

Alongside the training in the garden, you will also attend college to study for the Level 2 Land-Based Service Engineer Apprenticeship qualification at the Berkshire College of Agriculture near Maidenhead.

Delivery is a combination of in-person (at college) day release and online learning.  

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4-9)
  • Maths (grade 4-9)

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
  • Physical fitness
  • current driving licence

Other requirements

Must hold a clean, current driving licence to drive vehicles at RHS Garden Wisley. Outdoor working is required.

About this employer

As a charity, we want to inspire a passion for gardening and growing plants, promote the value of gardens, demonstrate how gardening is good for us and explain the vital role that plants play. The RHS is committed to be an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all backgrounds to stay inclusive and avoid indirect discrimination.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Further training in land-based engineering.

Work for specialist manufacturers or dealerships.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

THE WINDSOR FOREST COLLEGES GROUP

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000007412.

Apply now

Closes on Sunday 22 February 2026

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.