The Royal Parks Horticultural Apprenticeship Scheme - Kensington Gardens and Brompton
idverde Ltd
London (W2 2UH)
Closes in 31 days (Monday 20 April 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 20 March 2026
Contents
Summary
The Royal Parks Horticultural Apprenticeship Scheme is an ideal way to begin a career in horticulture and open space management. Day to day park based tasks will include, bedding, maintenance, shrubs and trees, grass cutting & general gardening. It's a fantastic opportunity to improve horticulture skills whilst working in the UKs most famous parks.
- Wage
-
£25,775.88 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Wage national minimum wage 21 and over rate regardless of age £ 12.71 per hour
- Training course
- Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 7.00am to 3.30pm
39 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 7 September 2026
- Duration
-
3 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
Day to day park based tasks will include:
- Shrub bed maintenance
- Planting, bedding, shrubs and trees
- Grass cutting
- Bedding maintenance
- General gardening
- Litter picking
- Spraying of chemicals - subject to qualification
- Driving - subject to qualification and authorisation
- Ad hoc soft landscaping
- Adhoc involvement in events/ceremonies with The Royal Parks
- Work as part of a highly skilled team to maintain The Royal Parks landscape
Apprentices will be supported by The Royal Parks Guild and will attend masterclass days and celebration events as part of their apprenticeship.
Where you'll work
The Magazine Yard
West Carriage Drive
Kensington Gardens
London
W2 2UH
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
CAPEL MANOR COLLEGE
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
Horticulture or Landscape Construction Operative Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard:
- Functional skills English and maths
- Emergency First aid at work
- Level 2 award in the safe use of pesticides PA1
- Pesticide application PA6/PA6W
- Level 2 award in safe use of pedestrain controlled mowers
- Level 2 award in safe use of ride on self propelled mowers
- RHS level 2 certificates as appropriate
Course work will be through day release at Capel Manor Regents Park Campus.
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade Grade 4 or Equivalent or above)
- Maths (grade Grade 4 or Equivalent 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
- Customer care skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- Physical fitness
- Motivated
- Happy to work outside
- Horticulture Interest
- Academically minded
- Good Practical skills
- Enthusiastic
- Hardworking
Other requirements
The applying candidate MUST consider that the role is physically demanding & must be willing to work throughout all variances of weather. Other aspects of the work include early starts & ability to cope with regular physical work. This involves working on very high profile sites, with many visitors, so a high level of professionalism is required.
About this employer
Idverde are a leading supplier of grounds maintenance services to the public sector with contracts ranging from multi service delivery partnerships with numerous local authorities to our role as legacy partner caring for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park until 2024. We deliver a wide range of green services including grass cutting, hedge trimming, sports pitch management, floral displays, planting area maintenance, litter and leaf collection, weed control playground marking and tree surgery. The apprenticeship is sponsored by The Royal Parks and will be based in Kensington Gardens.
After this apprenticeship
- Many past Royal Park apprentices are now employed as Park Managers, Supervisors or Contract Managers for The Royal Parks' contractors or in key local authority posts
- At the end of the apprenticeship, you will be ideally placed to continue your career in the horticultural industry either in a 'hands on' role or progressing to a management or supervisory post. This could be within open space management, landscape construction or design industries
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CAPEL MANOR COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000022301.
Apply now
Closes in 31 days (Monday 20 April 2026 at 11:59pm)