Horticulture Landscape Apprentice
SCANDOR LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR LTD
HAMPSHIRE (SO50 7HH)
Closes in 23 days (Friday 1 May 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 8 April 2026
Contents
Summary
Landscape Construction Apprentice – working as part of a team delivering a wide range of landscape construction projects. The work is primarily commercial work for public sector clients. Work on playgrounds, such as installation of play equipment, safety surface installations and park furniture.
- Wage
-
£19,337.50 a year
- Training course
- Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 07.30 to 16.30.
Assuming an 18+ year apprentice. Hours will be reviewed for younger applicants.
Total hours per week: 42.50 (the hours are based on the candidate being over 18).
42 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 1 June 2026
- Duration
-
2 years 3 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
As part of our ongoing development and expansion, we are seeking a Landscape Construction Apprentice to join our team to work on both hard and soft landscape construction projects.
Scandor undertakes work for a wide range of mainly commercial clients, such as local authorities, county councils, parish councils, schools, and main contractors. The private client work is large scale projects and would be on site for weeks.
Tasks will be wide-ranging, including but not limited to groundwork, such as:
- Excavations to form levels
- Putting in membranes and gravels
- Form work for concrete features
- Paving, kerbing and walling
- Fencing and decking
- Grading works together with drainage and top soiling
- Work on playgrounds such as installation of play equipment, safety surface installations and park furniture
Soft landscape works will involve:
- Tree and shrub planting, which can include semi-mature trees
- Seeding, turfing, mulching
- The candidate will be subject to satisfactory progression and will operate plant and equipment such as diggers and dumpers once they attain the relevant training and certificate which will be provided by the company
You will be required to learn about horticulture, including:
- Plant identification and nomenclature - botanic and common names
- Plant growth and plant health
- Soil science and cultivation
- Environment protection
Where you'll work
HENSTING LANE
FISHERS POND
NR EASTLEIGH
HAMPSHIRE
SO50 7HH
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
SPARSHOLT 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
You will attend Sparsholt College on a day release basis during term time.
Training to be provided:
- Horticulture and Landscape Operative Level 2
- Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (Ofqual registered) minimum 1-day course
- City and Guilds NPTC Level 2 Certificate of Competence in the Safe Use of Abrasive Wheel Machines OR Lantra Abrasive Wheel Machines Course
- Apprentices without Level 2 English and maths achieve Level 1 and take the test for Level 2 before taking the end-point assessment
Apprentices will need to achieve the EPA's to achieve their apprenticeship:
- Online knowledge assessment – a 60-minute online test containing 40 multiple choice questions
- Practical assessment EPA - a range of 4 practical activities taking no more than six hours undertaken in controlled conditions with responses to verbal questioning from the Independent End Point Assessor
- The apprentice will undertake three core tasks and one task from the optional route – Horticulture or Landscaping
- Professional Discussion EPA - An hour-long professional discussion under controlled conditions between the EPA and the apprentice to allow the apprentice to demonstrate their knowledge
You will be required to attend Sparsholt College on a day release basis to learn about horticulture, to include:
- Health & Safety
- Use and maintain non-powered and handheld powered equipment
- Use and maintain pedestrian-controlled equipment
- Environment protection
- Plant identification and nomenclature - Latin and common
- Vegetation control
- Soil science and cultivation
- Plant establish & maintenance
- Plant grown
- Plant health
- Establish and maintain amenity areas
- Survey and mark out sites for landscaping features
- Construct hard landscape features
- Maintain hard landscape features
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade C/4 Or Above)
- Maths (grade C/4 or above)
Other 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
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
- DBS check is undertaken by Scandor on all employees.
- A full driving licence is required for insurance purposes.
- Applicants will also need their own transport as the location is not accessible via public transport.
- This is a physically demanding role where you will be required to work outdoors in all weathers.
About this employer
Established in 1973, Scandor have come far from modest beginnings as a two-man operation. Forty years later, and we’re now a flourishing landscaping contracting company which serves a diverse range of clients, including homeowners, commercial businesses, and local authorities, to name but a few. From small planting projects and private back gardens, to large scale business parks and local amenities, Scandor have played a part in many types of venture. We pride ourselves on our strong partnership with our customers, listening closely to their requirements to deliver products that are perfectly tailored to every individual or business.
After this apprenticeship
Landscape Operative initially but with potential to lead to a Team Leader role (Foreperson).
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
SPARSHOLT COLLEGE
Jamie Morritt
jamie.morritt@sparsholtservices.ac.uk
01962 797452
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000025151.
Apply now
Closes in 23 days (Friday 1 May 2026 at 11:59pm)