Arborist Apprentice
City of London Corporation
LONDON (N6 4JH)
Closes in 6 days (Tuesday 2 June 2026)
Posted on 26 May 2026
Contents
Summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic and outgoing individual to join a dedicated team responsible for the care, management and maintenance of the trees at Hampstead Heath, Highgate Woods and Queens Park. The candidate will undertake a varied workload, including a full range of Arboricultural tasks and will spend time across the three sites.
- Wage
-
£27,010 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
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.
- Training course
- Arborist (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 35 hours, 7.30am - 3.30pm, including a 60 minute lunch break.
35 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 6 July 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
Purpose of Post:
Learn about trees and how to carry out Arboricultural maintenance tasks on the trees within Hampstead Heath, Highgate Woods & Queens Park in accordance with good Arboricultural
practice.
Main Duties & Responsibilities:
Tree Maintenance:
- Assist with preparation and implementation of work programmes, ensuring tree services meet best practice for:
- Tree safety works
- Veteran tree management
- Pest and disease surveying
- Clearance works, including those associated with complying with the Highway Act
- Tree health care operations
- Felling operations
- Formative pruning
- Pollarding / Coppicing
- Woodland management
- Tree planting
Communication and Responsibilities:
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 the nominated College in block release as part of the City of London Corporation Apprenticeship Programme, and complete course work and examinations in a timely manner and to the best of your ability.
Customer Care:
Be a visible presence to engender a sense of well-being for visitors and to speak with members of the public to ensure they are aware of the work on and around the trees of the site.
To assist in promoting the trees and associated ecology to local schools, colleges and other Heath user groups.
Health & Safety and Other Matters:
To ensure that you observe departmental safety procedures and use safe working practices specifically regarding PPE, and adherence to COSHH and Risk Assessments, reporting accidents and near misses to your Supervisor / Team Leader.
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
Heathfield House
Hampstead Heath
LONDON
N6 4JH
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
Arborist (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Recognise health and safety needs onsite and work safely
- Complete site-specific risk assessments and emergency action plans
- Select appropriate equipment for tree work operations
- Set out workplace signage (highway & non highway) and assists with traffic control
- Process tree work arisings using appropriate machinery
- Maintain and take appropriate care of tools, equipment and other onsite factors (such as customer or public buildings etc.)
- Recognise a variety of tree species using common names
- Carry out a range of formative pruning operations
- Carry out branch removal up to 200mm diameter with hand tools (target pruning for final cut).
- Fell and process small trees up to 380mm diameter.
- Support aerial tree workers with transfer of equipment for aerial tree work operations
- Perform an aerial rescue of colleague from a rope and harness
- Work safely at height in the tree under supervision
- Communicate technical information about arboricultural operations to fellow team members, clients and other stakeholders as required.
- Recognise health and safety needs onsite and work safely
- Complete site-specific risk assessments and emergency action plans
- Select appropriate equipment for tree work operations
- Set out workplace signage (highway & non highway) and assists with traffic control
- Process tree work arisings using appropriate machinery
- Maintain and take appropriate care of tools, equipment and other onsite factors (such as customer or public buildings etc.)
- Recognise a variety of tree species using common names
- Carry out a range of formative pruning operations
- Carry out branch removal up to 200mm diameter with hand tools (target pruning for final cut).
- Fell and process small trees up to 380mm diameter.
- Support aerial tree workers with transfer of equipment for aerial tree work operations
- Perform an aerial rescue of colleague from a rope and harness
- Work safely at height in the tree under supervision
- Communicate technical information about arboricultural operations to fellow team members, clients and other stakeholders as required.
Training schedule
You will be supported to achieve the Arborist level 2 apprenticeship. Theoretical training will be delivered by the training provider on a scheduled basis. 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 complete course work within your working hours.
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
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
This role is open to weather elements, you are required to work outside. Physical fitness is required with confidence to climb trees.
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.
https://www.cityoflondon.gov.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
On successful completion of the apprenticeship, we aim to offer 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 VAC2000033372.
Apply now
Closes in 6 days (Tuesday 2 June 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.