Horticulture Level 2 Apprenticeship
FIRST CHOICE HOMES OLDHAM LIMITED
Greater Manchester (OL1 1BE)
Closes in 16 days (Friday 14 August 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 28 July 2026
Contents
Summary
Do you enjoy working outdoors, being active and making a visible difference in your local community?
First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) is looking for an enthusiastic Environmental Services Operative Apprentice to join our Neighbourhood Care team.
- Wage
-
£15,392 to £24,454.04, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
- Training course
- Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
37 hours per week, shift times to be confirmed.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 31 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
- To liaise and communicate with members of the public, colleagues and other local services in a polite, courteous manner.
- To carry out supervised grounds maintenance and general maintenance tasks to communal environmental areas including grass cutting, edging, hedge trimming, pruning, planting, seeding, weeding and spraying, clearance of leaves and litter, removal of fly tipping and the maintenance of outdoor recreational facilities. Basic construction labouring work such as emptying of bins, painting of street furniture, hanging of public signage etc.
- To gain knowledge, experience and training to support the safe operation of a range of hand tools and equipment (including powered tools), plant, mini tractor mounted equipment and vehicles. To carry out daily checks and basic maintenance of the tools and equipment, reporting any damage and issues found.
- To report graffiti, vandalism, repairs and defects in communal areas to the environment to the relevant team.
- To undertake seasonal tasks during winter and summer such as clearing of snow and ice, upkeep and cleaning of recreational, play and artificial pitch areas, clearing of litter, animal faeces and waste in line with health and safety maintenance measures.
- To attend neighbourhood and community activities and projects (eg community fun days, self-help growing and allotment projects, local schools' environmental projects) as required.
- To attend college on set dates agreed by the provider ensuring your college work is completed on time to a high standard.
- To carry out routine checks, maintenance, safe use and storage of HGV’s and specialist vehicles including ride on mowers, mechanical sweeping equipment and associated tractor mounted equipment.
- To safely work with pesticides in accordance with regulations and to treat invasive weeds once trained. To adhere to all relevant quality standards and health and safety/COSH requirements.
- To attend and contribute to team briefing discussions.
This list should not be regarded as exhaustive and from time to time you will be expected to undertake other reasonable duties relevant and appropriate to the role as directed by your line manager.
Where you'll work
22 Union Street
Oldham
Greater Manchester
OL1 1BE
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE OLDHAM 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
Training will be delivered by Oldham College.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE 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
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Physical fitness
- Listening skills
- Manual handling
- Work outside in all weathers
Other requirements
A full UK driving licence would be desirable because the role involves working across different neighbourhoods and using service vehicles and equipment.
About this employer
We are a housing association formed to benefit our local communities.
We are committed to our purpose of providing quality homes and services and with around 10% of the local population living in an FCHO home, we are proud to be an anchor organisation through our significant contribution as a large local business and employer.
We own and manage around 11,500 homes, have the highest regulatory (G1/V1) rating, and plan to build more than 600 affordable new homes in the coming years.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
To progress onto Level 3 or secure permanent employment.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THE OLDHAM COLLEGE
Andrea Kearns
andrea.kearns@oldham.ac.uk
0161 785 4072
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000045164.
Apply now
Closes in 16 days (Friday 14 August 2026 at 11:59pm)