Horticulture Apprenticeship - Nursery – Find an apprenticeship

Summary

This is an exciting opportunity to undertake a Horticulture Apprenticeship with Rochdale Council. You will undertake a range of practical nursery works under instruction, ensuring the quality of Environmental Management Services within parks and open spaces and other Rochdale Borough Council sites. You will be based at Bowlee Garden Nursery.

Wage

£14,566.15 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

£14,566.15 PA for the first 12 months and NMW for age for the remaining months of the contract (24 month contract)

Training course

Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

Hours

Monday to Friday (flexible working hours in accordance with the needs of the service), working hours TBC

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 8 September 2025

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

Principal Duties:

Practical internal/external works undertaken including but not limited to:

Grass cutting operations using both pedestrian and ride on mowing machines
Hedge cutting and hedge maintenance
Maintenance of flower beds including planting and removal
Tree and shrub planting
Litter picking
Bowling green maintenance including end of season maintenance and mowing
Sports pitch maintenance
Shrub bed maintenance
Weed control including hand weeding and spraying using both CDA applicator and conventional spraying techniques.
Leaf collection
Clearance of overgrown plots
Minor tree works such as epicormics growth removal
Control of invasive weeds
Propagation cultivation of bedding plants
Minor landscape works
Maintenance of high-profile civic sites throughout the borough

The apprenticeship will also focus on the following in-house training:

Plant Production:

Sowing seeds
Planting plug plants
Propagation from cuttings/splitting plants
Planting baskets and planters
Plant displays

Plant Care:

Watering
Feeding
Pest ID
Biological control
Chemical control

Machinery Use:

Use of compost filling machinery
Sit on mower
Mini tractor and trailer
Strimmer
Hedge cutter
Electric pallet truck

Customer Facing:

Plant knowledge
Use of till
Cash handling

Ensuring work carried out is to the highest standards at all times.

Learning new skills and applying them to practical work.

Where you'll work

Bowlee Garden Nursery
Heywood Old Road
Middleton
M24 4TH

Training

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

College or training organisation

THE OLDHAM COLLEGE

Your 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.

Your training plan

Horticulture or Landscape Construction Operative Level 2.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 9-4/A*-C)
Maths (grade 9-4/A*-C)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Physical fitness
Reliable and hard working

Other requirements

You must have a strong work ethic including pride in work, attention to detail, integrity and time management. Willing to work outdoors and in all weathers. Have a flexible positive attitude to work. You will have some experience how to use and maintain power tools, hand tools / and nursery machinery. A willingness to learn and contribute to their own continuing professional development. Having a safety mindset for self, colleagues and customers. A clear and effective communicator who can use a variety of communication methods to give/receive information accurately and in a timely and positive manner. Problem solving and effective decision making. Please do not contact the employer direct. If your application is successful, you will be contacted by The Oldham College (normally via email) to invite you to attend a pre-interview and initial assessment

About this company

Bowlee Nursey is responsible for the production and procurement of all the plants for the borough, this includes the annual bedding scheme displays, plants for the boroughs parks and cemeteries. We also sell plants direct to the public throughout the year

https://www.rochdale.gov.uk/bowlee-garden-nursery (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Any successful apprentice who demonstrates the ability and necessary skills to carry out the role of a Level 2 Horticulture worker to a high standard, would be considered for any permanent vacancy that may arise in the council. This would be part of a further recruitment process.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

THE OLDHAM COLLEGE

Andrea Kearns

andrea.kearns@oldham.ac.uk

01617854072

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000321101.

Apply now

Closes in 29 days (Monday 16 June 2025 at 11:59pm)

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Horticulture Apprenticeship - Nursery

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