Horticulture Operative Apprenticeship
ST MARGARET'S SCHOOL BUSHEY
BUSHEY (WD23 1DT)
Closes in 11 days (Monday 25 August 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 11 August 2025
Contents
Summary
Assist in the maintenance & development of the school's grounds. Learning about plant identification, propagation, pruning, landscaping, lawn, sports pitch, tree care. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to gain gardening experience whilst working towards your qualification.
- Wage
-
£16,600 a year
- Training course
- Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday between 8am to 4pm with occasional weekends.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 16 September 2025
- Duration
-
1 year 6 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
Your duties will involve:
- Plant identification.
- Bed preparation, seeding, planting and weeding.
- Pruning across all garden areas of the school grounds.
- Carrying out a variety of horticultural duties and upkeep of gardens, lawns, woodlands and sports pitches.
Where you'll work
ST. MARGARETS SCHOOL
MERRY HILL ROAD
BUSHEY
WD23 1DT
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
Four days on the job training at St Margarets School.
One day at College at Capel Manor.
More training information
- Horticulture Operative
- College one day a week
- Functional Skills English and Maths level 1
- Emergency first aid at work
- Level 2 award in the safe use of pesticides PA1 & PA6
Requirements
Desirable 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
- Team working
- Initiative
- Physical fitness
- Enthusiastic
- Reliable
- self-motivated
- Punctual
Other requirements
The role is physically demanding, throughout all variances of weather. Other aspects of the work include early starts, being able to cope with regular physical work and heavy lifting. St Margaret’s will support each individual with their studies and associated examinations at all times and allow time during working hours to complete necessary studies.
About this employer
We are a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 2-18. Staff enjoy working at St Margaret’s as they benefit from an exceptional physical environment and facilities, as well as a supportive ethos where career progression and professional development is actively encouraged.
https://www.stmargarets-school.org.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
Benefits of working at St Margaret’s include: Access to BUPA. Cash Plan, opportunity to join a workplace pension scheme. Free lunch, uniform, PPE and parking.
After this apprenticeship
Each apprentice will be given the opportunity to grow within the department. Our vision is to grow our own qualified staff, and the apprenticeship scheme is one method of achieving this goal.
During the Apprenticeship scheme, the apprentice will work with a qualified member of staff and be provided the support and guidance required to progress within the company.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CAPEL MANOR COLLEGE
Mark Field
m.field@stmargarets-school.org.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000335258.
Apply now
Closes in 11 days (Monday 25 August 2025 at 11:59pm)
Sign in with your GOV.UK One Login to apply.