Landscape Apprentice

Summary

Join The PlaySmart North team as a Landscape Operative Apprentice and help create beautiful outdoor spaces while building your skills. You’ll learn landscaping techniques and work with a supportive team. We design and install Landscape show Gardens for new housing developers and also work on Open Spaces and Play Areas across the North of England.

Wage

£20,800 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

You will be paid £10.00 per hour.

Training course

Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

Hours

Usually between Monday and Friday. Start 7:30am until 4:00pm but times on site will vary depending on site location. On a full working day, you are entitled to a 30-minute unpaid break for lunch. Exact Shifts TBC

40 hours a week

Start date

Thursday 1 January 2026

Duration

2 years

Positions available

2

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

Planting trees, shrubs, and flowers to create attractive outdoor spaces
Turfing, mowing, and general lawn care to keep areas looking neat
Assisting with paving, fencing, and other landscape construction tasks
Maintaining tools and equipment to ensure safe, efficient working
Supporting the team with seasonal tasks such as pruning or mulching

Where you'll work

Unit 7, Gate Centre
Bredbury Park Way, Bredbury Park Industrial Estate, Bredbury
Stockport
SK6 2SN

Training

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

Training provider

MYERSCOUGH 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 Myerscough College where you will work towards the Level 2 Horticulture / Landscape Construction Operative Apprenticeship qualification. Delivery is work-based using blended learning technologies on the employer’s premises. There is an expectation that 20% of the working week will be off the job training, which is a legal requirement. The apprentice will also need to attend college courses to complete the required additional qualifications.

More training information

The following qualifications are also included in the apprenticeship:

Level 3 award in emergency first aid at work
Pesticides: Level 2 Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides Guidance OR Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of Pesticides

The end point assessment will contain 3 components: Mandatory

Online Knowledge Test
Synoptic Practical Assessment
Professional Discussion

There will be 2 levels of achievement: Pass & Distinction

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

2 others subjects (grade 2-9/E-A*)
English (grade 2-9/E-A*)
Maths (grade 2-9/E-A*)

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
Team working
Initiative
Enjoyment of the outdoors

Other requirements

You will be expected to work outdoors in all weather conditions. To ensure your application has the best chance of being considered for the vacancy you must provide information on all qualifications undertaken stating highest grades achieved in every subject, paying particular attention to maths and English. Along with this you need to state any previous work experience.

About this employer

PlaySmart North are the landscaping arm of PlaySmart UK group. At PlaySmart North we design, install and maintain show gardens for housing developers working n sites across the North. We also get involved in other bespoke projects such as Play Areas, Roof Top Gardens and Green Living Walls. The projects we take on are unique and require a good eye for detail, but the finished product always looks amazing.

http://www.playsmartuk.co.uk (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

After completing the apprenticeship we hope the candidate stays with the company and progress into team leaders, supervisors or contract managers.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

MYERSCOUGH COLLEGE

Employer Services Team

employerenquiries@myerscough.ac.uk

01995 642222

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000343572.

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Contents

Summary

Work

What you'll do at work

Where you'll work

Training

Training provider

Training course

What you'll learn

Training schedule

More training information

Requirements

Essential qualifications

Skills

Other requirements

About this employer

After this apprenticeship

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Landscape Apprentice

Contents

Summary

Work

What you'll do at work

Where you'll work

Training

Training provider

Training course

What you'll learn

Training schedule

More training information

Requirements

Essential qualifications

Skills

Other requirements

About this employer

After this apprenticeship

Ask a question

Apply now