Apprentice Gardener
LINCOLN COLLEGE
OXFORD (OX1 3DR)
Closes in 13 days (Tuesday 23 December 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 9 December 2025
Contents
Summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Apprentice Gardener to join the established Gardening and Grounds Team at Lincoln College. The post will involve a full range of horticultural responsibilities including lawn management, herbaceous plant and shrub maintenance, propagation and general grounds duties.
- Wage
-
£25,895 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
A salary of £25,895 is offered, together with 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays, free college lunch when on duty
- Training course
- Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday (8am to 4pm)
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 16 February 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 3 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
- Maintaining the College’s lawns to the highest standards including grass-cutting, edge-trimming, seeding and fertilising
- Weeding of borders, window boxes, tubs and pathways
- Maintenance of herbaceous plants and shrubs: including soft landscaping, division, transplanting, pruning, mulching, top dressing, using winter protection, irrigation, staking, training, dead heading and cutting back
- Propagation from seed or cuttings
- Disposing of waste from garden cigarette, recycling and litter bins. Litter picking around all College grounds including leaf collection
- Maintaining paths and courtyard areas, including leaf-clearing, weed and algae control, and clearing and salting paths as required during snowy and icy weather
- Assisting the Head Gardener in project work and other relevant tasks
- Maintenance of work areas and equipment, including garden furniture, tidying and clearing shed areas
Other Duties:
Carrying out any other reasonable duties as requested by the Head Gardener/Estates Manager or any other senior manager
Where you'll work
TURL STREET
OXFORD
OX1 3DR
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
ABINGDON AND WITNEY 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
Duration:
15-months practical training period, plus 3-months for End Point Assessment.
Delivery model:
- Work-based training with your employer
- Approximately 12 on-site assessment visits per year
- Regular meetings with your training coordinator to monitor progress and well-being
- 20 Days college attendance to complete Horticulture Principles and Practice course
- 1 Day college attendance to complete Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid course
- 2 Days college attendance to complete Level 2 PA1 Pesticides course (theory)
- 2 Days college attendance to complete L2 PA6 Pesticides course (practical)
- Level 1 Functional Skills in maths and English (7 days at college for each, if required)
- Apprentices will need to complete a minimum of 557 hours of off-the-job training during their apprenticeship
If applying for this role, please ensure you can get to Abingdon & Witney College, Common Leys Campus near Witney and also our Abingdon Campus as training takes place across both sites.
Qualifications included:
- Level 1 Functional Skills in English and maths
- Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid
- Level 2 Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides
- Level 2 Award in the Safe Application of Pesticides Using Pedestrian Handheld Equipment
- Level 2 Horticulture Operative Apprenticeship
End Point Assessment:
- Knowledge test
- Practical assessment
- Professional discussion
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade A*-C 9/4)
- Maths (grade A*-C 9/4)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Customer care skills
- Team working
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
No specific skills are required as full training will be given. Good physical fitness is essential as the role involves using heavy machinery and walking between sites. A passion for plants, the outdoors and learning are essential. A positive and helpful attitude to work. Ability to work with all age groups. You will be asked to work in all weather conditions (appropriate clothing will be provided) There is no staff parking at any of our sites (most people use public transport or cycle to work).
PLEASE NOTE that this advert will close once sufficient applications are received so, please apply as early as possible.
About this employer
Lincoln is one of the university’s oldest colleges, founded in 1427. Although on a small city-centre site, its gardens have always been a major feature of Lincoln’s life and ethos. Its formal fine lawns in the two medieval quadrangles, and the ancient Boston ivy in Front Quad, are nationally famous. Spring and summer window box schemes are enjoyed by staff, students, and visitors, and have been recently diversified by creative use of tropical plants in grouped pots. There is also an important lawn for student use and a fine east-facing herbaceous border in the Grove, as well as an ancient plane tree. The College has a showpiece herbaceous border in the Rector’s Garden and a more contemporary scheme for the Fellows’ Garden. Mature trees, shrubs, and naturalised wild bulbs and perennials provide contrast in the former churchyard of All Saints, now the college library. Offsite are a diverse range of smaller, lower-maintenance gardens, ranging from terrace houses to a student accommodation sites.
After this apprenticeship
Possibility of full-time contract after completion of the apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
ABINGDON AND WITNEY COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000004510.
Apply now
Closes in 13 days (Tuesday 23 December 2025 at 11:59pm)
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