Horticulture and Gardening Apprentice
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Company: Shuttleworth College
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Location: Shuttleworth College, Biggleswade, SG18 9DX
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Type: Apprenticeship
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Salary: £167.77 per week
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Sector: Horticulture
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Ref: VAC-12386
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Application Deadline Date: 12/12/2021
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Start Date: 03/01/2022
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Positions Available: 1
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Working Week: Monday to Friday 8:30am- 5pm
Brief Description
The Bedford College Group are looking for a Horticulture and Gardening Apprentice to contribute to the maintenance of our walled garden, greenhouse and polytunnel areas across our horticulture provision at the Shuttleworth College campus.
Qualifications Required
To be considered for this role you will need GCSEs at grades 9-3 (A*-D) or equivalent including English and maths.
Personal Qualities
Good communication skills both face to face, over the phone and in writing
Ability to work on your own and in a team
Good time management skills and able to meet deadlines
Able to prioritise workload and be organised
An enjoyment for Horticulture and plants
Skills Required
• Ability to undertake horticulture and land based activities safely and competently
• Good computer skills (confident with word processing and outlook)
• Ability consistently to demonstrate high levels of job performance
• Ability to make a positive contribution to the team, valuing colleagues’ particular professional expertise and respecting other members of the team as individuals
• Ability to understand and work with a diverse range of cultural groups
Training to be Provided
Level 2 Apprenticeship in either Horticulture or Landscape Operative. Plus: Emegency First Aid at Work, Level 2 Safe use of handling and application of pesticides, Functional Skills in English & maths (if required). You will also study a range of topics to include: Health and Safety, Business Skills, Machinery, Plant and Soil Science, Plant health
Future Prospects
From this role applicants would be able to move into work based horticulture in industry working with a walled garden or small estate garden. Applicants would also be able to move into general garden maintenance or landscaping industries.
Vacancy Detail
The Bedford College Group are looking for a Horticulture and Gardening Apprentice to contribute to the maintenance of our walled garden, greenhouse and polytunnel areas across our horticulture provision at the Shuttleworth College campus.
The successful candidate will be able to develop an understanding of garden maintenance, plant propagation, production and management of beds and boarders with a variety of planting and maintenance tasks.
There is also opportunity to develop understanding and practical skills within the grounds of the college estate supporting the grounds maintenance team.
The main working area is the two acre walled garden that has a range of practical gardening areas including a rose garden, show gardens, herbaceous boarders, lawns and fruit trees. The wider estate will support knowledge development in native tree species, management of established hedgerows and herbaceous shrubs.
You will work with our full time Horticultural technician and the wider department Horticultural team, undertaking daily tasks and supporting the development and management of our walled garden and wider estate. Our walled garden has specialist show garden areas, pottinger, established beds and boarders, rose garden, and covered glass propagation areas.
You will use the latest horticultral powered equipment and resources.
Main roles and responsibilities:
1. To Use and maintain pedestrian and non – powered and hand held powered equipment
2. Undertake plant identification and nomenclature- Practical plant identification.
3. Undertake vegetation control – Strimming, spraying, Pruning in the walled garden
4. Undertake plant Establishment and Maintenance- Planting and aftercare
5. Undertake ornamental turf- Seeding, laying turf and maintenance of areas
6. To manage stores of tools, equipment and resources.
7. To oversee practical work areas maintaining and servicing resources and equipment. In particular to maintain and ensure the horticulture area meet welfare and safety standards and associated legislation.
8. To ensure that specialist and practical work areas are maintained in a safe and clean condition, free from hazards at all times.
6. To ensure that the operation within practical areas conforms to current safety rules and regulations.
7. To attend and participate in team meetings and College wide staff meetings.
8. To undertake any other associated duties as determined by the Head of Department.