Horticultural Apprentice

  • Company: High Down House
  • Location: Hitchin, SG5 3BL
  • Type: Apprenticeship
  • Salary: £214.50 per week
  • Sector: Horticulture
  • Ref: VAC-12438
  • Application Deadline Date: 07/04/2022
  • Start Date: 16/05/2022
  • Positions Available: 1
  • Working Week: Mon & Fri 9:00am - 3:00pm Tues, Wed, Thur 9:00am - 4:00pm

Brief Description

Is gardening and horticulture your passion? If so then High Down House in Hitchin are looking for you. They are seeking a Horticultural Apprentice to work on their private estate maintaining the gardens and grounds. If you are interested then keep reading, this could be the perfect role for you.

Qualifications Required

To be considered for this role you will ideally need to have GCSE grades 9-3 (A*- D) in English and maths or the ability to work towards Level 2 Functional Skills during the programme.

If you don't meet the entry requirements for this vacancy but are still interested in an apprenticeship, please contact our dedicated Apprenticeship Recruitment Team who can discuss this with you further - apprenticeships@bedford.ac.uk or
07887 787813

Personal Qualities

Enthusiastic
Practical minded

Skills Required

Ability to use your own initiative
Ability to take instructions and willingness to listen and learn
Basic gardening knowledge would be desirable.

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

Potential full time Assistant Gardening position upon completion of the apprenticeship.

Vacancy Detail

Working at High Down House will give you a wealth of opportunities to learn about horticulture and the day to day running of a large garden.
No two days will be the same and you will be able to develop and broaden your horticultural skills daily.

Key to the position will be your interest and enthusiasm for gardening, working in stunning surroundings which are home to an abundance of wildlife and a large variety of habitats.
You will ideally be a hardworking individual, prepared to be flexible in your approach, as there will be a huge variety of jobs to undertake. Work will be in all weather conditions and you will need to be prepared for the work to be physically demanding. You will be guided by the Head Gardener who will teach you the intricacies of looking after the grounds to a high standard.
There is a huge opportunity here to build your knowledge and experience by shadowing and learning directly with practical tasks and plenty of hands on work. At times you will work independently so initiative will be important.

Gardening tasks will include but not be restricted to:

- Using hand and powered tools and machinery on a daily basis with full instruction given
- Maintenance of mixed borders
- Greenhouse care and raising of young plants
- Care of kitchen garden
- Maintenance of formal lawns, rough lawns and wildflower areas
- Propagation of plants - especially from seed and cuttings
- Maintenance of fences, gates, tree guards
- Production and preparation of firewood for the house
- Care of tools and machinery

This is an excellent gateway into the world of horticulture and gardening. The right candidate will have a passion for gardening and working outdoors and will be curious, interested and enthusiastic.

The estate is a family home so discretion and full respect for the owners, their guests and their property is essential.


Other Information

Candidates must carry out an initial interview with a member of Tresham College, (Part of the the Bedford College Group)
Only Candidates who have fully completed the application will be considered. Please be aware that the closing date is subject to change without prior notice.

Please check the location of the employer to ensure you can get to work each day.
Pirton village has transport links to Shefford, Hitchin and surrounding villages but High Down is then a 15/20 minute walk each way from Pirton.

Candidates will need to be prepared to work outside in all weathers.
You would be completing a two year apprenticeship at Shuttleworth College, which you would attend one day a week.

This apprenticeship has expired