Horticultural Apprentice

Royal Horticultural Society; Walkden; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent gardening organization in Walkden is offering an apprenticeship to develop skills in horticulture over two years. The role includes maintaining plant collections, assisting visitors, and attending training at Plumpton College. Applicants should have GCSEs in English and Maths, along with strong communication and organisational skills. This opportunity is ideal for those with a passion for gardening and the ability to work outdoors in various weather conditions.

Benefits

Training costs covered

Meal cover during college sessions

Opportunity to gain hands-on experience in horticulture

Qualifications

• Willingness to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Ability to assist customers and provide excellent service.
• Comfortable using machines like mowers and hedge cutters.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and enhance plant collections as part of a team.
• Support RHS events and assist in different gardening tasks.
• Follow health and safety processes and environmental measures.

Skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Customer care skills

Problem solving skills

Team working

Physical fitness

Attention to detail

IT skills

Initiative

Logical

Education

GCSE in English (grade 4-9)

GCSE in Maths (grade 4-9)

Job description

Develop your interest in plants, gardening, horticulture by working outdoors in one of our 5 RHS gardens and completing an apprenticeship. You will work across the wider garden teams over two years, gaining skills and knowledge in different areas of horticulture alongside college learning.

• Work as an individual and as part of a team, in all weathers (e.g. we work outdoors all year round) to maintain and enhance our plant collections
• Be motivated to learn, undertake a diverse range of training activities including masterclasses, face to face sessions and plant identification tests
• Be able to assist customers/visitors as and when required in the garden, providing excellent customer service and a great visitor experience
• Support and/or work at RHS events. This could be helping exhibitors set up or move around the site, speaking to members or the public or working on a stand
• Strictly adhere to RHS, School of Horticulture and external legislations, such as those concerning privacy, security, safeguarding, fire, health and safety
• It is compulsory to wear RHS uniform and special Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be able to, with direction, work with a wide range of horticultural tools and equipment in a safe manner
• Comply with current RHS guidance on biosecurity and plant health practices in order to minimise the risk posed by quarantine pests and diseases, (Core) Apply health and safety processes and procedures including risk assessments and 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 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 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) and 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‑gravel, 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 non‑complex) 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 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 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 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) and 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‑gravel, removing weeds from paving, drain clearance, cleaning
• (Core) Use digital tools and techniques for research, collaboration, continuous professional development and resolution of problems
• GCSE in: English (grade 4-9)
• GCSE in: Maths (grade 4-9)
• Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know
• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Initiative
• Physical fitness
• Comfortable working with machines such as mowers and hedge cutters
• The ability work outside in all weathers
• Training will take place at Plumpton College near Brighton on a block release basis, alternating with online lecture block weeks - approximately six times per year
• The RHS covers the costs of travel accommodation and food whilst staying at the college in person