Plants Assistant

HR Duo; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 11,000 - 18,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Free onsite parking

15% Staff discount (increase to 20%)

Training and development

Job summary

Longacres Garden Centre in Chelmsford is seeking a friendly assistant to support the Plant Department and deliver excellent customer service. You will help with plant care, stock replenishment, and customer advice in a welcoming retail environment.

The role involves 13.5 hours per week, working in a hands-on plant area, maintaining displays and contributing to a high standard of service. Join a supportive team and grow with us.

Qualifications

• Plant knowledge and care experience preferred.
• Ability to perform physically demanding tasks in a garden centre environment.
• Enthusiastic, approachable manner when helping customers.

Responsibilities

• Care for plants: watering and maintenance to keep them healthy.
• Assist customers with plant care queries and provide advice.
• Maintain plant area housekeeping, tidy stock and sweep department.
• Replenish and merchandise stock, price items clearly and display safely.
• Ensure high standards of plant area including cleanliness and stock quality.
• Water plants as directed by manager or supervisor.

Skills

Plant knowledge

Physical role

Enthusiastic & approachable

Horticulture experience

Willingness to develop

Job description

We are looking for an assistant to help in all areas of our vibrant and thriving Plant Department at our Chelmsford Branch. You should have a passion for plants and the enthusiasm to use these qualities to provide excellent service to our customers. We are looking or a team player who is passionate about providing excellent retail standards and customer service.

If you are looking to pursue a career in horticulture and are passionate about providing excellent customer service to all our customers then this role could be perfect for you

Longacres Garden Centre aims to be the destination of choice for garden enthusiasts, offering exceptional service and high-quality products at competitive prices. Established in 1979 as a family‑run business, Longacres has grown to include six stores across the South East of England, employing over 700 staff in 2026. As a growing company, we provide ample opportunities for personal development and learning within a supportive, inclusive, and friendly team environment. We are deeply committed to our loyal customers, delivering high quality products while maintaining affordability. Guided by our core values - trust and integrity, family, teamwork, accountability, and retail excellence - we strive to continuously enhance the customer experience and foster lasting relationships.

• Free onsite parking
• 15% Staff discount (increase to 20% after 5 years of service)
• Training and development with opportunities to forge a career with us

Department: Plants

Hours: 13.5 hours per week

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Care for the plants ensuring that they are watered and well maintained to keep them healthy
• Dealing professionally with enquiries from customers, giving help and advice on plant care
• Housekeeping of the plant area, keeping stock tidy and sweeping of the department
• Replenishing and merchandising of stock, ensuring that all products are correctly priced, clearly marked and displayed safely.
• Ensuring high standards of the plant area are maintained, including sweeping, and checking plant quality.
• Watering in the plant area as directed by manager or supervisor.

Key Skills and Competencies

• Plant knowledge
• Ability to work in a physical role
• You are enthusiastic and approachable
• Previous experience working with in the horticulture industry
• You are willing to develop and learn

Additional Information

Number of positions: 1

You have the right to lodge a complaint with us via Longacres as well as the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe we have not complied with the requirements of the UK GDPR or Data Protection Act 2018 in relation to your personal data. If you have any concerns about the way your personal data has been processed, please let us know in the first instance. We will acknowledge your complaint within 30 days, investigate any issues you have raised while keeping you informed of progress, and advise you of the outcome without undue delay.