Level 2 Horticulture and Landscape Operative Apprenticeship from Countryside Jobs Service- #CreateYourFuture

Are you interested in plants, gardening or horticulture, but new to the industry? Explore this apprenticeship from Countryside Jobs Service!

The role

This apprenticeship will enable you to learn about the science, art and practice of horticulture in the setting of an RHS Garden, working alongside teams to gain knowledge, skills, training and experiences of horticulture.

You will work alongside our knowledgeable, skilled and experienced staff in an RHS Garden, alongside studying at college to develop, enhance and deepen your understanding of horticulture.

Throughout the apprenticeship, you will establish, cultivate and maintain formal and informal garden areas, learn how to be environmentally aware, and use tools, techniques and machinery that will equip you for professional life in the industry.

This is a combined programme of academic and work-based training, which means that you would have responsibilities as a college apprentice and RHS employee.

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities as a college apprentice would be to:

• Produce coursework, e.g. in the form of diaries/journals, essays and reports.
• Attend, complete and pass a diverse range of assessments in the form of theoretical and practical exams, in order to complete the programme.
• Strictly adhere to current college and RHS School of Horticulture (SoH) legislations, policies and procedures, in order to complete the programme.
• Study and work as an individual but also with fellow team members. You may be asked to undertake group tasks and do presentations.
• Undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required of you in the post.

Your responsibilities as an RHS employee would be to:

• Assist in the day-to-day cultivation and maintenance of the Garden – on rotation, as part of your training and professional development.
• Attend, complete and pass a diverse range of training activities as part of your work-based training in the Garden, in order to complete the programme.
• Be actively involved in RHS shows/events, including helping with shows/events build-up as and when required.
• Guide and support other apprentices and/or volunteers as and when required.
• Give excellent customer service and be able assist customers/visitors as and when required.
• Work as an individual and as part of the Garden team as and when required.
• Comply with current RHS guidance on biosecurity and plant health practices in order to minimise the risk posed by quarantine pests and diseases.
• Strictly adhere to current RHS and external legislations, such as those concerned with 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.
• Undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required of you in the post.

Applicant Criteria

Essential

• A keen interest in plants/gardening/horticulture and working outdoors.
• Experience working as an individual and as part of a team.
• Openness to working with new individuals and teams across the Garden on a regular basis.
• Experience working with customers/visitors in a professional environment, and experience giving good customer service.
• A flexible approach to working (e.g. weekend work will be required on a regular basis, and evening work will be required from time-to-time).
• Proficiency with speaking, reading and writing English to understand and communicate instructions and complete paperwork.

Desirable

• At least two GCSEs (or equivalents) in English/maths/science/IT.
• If you do not have an English and/or Maths GCSEs (or equivalents), you will be required to complete Functional Skills as part of your apprenticeship.
• The ability to use IT and a computer/laptop and accompanying software to produce coursework via Microsoft Office (e.g. Word, PowerPoint and Excel) and use Microsoft Outlook (an email system), the College’s online learning environment (that you will be trained on how to use), and the internet to research and complete tasks.

Details

Salary: £18,525 per year

Location: Harrogate

Hours: Full-time work-based training programme (37.5 hours per week) with a working pattern of 5 days out of 7 (including weekend and evening work). This position requires you to attend College on a day release or a residential lecture block basis and could involve travel and staying away from home.

Duration: 2 years – fixed term

Start date (estimated): August 2023

Closing date: 1st March 2023

About Harlow Carr

Sitting in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside, Harlow Carr offers a variety of growing landscapes, from running and still water, to woodland and wildflower meadows. Highlights include the lavish Main Borders, bursting with generous prairie-style planting. One of the earliest features created at Harlow Carr, the Main Borders run across the axis of the garden. They offer a glorious vista of planting through the seasons, while drawing visitors on to the Woodland and Doric columns that once graced the portico of Harrogate’s spa rooms.

Running through the heart of Harlow Carr is Streamside, one of the original and most iconic areas of the garden, lush with moisture-loving plants and eye-popping colour. The stream (or beck) is central to Harlow Carr, runs east to west and knits together the formal and woodland sides of the garden with distinctive and lush plantings. The paths within Streamside echo the meandering route of the stream, and like the water, the planting beds ebb and flow. Streamside is also home to a wide range of wildlife, including dippers, tree creepers, weasels and voles.