Horticulture Operative or Landscape Construction Operative

Horticulture and Landscape Construction Operatives work in public parks and gardens, green spaces and historic gardens, private gardens, estates, and production nurseries and retail outlets.

Employers may be charities, commercial businesses or governmental organisations and range in size from micro businesses through to large employers. Many organisations will be specialised in their activities, such as grounds maintenance or landscape construction.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to undertake practical operations required to create and maintain horticultural spaces. This includes both the soft aspects (plants and soil) and the hard elements (surfaces, features and structures). Some will carry out the full range of operations from landscape construction through to maintenance, although the majority will focus on one specialism due to the breadth of skills required. Horticultural specialists maintain soft and hard elements of the space. This will include planting and maintenance activities. Landscape construction specialists will install landscapes including building hard surfaces, structures and features and planting.  This will include planting and maintenance activities. The distinct nature of these two specialisms means this apprenticeship has two specialist pathways available; horticulture or landscape construction. 

What apprentices will learn

• Importance and application of health and safety legislation
• Codes of practice and policies, including risk assessment, manual handling etc
• Concepts of good environmental and sustainable good practices, including an understanding of how to contribute to government led sustainability and zero carbon targets
• Environmental controls and compliance with regulations including pollution control, waste reduction, management and recycling.
• Impact of environmental conditions on plant growth and health
• Soil science including soil formation, characteristics, texture and components, biological processes and their impact on plant growth.
• Situations where special care should be taken including where heritage, environmental or planning designations may be present. The importance of complying with rules in place to protect the site.
• Maintenance, operational requirements, pre start checks and legislation for tools, equipment and machinery including operator competence requirements.
• The importance of maintaining records in a business setting.
• Methods for idenitfying plants and plant biology
• Main introduction routes for plant pests and diseases
• Biosecurity and phytosanitary measures
• Techniques for clearing sites and controlling weeds including identification and reasons for removal, techniques for control (including chemical) and situations for use
• Cultivate, improve and preserve soils by mechanical methods and or by hand including amelioration and mulching
• Types of turf, installation of turf and mowing of turf
• Use of digital tools and techniques for research and collaboration
• Put safety first and customer care
• Role of business policies, vision and values
• How project management informs a team to achieve objectives

Horticulture pathway

• Propagate plants by cuttings and seed sowing (this might be indoors or outdoors). Including selection of suitable growing media and or soil
• Provide aftercare to recently installed turf and maintain established turf or species rich meadows including irrigation, maintenance, monitoring health and protection from use
• Identify if plants are suitable to site, purpose and aesthetics
• Maintain soft landscapes for example - staking or support, division, seasonal clearance, and re-planting
• Monitor and control plant pests, pathogens, and disorders using basic control methods (including application of chemicals or organic equivalents)
• Plant herbaceous and seasonal planting (for example bedding, herbs or bulbs)
•  Prune plants to achieve healthy growth and form (including natural habit and formal or trained form)
• For more information on the skills, knowledge and behaviours associated and learnt on this apprenticeship, please download the file attached to this link: Horticulture Operative Level 2

Construction Landscape pathway

• Measure and set out an uncomplicated site in preparation for landscape construction activities
• Use free hand cutting and or bench cutting of hard landscape materials using abrasive wheels.
• Repair constructed landscape features (simple and noncomplex) for example re-grouting, re-sanding, damaged fencing
• Construct paved feature for example path, patio or shed base. Including setting levels, sub bases, laying bases, finishing
• Construct vertical landscape features including fences, ornamental vertical features, and wall
• Install drainage in landscaping
• Construct horizontal landscape features (excluding paving).
• For more information on the skills, knowledge and behaviours associated and learnt on this apprenticeship, please download the file attached to this link: Landscape Construction Operative Level 2

Qualifications Awarded

• Apprenticeship Certificate
• Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (both pathways)
• Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of Pesticides (horticulture pathway only)
• Level 2 Award in the Safe Application of Pesticides Using Pedestrian Hand Held Equipment (horticulture pathway only)
• Abrasive Wheel Machines Course (construction landscape pathway only)
• Level 1 in maths and English (if applicable)

Delivery model

Attendance at Plumpton College's Horticulture and Landscaping Centre one day week during term time (approx 32 full days a year) alongside quarterly workplace reviews and assessments.

End Point Assessment

• Professional discussion based on apprentice’s portfolio
• Online knowledge test
• Practical assessment

Apprenticeship Graded

• Fail, Pass, Distinction

The entry requirements for all Level 2 programmes, will require either: 

• GCSE H or above in English (either Literature or Language) and Maths
• GCSE 1 or above in English (either Literature or Language) and Maths
• Entry 3 Functional Skills English and Maths (or equivalent qualification) at this level or Level 1 or 2.

Should you not meet the entry requirements for English and Maths, please get in contact with us. We are aware that there are many factors that may have affected your previous education and grades, so will consider these in support of the application on an individual basis.

In addition to your prior English and Maths qualifications, you will complete an initial assessment for English and Maths as part of your pre-boarding session in college. This assessment will give us a current working level grade and will indicate which level Functional Skills you will be enrolled on if you have not got a GCSE 4/C or above in English and Maths. We may contact you to discuss this grade if we have any concerns.

If you have a grade 4/C or above in GCSE English and/or Maths, you will not be required to attend Functional Skills English and/or Maths sessions as part of your Apprenticeship.

Please note: You will be required to produce your GCSE certificates BEFORE you start your course to be exempt from attending Functional Skills English and Maths sessions.

To enrol onto an apprenticeship programme you need to be employed with a contract of employment. If you have an employer lined up or are already employed please contact our Business Services team on 01273 892127 or via email.

You must be in a role that will allow you the opportunity to develop the necessary skills, knowledge and behaviours set out in the apprenticeship. Additionally, apprentices must have a working level of maths and English that will allow successful achievement of level 1 functional skill prior to the end point assessment.

If you do not currently have an employer please visit the main Apprenticeships page for guidance on how to find and apply for an apprenticeship opportunity or register for our Talent Bank service.

If you are an employer and would like to recruit or enrol an existing employee onto an apprenticeship please contact our Business Services team on  01273 892127 or via email.