Horticulture Apprentice

Summary

The Good Garden Company are a professional garden maintenance and planting company, providing a high standard of garden services for domestic and commercial gardens. The company is based in Epsom and covers gardens in Surrey, South London and the surrounding areas.

Wage

£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

28 days paid annual leave, including bank holidays

Training course

Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

Hours

Start date asap depending on availability. Number of Hours: 40. Working days: Mon-Fri. Lunch break length: 30mins + other breaks. Start Time: 0745am. Finish Time: 1630pm.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 13 July 2026

Duration

2 years

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

• Garden maintenance of commercial and residential gardens
• Planting and plant knowledge
• Use of petrol and battery machinery
• Identifying pests and diseases
• Customer service skills

Are you looking to become a qualified Gardener and keen to join a friendly and small team, based in Epsom?

The Good Garden Company are a professional garden maintenance and planting company, providing a high standard of garden services for domestic and commercial gardens. The company is based in Epsom and covers gardens in Surrey, South London and the surrounding areas.

We’re looking for a full time Apprentice Gardener to join the team ASAP & start their apprenticeship at college in September or October 2026. The person will have a keen interest in becoming a qualified Gardener and enjoy working outside. Gardening experience is desirable but not essential.

You’ll join a friendly and sociable team and work in various gardens, alongside other team members. You’ll learn lots of new skills, including the use of garden machinery, plant knowledge, hedge work, customer service skills and basic garden design. The company provides professional development opportunities to employees who demonstrate the right attitude and commitment.

The team has grown steadily, and we’re looking for another Apprentice Gardener to support the team in providing general garden maintenance and soft landscaping, including the creation of bespoke planting schemes.

The summer shift pattern is c. 7.45 am – 4.30 pm.

Working between Epsom and Ewell.

Where you'll work

44 NIGHTINGALE DRIVE
EPSOM
KT19 9EN

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

ACTIVATE LEARNING

Training course

Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

What you'll learn

• (Core) Apply health and safety processes and procedures including risk assessments and or 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 and 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 or 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), 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-gravelling, 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 noncomplex) 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 or 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 and 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 or 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), 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-gravelling, removing weeds from paving, drain clearance, cleaning.
• (Core) Use digital tools and techniques for research, collaboration, continuous professional development and resolution of problems.

Training schedule

• Horticulture or landscape construction operative Level 2 (GCSE)
  Typical duration: 24 months
• Dedicated Performance Coach
• College Merrist Wood
• Functional Skills maths and English if required

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths and English (grade Grade 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Physical fitness
• Reliable
• Interest in gardening
• Enjoys the outdoors

Other requirements

• Full DBS check will be carried out as part of the rol
• Driving license preferred but not essential
• Willing to travel to meet at the pick-up point in the mornings