Grounds Maintenance Operative Apprentice

Summary

A fantastic opportunity to work for a small local council who provide a wide range of services and facilities to residents, including the provision of first-class sporting facilities, outdoor spaces, community park and two cemeteries. You will carry out a range of horticulture and miscellaneous duties.

Wage

£16,224 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Training course

Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

Hours

Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 5.00pm, Friday, 8.30am to 4.00pm. Above are summer working hours which total 39 hours, winter working reduces to 35 hours timing to be confirmed with employer at interview.

39 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 15 September 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

To support the Estates Manager by ensuring the effective upkeep and maintenance of all Parish Council services and facilities. This includes carrying out a wide range of horticultural, landscaping, grounds maintenance, and general duties across sports turf areas, cemeteries, and Council-owned buildings.

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform general horticultural duties, including planting, pruning, weeding, and turf maintenance.
• Maintain and develop Parish Council landscapes and green spaces.
• Carry out grounds maintenance across sports facilities, cemeteries, and other public spaces.
• Undertake general building and facility upkeep tasks as required.
  Safely operate a wide range of machinery, tools, and specialist equipment.
• Ensure all work is completed in accordance with the Parish Council’s Health & Safety policies and other relevant regulations.

The successful candidate will be required to study for a nationally recognised diploma in Horticulture, training for which will be organised by the Council.

Where you'll work

68 MIDDLE STREET
BLACKHALL COLLIERY
HARTLEPOOL
TS27 4EA

Training

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

Training provider

EAST DURHAM COLLEGE

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

You will attend East Durham College's Houghall campus on a day release programme weekly where you will partake in theory-based sessions.

• (Core) Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (Ofqual registered) minimum 1-day course
• (Horticulture Operative) Lantra Awards Level 2 Award in Safe Use of Pesticides OR City and Guilds Level 2 Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides
• (Horticulture Operative) Lantra Awards Level 2 Award in the Safe Application of Pesticide Using Handheld Equipment OR City and Guilds Level 2 Award in the Safe Application of Pesticides Using Pedestrian Handheld Equipment

The qualification you will undertake is the occupational Standard:

ST0225, horticulture or landscape construction operative level 2

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 3 or above)
• Maths (grade 3 or above)

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
• Initiative
• Physical fitness
• Hard working

Other requirements

This role requires working outside in all weathers and is a physically demanding job.