Horticulture Apprentice

About the role

🌱 Grounds Maintenance Apprentice 🌱

Ready to kickstart your career in horticulture and groundskeeping? Houghton Regis Town Council is looking for enthusiastic individuals to join our Grounds Team as Apprentices. This is your chance to gain hands-on experience and develop essential skills across a variety of beautiful and vital public spaces! 🌳

What you'll be doing:

• Getting hands-on: You’ll be involved in all aspects of horticultural and grounds maintenance, from planting and weeding to using tools and machinery safely. 🛠️
• Making spaces shine: Help us keep our parks, sports grounds, play areas, cemetery, community gardens, and council buildings looking clean, safe, and welcoming for everyone. ✨
• Learning and growing: You'll complete a comprehensive apprenticeship, including off-the-job training, building a portfolio, and mastering functional skills. We're here to support your development every step of the way! 📚
• Being a positive face: Represent the Council professionally and friendly when interacting with residents, visitors, volunteers, schools, and community groups. 😊
• Community gardening: Work with our Community Gardener to maintain formal gardens and our community kitchen garden. You'll help grow produce and support community gardening activities. 🥕
• Supporting events and visitors: Engage with everyone who enjoys our spaces, from school groups to community organizations. 🤝
• Maintaining standards: Help us uphold our commitment to quality and environmental awards like Green Flag and Anglia in Bloom. 🏆
• General maintenance: Assist with tasks like mowing, strimming, hedge cutting, litter picking, and general cleansing duties. 🍃
• Cemetery upkeep: Support the upkeep of the cemetery and churchyard, including assisting with memorial safety work when trained. 🕊️
• Winter readiness: Pitch in with essential winter duties like snow clearance when needed. ❄️

What we need from you:

• A keen interest in horticulture and grounds maintenance.
• A willingness to learn and follow instructions.
• A positive attitude and ability to work as part of a team.
• Reliability and a good work ethic.

This is a fantastic opportunity to build a rewarding career while contributing to your local community. Apply now and help us keep Houghton Regis beautiful! 💖

Key responsibilities

• Undertake practical horticultural and grounds maintenance work under appropriate instruction, supervision and training.
• Develop competence in the safe use of relevant tools, machinery and equipment.
• Help keep Council grounds, facilities and public spaces clean, safe, attractive and welcoming.
• Complete the required off-the-job training, portfolio work, functional skills and assessments associated with the apprenticeship.
• Represent the Council positively when working with residents, visitors, volunteers, schools, community groups and partner organisations.

Entry requirements

GCSE in: (English (grade 2), maths (grade 2))