Estate Worker Apprenticeship

We are looking for an Estate Worker to join our small team on a 700-acre private estate near Marlborough. The estate comprises of woodlands, parks, lakes, formal gardens, and a newly designed walled garden and the successful candidate will assist in maintaining the grounds to a high standard.

Wage

• £16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
• National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Training course

• Countryside worker (level 2)

Hours

• Full-time
• Normal working hours: 8.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday
• 40 hours a week

Start date

• Monday, 12 October 2026

Duration

• 1 year 6 months

Positions available

• 1

What you'll do at work

The apprentice will work with the team maintaining the grounds to a high standard and will possess the ability to take instruction, completing tasks while working in a team, and alone, and show a positive and can-do attitude.

The Estate Team are responsible for the wider areas of the estate, their roles vary throughout the year, the main duties are as follows:

• Hedge cutting
• Lawn mowing with pedestrian, ride-on, and tractor-mounted equipment
• Trimming parks and walkways
• Fencing around the estate
• Leaf blowing and clearing
• Tree maintenance to include felling

Where you'll work

MARLBOROUGH (SN8)

Training

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

Training provider

• SPARSHOLT COLLEGE

Training course

• Countryside worker (level 2)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Manage habitats using a range of specialist techniques such as coppicing, hedge laying, river/stream bank stabilisation, and establishing native plants, using appropriate tools and equipment. This could also include new and developing sustainable practices such as using natural materials to manage excessive rainfall (in constructing leaky dams and bale dams) and subsequently manage erosion and flood damage.
• Construct or repair boundaries including different fencing types (such as post and rail, stock fencing), hedging (establishing a new hedge or laying an existing hedge), and dry stone walling depending on the geographic location/landscape and local natural materials.
• Construct or maintain access ways, for example, a path surface using aggregate, stone pitching, slabs, concrete, or tarmac. This will include the skills to ensure that the path surface drains properly.
• Manage vegetation in a range of different situations, for example, strimming pathways, using pesticides, managing trees and hedgerows, eradicating invasive species in order to conserve native flora and fauna.
• Construct and/or maintain site furniture for access and interpretation. For example, bridges, gates, stiles, boardwalks, signs/waymarks, or information boards using sustainable materials where possible. This will involve both following standard methods and also undertaking site-specific design. For example, installing a gate on a sloping field will involve modifying the standard method, while every river or stream crossing will require a different design.
• Use a range of hand tools and powered tools safely such as hammers, panel saws, levels, drills, strimmers, or chainsaws, hold the relevant certification for powered equipment, and undertake the routine maintenance of the tools used.
• Problem-solving: be resourceful in finding solutions to problems that may arise in day-to-day work and know when to ask a supervisor for advice.
• Identify a range of British flora and fauna native to the specific local area, e.g., commonly seen birds, mammals, insects, herbs, flowers, trees, or fungi to determine the appropriate habitat management needed.
• Undertake surveys which feed into site management plans and work plans, for example, survey habitats and species, numbers of visitors, the condition of Rights of Way, or structures/furniture.
• Write a simple dynamic risk assessment and be able to use it on site. Use the risk assessment as the basis of working safely; understanding the hazards on the site and involved in the wide range of practical tasks undertaken by Countryside Workers. Know how to reduce these risks to an acceptable level for themselves, the public, and colleagues through using safe working practices and wearing personal protective equipment.
• Communicate effectively in a range of situations, e.g., through face-to-face interaction, electronic communication, telephoning, or presenting to the public, contractors, colleagues, or landowners.