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Chester Zoo

Apprentice Horticulturalist

Chester
Posted about 17 hours ago
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About the Role

Our Apprentice Horticulturist’s will play a key role learning while working as part of our professional horticulture and botany teams, to ensure the highest standards of care and cultivation of our gardens and extensive plant collections across the zoo.

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

What You'll Do At Work

As part of the zoo's horticultural department as an apprentice, you'll be trained on and responsible for (but not limited to) the following:

Key Responsibilities

  • To develop horticultural knowledge and skills to grow, nurture and develop a wide range of plants.
  • To learn how to identify and control pest, disease, weed infestations using appropriate methods.
  • To work within the team to design new horticultural planting.
  • To learn the importance of and comply with risk assessments and safe operating procedures.
  • To learn and develop skills to use and maintain a range of hand tools and mechanical horticultural equipment.

You’ll develop your skills alongside various members of the team, learning a variety of duties and supporting the whole organisation to continued growth. You’ll be taught and mentored by supervisors who are well versed in the job role and industry, to achieve your full potential and share in the organisation’s success.

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I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?

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Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.

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Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme

PwC·London, UK
£35,000/yr

Why you're a good match

Strong

Your economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.

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Why you're a good match

You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.

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Experience fit

Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.

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Essential Qualifications

  • GCSE in:

    • Maths & English (grade A*-C/9-4)

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

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Be reliable and punctual
  • Interest in plant species
  • Willing to listen and learn
  • Work under pressure
  • Knowledge of Microsoft
  • Committed to the zoo's mission

Other Requirements

This is a physical role and the role holder will spend a significant amount of time either outdoors in all weather conditions or in temperature controlled environments. The roles will involve a range of manual tasks. This is a public facing role out in the zoo.

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About us!

We are Chester Zoo and we are mission motivated, passionate people, working together to be the best. We opened in 1931 by founder, George Mottershead who wanted to create the first UK zoo without bars. We are home to over 37,000 animals across our 128 acre site and have over 2 million visitors a year. Our mission is to prevent extinction; it’s a bold statement but we are confident that by working together and with our partners we can make a difference to wildlife here in the UK and the world.

We’re a huge team of conservationists, scientists, educators, animal welfare experts, marketeers, visitor experience professionals, environmental policy influencers; the list goes on. Each and every one of us is on a mission to make Chester Zoo the best in the world, and our planet a better place.

Company Benefits

  • 33 days holiday per annum
  • Staff pass plus complimentary tickets
  • Access to healthcare plan
  • Pension scheme

For more details or to apply please visit Apprentice Horticulturist – Find an apprenticeship – GOV.UK

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Skills

Communication Skills
IT Skills
Attention To Detail
Organisation Skills
Customer Care Skills
Problem Solving Skills
Presentation Skills
Logical Thinking
Team Working
Creative Thinking
Initiative
Reliability
Punctuality
Plant Species Knowledge
Microsoft Office

Location

Chester, England, United Kingdom

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