Grounds Maintenance and Landscaping Apprentice

TAB LANDSCAPES SOUTHERN LTD
EASTLEIGH (SO53 2HU)
Closes in 13 days (Monday 12 October 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 28 September 2026

Summary

We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic team member to join the company. The role will predominately be hard and soft landscaping work, developing a wealth of skills. Part of the role will also be undertaking grounds maintenance works on gated developments.

Wage: £16,640 a year
Training course: Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
Hours: Monday to Friday 07.30 – 16-30 (with the ability to be flexible). This will include day release at Sparsholt during term time.
40 hours a week
Start date: Monday 19 October 2026
Duration: 2 years 3 months
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

The core area of the role will be assisting in the creation of gardens from the plan to completion. Working closely with a range of garden designers, we undertake all aspects of hard/soft landscaping works with an emphasis on good horticultural practice.

The successful applicant will gain experience with a wide variety of skills, including:

• Paving
• Brickwork
• Timber construction
• Metalwork
• Groundworks/drainage
• Soft Landscaping
• Hedge cutting
• Soil preparation
• Grass cutting and strimming
• Planting
• Shrub pruning
• Turfing
• Border maintenance and weed control

Where you'll work

12 BEECHCROFT CLOSE
CHANDLER'S FORD
EASTLEIGH
SO53 2HU

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: Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

What you'll learn

• 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).
• 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.
• 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.
• Communicate with technical (for example supervisors or managers) and non-technical audiences (for example clients or the public) using language appropriate to the audience.
• Identify plants commonly grown in the UK by scientific names including genus species and or cultivar.
• Maintain the correct phytosanitary and bio-security procedures for the site, in accordance with legal requirements.
• Identify and report symptoms and or signs of commonly found UK plant pests, pathogens and disorders.
• Maintain plant health for example providing for basic needs such as water, nutrition (either organic or inorganic), light.
• Cultivate, improve and preserve soils by mechanical methods and or by hand including amelioration and mulching (these might be imported or natural).
• Clear unwanted vegetation, selecting techniques to be used (for example weeding).
• Remove unwanted or damaged growth from plants using a pruning cut.
• Plant shrubs and a tree using a simple tree pit.
• Install turf for situation.
• Mow turf using pedestrian controlled powered driven mower.
• Maintain or protect hard surfaces, features or structures for example painting, re-gravelling, removing weeds from paving, drain clearance, cleaning.
• Use digital tools and techniques for research, collaboration, continuous professional development and resolution of problems.
• Measure and set out an uncomplicated site in preparation for landscape construction activities.
• Use free hand cutting and or bench cutting of hard landscape materials using abrasive wheels.
• Repair constructed landscape features (simple and noncomplex) for example re-grouting, re-sanding, damaged fencing.
• Construct paved feature for example path, patio or shed base. Including setting levels, sub bases, laying bases, finishing.
• Construct vertical landscape features including fences, ornamental vertical features, and walls.
• Install drainage in landscaping.
• Construct horizontal landscape features (excluding paving).
• Propagate plants by cuttings and seed sowing (this might be indoors or outdoors). Including selection of suitable growing media and or soil.
• Provide aftercare to recently installed turf and maintain established turf or species rich meadows including irrigation, maintenance, monitoring health and protection from use.
• Identify if plants are suitable to site, purpose and aesthetics.
• Maintain soft landscapes for example - staking or support, division, seasonal clearance, and re-planting.
• Monitor and control plant pests, pathogens, and disorders using basic control methods (including application of chemicals or organic equivalents).
• Plant herbaceous and seasonal planting (for example bedding, herbs or bulbs).
• Prune plants to achieve healthy growth and form (including natural habit and formal or trained form).