We grow outdoor plants to improve landscapes and gardens.

We have multiple departments: propagation, growing, potting, preparing customer orders, etc. and apprentices gain experience across all areas of the business. We hire apprentices with the intention of employing them long-term.

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

What you'll do at work

Working on the different areas of the nursery, producing, caring for plants, assembling and preparing customer orders.

Different departments look after various stages, and any apprentice is moved around them all in a rotation and spends time out on a Friday to get an overall view of operations.

Where you'll work

Kings Acre
Hereford
HR4 7AY

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

Training provider

WARWICKSHIRE COLLEGE

Training course

Crop technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Identify and mitigate risks to promote and maintain health, safety and security. (Core)
• Manage accurate paper or digital records within the workplace. (Core)
• Maintain and operate machinery and equipment in accordance with manufacturer operating instructions. (Core)
• Maximise economic sustainability by optimising plant growth when carrying out operations. (Core)
• Establish crops to ensure efficient and sustainable growth. (Core)
• Operate vehicles in accordance with manufacturer operating instructions. (Core)
• Control pests, weeds and diseases using integrated pest management. (Core)
• Apply and store pest management treatments in accordance with standard operating procedures, legislation and regulations. (Core)
• Carry out plant nutrient application or irrigation tasks required by the crop. (Core)
• Carry out harvesting and dispatch operations. (Core)
• Assess and monitor crops for quality, performance and specification requirements. (Core)
• Select harvesting techniques taking account of crop condition and quality requirements. (Core)
• Maintain bioseity and hygiene practices in line with legislation, regulations and organisational requirements. (Core)
• Keep harvested crops in suitable conditions to maintain quality. (Core)
• Maintain soils or substrates to ensure sustainable, efficient and healthy growth. (Core)
• Sample and evaluate soil or substrate health to determine nutrition requirements. (Core)
• Comply with health and safety legislation, regulations, guidelines and procedures relevant to own role. (Core)
• Participate in learning and CPD activities. (Core)
• Manage own time to achieve tasks to schedule. (Core)
• Consider different approaches to current working practices, identifying improvements, developments and innovative ideas. (Core)
• Set and monitor machinery performance to ensure good seed or plant establishment and crop growth. (Soil based)
• Set machinery and equipment taking into account the crop, environment, soil condition and specification requirements. (Soil based)
• Maintain non-productive areas. (Soil based)
• Assess the impact of machinery on soil structure and identify potential damage in accordance with legislation. (Soil based)
• Optimise growth conditions for crops, based on the specific needs of the plant relative to the environment. (Container based)
• Maintain productive and non-productive areas. (Container based)
• Plan for and carry out the removal of waste materials following harvest or dispatch. (Container based)
• Evaluate and select different growing mediums taking into account site conditions and production requirements. (Container based)