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Horticulture Apprentice
HOUGHTON REGIS TOWN COUNCIL
Peel Street, Houghton Regis, LU5 5EY
Closes in 12 days (Monday 12 October 2026)
Posted on 29 September 2026
Summary
Are you looking for a career in horticulture based in Houghton Regis, then look no further!
- Wage: £15,392 a year
- Training course: Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 5:00pm. Winter, Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 3:00pm. 37 hours a week
- Start date: Tuesday 13 October 2026
- Duration: 2 years 3 months
- Positions available: 2
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
This apprenticeship opportunity is working for Houghton Regis Town Council, working within the Council’s Grounds Team and alongside the Community Gardener, developing the practical knowledge, skills and behaviours to deliver high standards across Houghton Hall Park, sports and recreation grounds, open spaces, play areas, the cemetery and burial ground, community gardens and Council buildings.
Key Areas of Responsibility
- 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
Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
Health, Safety, Administration and Compliance
- Follow the Council’s Health and Safety at Work Policy, safe systems of work, training, instructions and relevant risk assessments
- Use personal protective equipment and uniform supplied by the Council, keeping them in a serviceable condition
- Report hazards, accidents, near misses, safeguarding concerns, defects and damage to buildings, machinery or equipment promptly
- Work within the limits of training and competence, seeking guidance whenever unsure
- Maintain accurate apprenticeship, training and work records as required
Houghton Hall Park and Community Horticulture
- Work alongside the Community Gardener to maintain the formal gardens, community kitchen garden and other planted areas to a high standard
- Assist with planting, sowing, propagation, watering, feeding, weeding, edging, mulching, pruning and seasonal horticultural work
- Help grow fruit, vegetables and other produce and support activities connected with the community kitchen garden
- Carry out related tasks including litter and waste collection, sweeping, power washing, strimming and seasonal clearance
- Support volunteers and community gardening activities, following safe working practices and instructions
- Engage with visitors, schools, community groups and stakeholders in a friendly, helpful and professional manner
- Assist the Council in maintaining relevant quality awards and environmental standards, including Green Flag, Anglia in Bloom and It’s Your Neighbourhood
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Grounds Maintenance and Outside Services
- Assist with mowing, strimming, hedge cutting, planting, pruning, leaf clearance and the maintenance of grassed and landscaped areas
- Help maintain sports pitches, recreation grounds, open spaces, play areas, street furniture, memorial seats and plaques, and other Council assets
- Carry out litter picking, waste collection and general cleansing duties
- Assist with routine cleaning, inspection and basic maintenance of tools, machinery and equipment, reporting defects promptly
- Assist with upkeep of the cemetery and churchyard and, when appropriately trained and supervised, support burial and interment duties, headstone installations and memorial safety work
- Support winter and severe-weather duties, including snow clearance, where required and appropriately equipped
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider: BEDFORD COLLEGE
Training course: Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
What you'll learn
Course contents (Core)
- 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.
- 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.
- Communicate with technical and non-technical audiences 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.
- Clear unwanted vegetation, selecting techniques to be used.
- 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.
- Use digital tools and techniques for research, collaboration, continuous professional development and resolution of problems.
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(Landscape construction)
- 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.
- Construct paved feature for example path, patio or shed base.
- Construct vertical landscape features including fences, ornamental vertical features, and walls.
- Install drainage in landscaping.
- Construct horizontal landscape features.
(Horticulture)
- Propagate plants by cuttings and seed sowing.
- Provide aftercare to recently installed turf and maintain established turf or species rich meadows.
- Identify if plants are suitable to site, purpose and aesthetics.
- Maintain soft landscapes.
- Monitor and control plant pests, pathogens, and disorders using basic control methods.
- Plant herbaceous and seasonal planting.
- Prune plants to achieve healthy growth and form.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
- GCSE in: English (grade 2) maths (grade 2)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience.
The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
- Please consider your transport links to get to both the employers location and the college.
- Candidates must attend an initial interview with a member of our Apprenticeship Recruitment Team if they meet the initial criteria as part of the recruitment process.
- Only Candidates who have fully completed the application will be considered.
- Please be aware that the closing date is subject to change without prior notice.
About this employer
Local Government
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay.
Full-time Horticulture Operative.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BEDFORD COLLEGE
Phillipa Moodie
PMoodie@bedford.ac.uk
01234 291000
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000053998.
Apply now
Closes in 12 days (Monday 12 October 2026)
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