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Horticulture or Landscape Operative Apprenticeship
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Horticulture and Landscaping Operative Apprentice
The team at Saint Michaels Mount are excited to be offering an opportunity for a motivated individual to join them as a Horticulture and Landscaping Operative Apprentice. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain an insight into the industry and learn new skills.
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
- Responsibility for all garden/groundwork including grass cutting (tractor/lawnmower), strimming, weed control, hedges, flowerbeds and plants/shrubs.
- Landscape maintenance.
- Learning the names of the plant collection and how to correctly care for them.
- Interacting with other members of staff and visitors and working in a busy visitor attraction atmosphere.
- Working in the glasshouse and laying out area. Learning about propagation and aftercare for plants that will be used in the gardens.
Typical daily tasks will include, but not be limited to:
- Assist with the day-to-day management and development of the garden, taking delegated responsibility for aspects of the planned work.
- Assist with in-house garden training.
- Ensure the highest standards of conservation, horticulture and visitor experience.
- Undertake a full range of practical horticultural work to develop the garden and contribute to the delivery of projects that enhance the garden.
- Develop your own horticultural skills and knowledge, including plant identification and propagation and support other team members to do the same.
- Assist in propagation and after care of plants.
- Engage with visitors to the garden to deliver the best possible visitor experience.
- Plan and implement work with visitor access and their interest in mind.
- Provide a great service to all our external and internal customers.
Where you'll work
St Michaels Mount
Marazion
TR17 0HS
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
CORNWALL 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 (for example clearing their route before transporting materials).
(Core) 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.
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(Core) 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.
(Core) Communicate with technical (for example supervisors or managers) and non-technical audiences (for example clients or the public) using language appropriate to the audience.
(Core) Identify plants commonly grown in the UK by scientific names including genus species and or cultivar.
(Core) Maintain the correct phytosanitary and bio-security procedures for the site, in accordance with legal requirements.
(Core) Identify and report symptoms and or signs of commonly found UK plant pests, pathogens and disorders.
(Core) Maintain plant health for example providing for basic needs such as water, nutrition (either organic or inorganic), light.
(Core) Cultivate, improve and preserve soils by mechanical methods and or by hand including amelioration and mulching (these might be imported or natural).
(Core) Clear unwanted vegetation, selecting techniques to be used (for example weeding).
(Core) Remove unwanted or damaged growth from plants using a pruning cut.
(Core) Plant shrubs and a tree using a simple tree pit.
(Core) Install turf for situation.
(Core) Mow turf using pedestrian controlled powered driven mower.
(Core) Maintain or protect hard surfaces, features or structures for example painting, re-gravelling, removing weeds from paving, drain clearance, cleaning.
(Core) Use digital tools and techniques for research, collaboration, continuous professional development and resolution of problems.
(Landscape construction) Measure and set out an uncomplicated site in preparation for landscape construction activities.
(Landscape construction) Use free hand cutting and or bench cutting of hard landscape materials using abrasive wheels.
(Landscape construction) Repair constructed landscape features (simple and noncomplex) for example re-grouting, re-sanding, damaged fencing.
(Landscape construction) Construct paved feature for example path, patio or shed base. Including setting levels, sub bases, laying bases, finishing.
(Landscape construction) Construct vertical landscape features including fences, ornamental vertical features, and walls.
(Landscape construction) Install drainage in landscaping.
(Landscape construction) Construct horizontal landscape features (excluding paving).
(Horticulture) Propagate plants by cuttings and seed sowing (this might be indoors or outdoors). Including selection of suitable growing media and or soil.
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(Horticulture) Provide aftercare to recently installed turf and maintain established turf or species rich meadows including irrigation, maintenance, monitoring health and protection from use.
(Horticulture) Identify if plants are suitable to site, purpose and aesthetics.
(Horticulture) Maintain soft landscapes for example - staking or support, division, seasonal clearance, and re-planting.
(Horticulture) Monitor and control plant pests, pathogens, and disorders using basic control methods (including application of chemicals or organic equivalents).
(Horticulture) Plant herbaceous and seasonal planting (for example bedding, herbs or bulbs).
(Horticulture) Prune plants to achieve healthy growth and form (including natural habit and formal or trained form).
Training schedule
This training schedule has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.
Essential qualifications
- GCSE in:
- English (grade 3 / D)
- Maths (grade 3 / D)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Problem solving skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Patience
St Michael’s Mount is part of the St Aubyn Estates and is cared for in partnership with the National Trust. It is a unique historic and visitor attraction located off the coast of Cornwall. The Mount welcomes visitors throughout the year and offers a wide range of experiences, including the historic castle, gardens, visitor facilities and events. Working at St Michael’s Mount provides an opportunity to gain practical experience in a historic and busy visitor environment, while being part of a team that helps care for and share this special place with the public.
The gardens on the mount consist of 20 acres of woodland, lawn and formal gardens. Included in that are the subtropical terraced gardens, which is the main visitor focus during the season. The gardening team consists of 3 full-time gardeners and 2 part-time gardeners sharing a job role. We cater to thousands of visitors each year and work full time maintaining not just the gardens but the island as whole.
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay.
Further education in horticulture
Jobs in commercial gardens or amenities.
Self-employed gardener or landscape gardener.
Gardner in private gardens or estate.
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CORNWALL COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000049549.
Closes in 14 days (Friday 11 September 2026 at 11:59pm)
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