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Park Apprentice
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Park Apprentice
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Environmental Services department at Stoke on Trent City Council as a Park Apprentice where you will care and maintain Stoke on Trent’s Heritage Parks. You will assist the Park’s team to deliver high quality and effective grounds maintenance.
Wage
- £15,392 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
- National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Minimum wage rates opens in new tab
Training
- Training course: Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
- Training provider: REASEHEATH COLLEGE
Hours
- 37 hours a week
- Start date: Saturday 15 August 2026
- Duration: 2 years
- Positions available: 1
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
- Support the maintenance, cleanliness and presentation of local parks
- Grass cutting, hedge trimming, weeding, litter collection and general upkeep using a range of tools and equipment
- Engage with the public providing information about the parks and promote their responsible use
- Support community events, completing basic administrative tasks and work closely with the wider Parks Team
- Complete an apprenticeship alongside, attending training, complete coursework and develop a work based portfolio
Where you'll work
Weighbridge Site
Cromer Road
Stoke-On-Trent
ST1 6QN
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
What you'll learn
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).
- 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.
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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 (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).
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Horticulture
- 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).
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.
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- Physical fitness
Stoke-on-Trent City Council values the diversity of its community and aims to have a workforce that reflects this – we therefore encourage applications from all sections of our community. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees – a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed together.
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay opens in new tab.
Park Keeper role
The contact for this apprenticeship is: REASEHEATH COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000040785.
Closes in 13 days (Monday 20 July 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.
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