Horticulture Apprentice Crop Technician

Introduction

As an Apprentice Crop Technician you will learn all aspects of producing potted plants. You will rotate through placements in propagation, potting, growing and despatch teams to competently perform the standard tasks, to understand the different roles and how the teams interact to produce high quality plants.

About the Employer

Binsted Nurseries Limited, part of the Farplants Group are a market
leading customer focussed organisation producing and supplying high quality potted herbs, bulbs and ornamental garden plants to the wholesale market. Binsted Nursery was founded in 1978 We are based
in West Sussex with 2 production sites.

What You'll Do

• Reporting to the Technical manager and supported day to day by site supervisors and the wider team
• Quarterly placements within each team
• The first year focussed on developing the practical skills required within each team
• Propagation - Taking and sticking cuttings, trimming stock plants to produce cutting material to schedule, sowing seed
• Potting - Preparing plugs for potting, working on potting line, laying plants down in growing areas
• Growing - Monitoring crops in set area, irrigation, pest and disease checks, monitoring the environment, ensuring cultural activities carried out to agreed standard including trimming, weeding, feeding, spacing, spraying (qualification part of apprenticeship programme)
• Despatch - Selecting plants that fulfil specification, working on line to prepare plant to optimum condition and insert carecard, loading trolleys
• The second year’s rotation designed to challenge, to build on the first year knowledge and achieve greater depth
• Where practical this may include some tasks with additional responsibility and /or leading small teams

Training Outcome

• Production Team Leader or Supervisor in Production, Despatch or Propagation, or a member of the Growing Team

Skills Required

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Presentation skills
• Number skills
• Team working
• Initiative
• Patience
• Physical fitness

Qualifications

• Essential - GCSE - English, Maths - C/4+

Course Information

Course: Crop technician (level 3)

Level: 3

Route: Agriculture, environmental and animal care

Apprenticeship Level: Advanced

Working Arrangements

Working Week: Monday - Thursday, 8.00am - 4.45pm and Friday, 8.00am-3.45pm. Overtime as needed during the week and some weekends during peak despatch times in the spring. Weekend watering duties on a rota basis.

Expected Duration: 2 Years

Training Provider: WARWICKSHIRE COLLEGE