Horticulture Level 2 Apprenticeship

Introduction

Do you enjoy working outdoors, being active and making a visible difference in your local community?

First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) is looking for an enthusiastic Environmental Services Operative Apprentice to join our Neighbourhood Care team.

About the Employer

We are a housing association formed to benefit our local communities.

We are committed to our purpose of providing quality homes and services and with around 10% of the local population living in an FCHO home, we are proud to be an anchor organisation through our significant contribution as a large local business and employer.

We own and manage around 11,500 homes, have the highest regulatory (G1/V1) rating, and plan to build more than 600 affordable new homes in the coming years.

What You'll Do

• To liaise and communicate with members of the public, colleagues and other local services in a polite, courteous manner.
• To carry out supervised grounds maintenance and general maintenance tasks to communal environmental areas including grass cutting, edging, hedge trimming, pruning, planting, seeding, weeding and spraying, clearance of leaves and litter, removal of fly tipping and the maintenance of outdoor recreational facilities. Basic construction labouring work such as emptying of bins, painting of street furniture, hanging of public signage etc.
• To gain knowledge, experience and training to support the safe operation of a range of hand tools and equipment (including powered tools), plant, mini tractor mounted equipment and vehicles. To carry out daily checks and basic maintenance of the tools and equipment, reporting any damage and issues found.
• To report graffiti, vandalism, repairs and defects in communal areas to the environment to the relevant team.
• To undertake seasonal tasks during winter and summer such as clearing of snow and ice, upkeep and cleaning of recreational, play and artificial pitch areas, clearing of litter, animal faeces and waste in line with health and safety maintenance measures.
• To attend neighbourhood and community activities and projects (eg community fun days, self-help growing and allotment projects, local schools' environmental projects) as required.
• To attend college on set dates agreed by the provider ensuring your college work is completed on time to a high standard.
• To carry out routine checks, maintenance, safe use and storage of HGV’s and specialist vehicles including ride on mowers, mechanical sweeping equipment and associated tractor mounted equipment.
• To safely work with pesticides in accordance with regulations and to treat invasive weeds once trained. To adhere to all relevant quality standards and health and safety/COSH requirements.
• To attend and contribute to team briefing discussions.

This list should not be regarded as exhaustive and from time to time you will be expected to undertake other reasonable duties relevant and appropriate to the role as directed by your line manager.

Training Outcome

To progress onto Level 3 or secure permanent employment.

Skills Required

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Presentation skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience
• Physical fitness
• Listening skills
• Manual handling
• Work outside in all weathers

Qualifications

• Essential - GCSE - English and Maths - Grades 9-4 (A*-C)

Course Information

Course: Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)

Level: 2

Route: Agriculture, environmental and animal care

Apprenticeship Level: Intermediate

Working Arrangements

Working Week: 37 hours per week, shift times to be confirmed.

Expected Duration: 2 Years

Training Provider: THE OLDHAM COLLEGE