Level 3 Crop Technician Apprenticeship

This role offers the successful candidate the opportunity to be involved in many aspects of horticulture.

Crocus grow their plants in a specially designed plant propagation building, but also source plants to grow on for retail sale from UK and European nurseries.

You will learn from an energetic and friendly team who love what they do and enjoy sharing their knowledge. You will also work alongside very experienced nursery managers and work in areas of plant propagation, maintenance, quality and goods Inwards teams.

Job Purpose

Propagation - You will work alongside a dedicated team to create new plants through propagation from seeds, plugs or cuttings to grow plants ready for sale on our website.

Nursery Assistant - Working within the larger nursery team, you will learn how to care for the wider range of plants we grow within the nursery. Working alongside an experienced nursery manager and their team, you will care for plants meeting all aspects of their need for feed, watering and general requirements.

Quality Control - Quality control is the most important aspect within the nursery. Working alongside the QC manager and their team you will control the care of plants within the nursery assuring the best practice is always followed. You will also aid the QC team in checking all inbound and outbound deliveries assuring top-quality plants are delivered to our customers.

Goods Inwards operative - Working alongside the goods In team you will learn the inbound stock process and the importance of maintaining accurate stock records in the nursery. Our goods in the team make sure stock comes into the nursery promptly and is located in the right place for the distribution staff to pick and pack to send out to customers.

Further general job roles

• Preparation of plants for dispatch.


• Conduct regular checks on working areas and plants making sure that standards are maintained.


• Responsible for working safely and ensuring Crocus health and safety procedures are followed. Report any health and safety concerns in a timely manner to the manager.


• Ensure that all stock management procedures within your control are followed correctly to minimise stock loss.


• Be self-motivated to seek out information and share as part of a team.


• Willingness to offer ideas and support to benefit the team and Crocus overall.


• Edging and shrub bed maintenance.


• Weeding/sweeping.


• Litter picking/leaf collection.


• Involvement in plant treatment application.


• Safe use of grounds maintenance equipment including hand tools, trimmers, hedge-cutters, and any other machinery required.


• Carry out maintenance to grounds maintenance equipment.


• Compliance with all relevant legislation.


• Horticultural operations such as planting, pruning and maintenance of trees and shrubs.


• Working within the plant area - completion of plant watering duties.


• Some warehouse duties involving manual handling.


• Efficient stock management - ensuring stock levels are correct.


• Flexible to work across all departments - transferable skills.


Your training during your time at Crocus, you will be collating evidence of learning, be observed and receive training in all aspects of growing and maintaining plants on the nursery.

This apprenticeship will be run in conjunction with Pershore College -widely recognised within the Horticulture industry and is of 2 years duration.

At the end of the 2 years, you will have achieved a Crop technician level 3 standard qualification. In addition, you will have achieved a Level 2 award in the safe use of pesticides as well as a Level 3 award in Emergency First Aid at Work. An assessor will visit you in the work-place every four to eight weeks and you will be required to attend Horticulture College for short placements during the course.

You must be 16 years of age or older and Have GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent) is a minimum requirement.

We are also looking for

• Excellent communication skills


• Ability to carry out physical tasks within health and safety guidelines


• Have excellent timekeeping skills and be motivated, honest, and reliable


• Polite approach and professional appearance


• A flexible approach to working hours as some work may be seasonal


• Flexible to work across all departments within the plant nursery, retail site and head office.


• Able to work effectively within a team


• Enjoy working come rain or shine, and be willing to go the extra mile


• Learn and develop skills in horticulture and have a willingness to learn


• Able to deliver great customer service if required.
  
  As a Crocus apprentice, you gain so much more than a certificate in Horticulture, you will have decided to play a part in our exciting future. You'll always be learning new skills in your workplace - all about the horticulture industry.


Crocus is the market leader in horticultural online retail with the widest range of plants available to the UK retail customer in the UK.

We will provide the best support to equip you for a great career in retail Horticulture with Crocus. The aim is for all our apprentices to become the future rising stars within our business with the potential to progress if they show the commitment and enthusiasm


• Training paid for by Crocus and supported by the government


• Earning whilst training


• Any additional college expenses paid


Job Types: Full-time, Apprenticeship,
• Company pension


• Employee discount


• Free parking


• On-site parking


• Referral programme


• Store discount


Schedule:

• Monday to Friday