Level 2 Horticulture Operative | Landscaping Apprenticeship
Course Details
-
Department
Horticulture -
Qualification
Level 2 -
Length
2 Years -
Location(s)
York
Course at a glance
An apprenticeship is a job with training. The job must have a productive purpose and should provide the apprentice with the opportunity to embed and consolidate the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need for their immediate job and future career.
Entry Requirements
GCSEs
As a minimum requirement, all new Apprentices are expected to have already have attained L1 Maths & English, equivalent to GCSE Grade 3 (or old GCSE Grade D) or above
Cost for students aged Under 19
Free
For students over the age of 19 please contact us
Course summary
This horticulture/landscaping apprenticeship is designed to equip you with the core skills to become a landscape gardener/architect. The broad purpose of the occupation is to undertake practical operations required to create and maintain horticultural spaces. This includes both the soft aspects (plants and soil) and the hard elements (surfaces, features and structures). Some will carry out the full range of operations from landscape construction through to maintenance, although the majority will focus on one specialism due to the breadth of skills required.
Horticultural specialists maintain soft and hard elements of the space. This will include planting and maintenance activities. Landscape construction specialists will install landscapes including building hard surfaces, landscape edging, structures and features and planting. This will include planting and maintenance activities.
Horticulture or landscape construction operatives frequently work outdoors year-round and in all weathers on domestic or commercial horticulture/landscaping projects. They sometimes work at heights for example pruning taller plants and hedges. Horticulture or landscape operatives will require qualifications and or training to undertake activities such as use of machinery.
How long is a landscaping apprenticeship?
Approximately 24 months, however the duration of the horticulture/landscaping apprenticeship is based on a skills analysis and the development opportunities within the business.
Key Information
Through your daily work with your employer and your training sessions with the college, you will learn the core content and that relevant to the pathway you are following.
Core content includes:
- Comply with health and safety legislation, industry guidance and organisational policies.
- Carry out operations to minimise the adverse environmental impact (including pollution control) in line with legislation, industry guidance and organisational policies.
- Operate or use tools equipment and machinery.
- Process waste from horticultural activities.
- Record keeping including digital records and written.
- Communicate with supervisor, colleagues, public and others.
- Comply with biosecurity and invasive species legislation, industry guidance and organisational policies.
- Maintain plant health including pests, pathogens and disorders.
- Prepare site for planting, carry out planting and provide appropriate care to plants during and immediately after planting.
- Control vegetation including site clearance, weed management, pruning and basic turf management.
- Install soft landscape materials for example shrubs, trees, turf and seeds.
- Maintain hard surfaces, features or structures.
- Works to support the business and wider teams.
- (Horticulture operative) – Produce plants through propagation.
- (Horticulture operative) – Manage ornamental turf.
- (Horticulture operative) – Establish and maintain soft landscape elements (for example, herbaceous perennials and annual displays).
- (Landscape construction operative) – Prepare site for landscape construction activities including measuring and setting out site.
- (Landscape construction operative) – Construct hard landscape surfaces, structures and features for example paths, patios and decking.
- (Landscape construction operative) – Assess and repair hard structures or take appropriate other action.
While completing the horticulture or landscaping apprenticeship, you will also have to achieve the following qualifications:
- Level 3 award in emergency first aid at work
- Level 2 awards in Safe Use of Pesticides
On successful completion of the training period, you will move through End Point Assessment Gateway and be in a position to undertake the assessments required in order to achieve your apprenticeship.
The End Point Assessment will only start once the employer is satisfied that you are consistently working at or above the level set out in the occupational standard, the pre-requisite gateway requirements have been met and that they can be evidenced to an End Point Assessment Organisation.
The End Point Assessor will be appointed by the EPAO and will be entirely independent to the college.
For this apprenticeship the End Point Assessment will include:
- Multiple choice exam, usually taken at college
- Practical assessment of tasks in your workplace
- Professional discussion in your workplace
Your apprenticeship will be graded Fail, Pass, Merit or Distinction.
The duration of the apprenticeship is based on a skills analysis and the development opportunities within the business.
18 months in college with a 6-month End Point Assessment (EPA) – so a 24-month apprenticeship contract will be required for your apprentice.
This could be reduced where an apprentice holds previous experience.
Individual employers will set their own selection criteria.
As a minimum requirement, all new Apprentices are expected to have already have attained L1 Maths & English, equivalent to GCSE Grade 3 (or old GCSE Grade D) or above
All Apprentices will also be required to work towards L2 Maths & English where not previously attained.
Employers pay for apprenticeship training, where fees are applicable. We will discuss this with your employer when we complete a set-up with them.
The fees charged for the apprenticeship include any awarding body registration costs, all on-programme teaching, assessment and support delivered by the college, support materials, access to college facilities such as the Learning Resource Centre, Student Moodle, and access to wider college student support services where required.
A digital account has to be set up and the funding secured via this platform – support will be given in college. If the apprentice if 19+ them 5% of the course fees will be paid by the employer.
Employers must pay apprentices at least the minimum rate set out by current National Minimum Wage Legislation. This includes payment for all off-job learning and any associated costs such as travel and accommodation.
Information about the National Minimum Wage can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates
Employer involvement
The employer will need to train the apprentice in their chosen route, allow six hours per week of learning in the work place, sign off one file after each review, and be involved in the review and appraisal process with the apprentice quarterly in the work place.
College input
Nine block weeks over the 18 months duration in college. Maths and English at level 2 if these are not gained before the start of the course.
Also complete the following:
First aid = 1 day. PA1 (Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides) = 1 day and PA6 (Safe Application of Pesticides) = 2 days, Abrasive Wheels = 1 day – depending on the route chosen.
How to apply
A registration of interest should be made using the college application form via the college website.
This form can be found at: https://www.askham-bryan.ac.uk/application/register.
Upon receipt of your interest you will have an interview with the Course Manager.
You may also want to consider the T Level in Ornamental and Environmental Horticulture and Landscaping.
Further information
All apprentices must be employed within the horticulture industry to apply for the apprenticeship.
The End Point Assessment (EPA) – You will be assessed for the qualification by an independent assessor in your work place – this assessor will be provided by Lantra. The EPA is your chance to show an independent assessor you can do the occupation you have been trained for. Your employer will only recommend you start the EPA when you have finished your training and both your employer and you think you are ready.
Further information is available on:
Horticulture or landscape operative / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education
Or, for more information, contact the Apprenticeship Admin team on:
-
York Campus
York is one of the College's two residential campuses and is located just four miles from York city centre. At York we offer a full range of subject areas and levels including Apprenticeships, Level 1-3 Diplomas, Foundation, Top Up and BSc Honours Degrees.
Student Stories
Siobhan’s Story
“Askham Bryan College is a fantastic college. It has been a pleasure learning here. All the tutors are willing to go above and beyond to ensure you have the best knowledge possible. I would recommend this college to anyone wanting to become a Registered Veterinary Nurse. ”
Ryan’s Story
“Choosing the level 3 Arboriculture course was a big decision being a 31-year-old self-employed landscape gardener. I am now at the end of my first year and there is no looking back. I have come on leaps and bounds professionally. I have already expanded my business into arboriculture with the skills and knowledge I have learnt. Askham Bryan College has been an eye opener and I've learned skills that I will take through my entire life.”
Ellie’s Story
“I chose Askham Bryan College because I liked what the course covered especially Anatomy & Physiology and Coaching. I enjoy taking part in training and I am hoping to go on to further coaching courses in football at University. The course is great to prepare me for this career.”