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Apprentice Gardener
(Churchill College)

Location:

University of Cambridge, Storey’s Way, Cambridge CB3 0DS

Course level:

Intermediate

Course Duration:

24 months approx

Application Deadline Date:

1.7.25

Weekly Hours:

37.5 per week. Occasional weekend work may be required.

Salary:

£24,708 per annum,

Positions:

1

Accommodation:

None provided
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About this opportunity:

Churchill College is one of the thirty-one Colleges of the University of Cambridge. The College’s grounds and gardens are one of Cambridge’s best-kept secrets. The original design was drawn up in the early 1960s, creating landscapes with borders surrounding buildings rather than traditional gardens. There is a small arboretum, wildflower areas, a parterre and fruit orchards, beautiful herbaceous borders, an orchid collection, and nearly 1,000 trees across the forty-two acre site. The College also holds the National Plant Collection of plants named after Sir Winston Churchill. The College is now looking to recruit an Apprentice Gardener to join our experienced team of nine Grounds and Gardens staff. The ideal candidate will have a keen interest in Horticulture and some personal experience of gardening. They will also have a willingness and ability to learn new skills and techniques.

This post will form part of a two year, intercollegiate apprenticeship scheme run by KEITS Training Services LTD.  The appointed apprentice will work towards obtaining a Horticulture/Landscape Operative Level 2 Standard, joining apprentices from a small number of other colleges and with support from Cambridge University Botanic Garden.

The successful candidate will assist the team in maintaining the College grounds & gardens to a high standard at all times in a safe manner. This will include:

  • Mowing lawns
  • All aspects of gardening tasks
  • Strimming
  • Hedge cutting
  • Composting
  • Border control
  • Turfing
  • Planting
  • Fencing
  • Snow/ice clearing
  • Working with machinery and power tools (tractors, lawn mower, strimmer, hedge cutter, leaf blower)
  • Keeping records of machinery use for noise and vibration
  • Hard & Soft Landscaping
  • Maintaining tools/equipment

Desired skills and qualities

  • An interest in gardening and landscaping and working outdoors is essential
  • Experience in a garden or with plants
  • Used a range of garden machinery
  • Working as part of a team
  • Reliable and trustworthy
  • Able to work well with others
  • A keen interest, enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and reliability are most important
  • Good communication skills with the public
  • Sensible with a methodical approach

Desired qualifications

  • GCSE’s, or equivalents in maths and English are desired but not essential
  • A level 1 in horticulture is desirable
  • Full driving license is desirable

Future prospects

  • A level 3 in horticulture
  • Gardener roles

Training: 

  • Full training to be provided by the employer and KEITS at the place of employment.
  • The applicant will be working towards a Level 2 Horticulture and Landscape Operative Apprenticeship.
  • The learner will be allocated an industry specific training consultant who will provide both remote and on site visits throughout the apprenticeship.
  • The apprentice will work towards an End Point Assessment (EPA) at the end of their apprenticeship.
  • Depending on which apprenticeship pathway your employer chooses to offer within horticulture. You may also need to achieve all or a combination of the following courses before taking your end point assessment: Emergency First Aid at Work, Level 2 Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides and Level 2 Awards in the Safe application of Pesticide using Hand Held Equipment.
  • If you would like to read more about the course content for apprenticeships, please follow the below links:
  • https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/st0225-v1-2
  • https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/st0226-v1-2

Things to consider

  • The candidate must be happy to work outdoors in all weathers and flexible on hours of working due to weather conditions.
  • The candidate must be able to work at heights and lift heavy objects
  • An extremely friendly environment, with an enthusiastic team with a wealth of knowledge, where the candidate will learn and thrive.
  • The College offers great benefits, including a healthcare cash plan (which pays a contribution towards dental treatment, eye tests etc.), a free meal on duty, on-site parking and a College gym.
  • Occasional weekend working

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