About the course
Knowledge: Industry understanding: the importance and benefits of green-space and the types of horticultural skills appropriate to different businesses and cultural sites. Business: business policies, vision and values. Workers� contribution to earning profit and awareness of commercial pressure. Understanding of how project management informs a team to achieve objectives. Communication: the importance of clear communication. Knowledge of different forms of communication aids and their use. The value of effective and timely communication in customer care. Health and safety: health and safety regulation, legislation, policy and procedure and the responsibility of workers. Knowledge of hazards and working to strict health, safety, quality and environmental (HSQE) processes particularly appropriate to horticultural sites. Environmental: waste and waste reduction/recycling and environmental best practice. Prevention and control of local pollution incidents. Plant growth and development: plant nutrition and plant requirements. The principles of germination, photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration (the science of plant growth). How to care for plants correctly in different environments. The relationship between environmental conditions and plant growth. Tools, equipment and machinery: correct tools, equipment and machinery required for the job and the importance of maintenance / regular checks of these items to ensure they remain in good working order. Legal requirement of training by a competent person and familiarity with operator training and certification requirements. Vegetation control: how to control vegetation and methods of site clearance and removal of vegetation. Biosecurity: biosecurity and phytosanitary measures for pests and diseases and how these apply to work sites. Awareness of invasive alien species that may impact work methods. Plant identification: plant identification by scientific names including genus, species and cultivar. Know why and how plants are identified. Soil science: why, when and how to cultivate soils for differing purposes. Different growing media and mulches. How to modify soils for plant growth and understand the reasons for cultivation and drainage. Plant health: basic pest & disease identification/symptoms and control methods. Additional landscape knowledge: Methods used to measure and set out a site e.g. use of tape measures and measuring wheels, defining features by using string lines or aerosol markers, the principles in defining site levels using manual or electrical equipment. Marking out hazards such as services. Interpretation of construction drawings and specifications e.g. quantities, measurements and positioning. The safe use of abrasive wheels for cutting hard landscape materials during construction. Water feature construction methods e.g. linings, pumps, water courses.
Key Information
Location: Preston Campus
Course length: Two Years
Start date: August 2024
Interested in taking this course? Click here to apply for this course online
Entry requirements & additional information
A potential Level 2 apprentice:
Must be aged 16 or over & have officially left school.
Must be employed (NOT self-employed) in the relevant occupational sector, working a minimum of 30 hours per week.
An individual can only undertake an apprenticeship at the same or lower level than a qualification they already hold, if this allows the individual to acquire substantive new skills and the content of the training is materially different from any prior training or a previous apprenticeship.
Must have the right to work in England & spend at least 50% of their working hours in England over the duration of the apprenticeship.
Must be a citizen of a country with in the European Economic Area (EEA) or have the right of abode in the UK AND have been ordinarily resident in the EEA for at least the previous 3 years on the first day of learning.
All Apprenticeships require Initial assessment, vocational skills scan, an interview and employment in the industry.
Typically, an applicant will have attained a minimum of 4 GCSEs at Grade E/2 or above including maths & English or a vocational qualification Level 1 plus GCSE grade E/2 or above in both maths & English. N.B. English & maths Functional Skills Level 1 will be accepted as an alternative to GCSE�s.
All potential apprentices will be asked to complete an online functional skills assessment regardless of previous qualifications.
Apprentices who begin their apprenticeship training when aged 19+ will no longer be subject to the mandatory requirement to study towards and achieve English and Maths.�However English and Maths will still be delivered as an embedded part of the apprenticeship.
For apprentices aged 19+, the apprentice or their employer can still choose for the apprentice to study towards and achieve English and Maths qualification.
'The college advises learners to keep studying English and maths to enhance their career prospects and facilitate progression to higher-level qualifications'.
The government will continue to fund those apprentices that wish to study towards an English and maths qualification.
Exceptional entries will be considered for all Apprenticeships at the discretion of the college based on experience, successful interview and outcomes of Initial and Diagnostic assessments for English and Maths to establish current levels of ability.
The end point assessment will contain 3 components: Online Knowledge Test, Synoptic Practical Assessment, Professional Discussion. There will be 2 levels of achievement: Pass & Distinction.
All apprentices are required to have suitable employment in order to complete the programme. A contract of employment must be in place and apprentices must be paid in line with minimum wage rules.
Programme costs are covered by employers through their digital apprenticeship service account.