Gardener Apprentice

ABOUT THE ROLE

The role of the apprentice gardener is to assist the team to ensure high levels of horticultural excellence are maintained at all times in the Ornamental Garden in West Ham Park and to ensure that the park is a safe and welcoming places to visit. Working as part of the team & with volunteers the successful candidate will complete all aspects of daily gardening tasks including, formative pruning, bed and border maintenance, amenity lawn care, seasonal planting maintenance and ensuring the garden is clean and welcoming for visitors.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Garden Maintenance

• To undertake general grass cutting, hedge cutting, irrigation, edge- trimming, pruning, annual seasonal bedding, weeding and clearance/maintenance of drains/gulleys/ponds, under supervision.
• To undertake basic repair, maintenance and installation of fences/barriers/gates/bollards and the repair, maintenance & installation of seats, signs, paths and bins, under supervision.
• Use basic hand/power tools and grounds maintenance equipment under supervision.
• To pick up litter and dispose of it safely using a litter picker and emptying bins including bag removal and bag replacement. Sweeping footpaths so as to keep the park in a clean and tidy condition at all times.
• To learn and assist the Gardeners and Team Leaders with hard and soft landscaping projects including the preparation of ground, paving, simple construction, planting including trees/shrubs and other general landscaping operations.

Communication and Responsibilities

• To attend regular staff meetings and learn about the site-specific project meetings as appropriate.
• To work as part of a team with the aim of ensuring productive working relationships within the team and with other employees, Team Leaders and external agencies.
• To attend Capel Manor College one day per week as part of the City of London Corporation Apprenticeship Programme, and complete course work and examinations in a timely manner and to the best of your ability.

Customer Care

• To provide a visible presence to engender a sense of well-being for visitors and to speak with members of the public to ensure they are aware of the work of the park.
• To assist in promoting the park to local schools, colleges and other park user groups.

Health & Safety and Other Matters

• To ensure that you observe departmental safety procedures and use safe working practices specifically regarding PPE, and adherence to COSHH and Risk Assessments, reporting accidents and near misses to your Supervisor/Team Leader.
• Actively seek to implement the City of London’s Occupational Health and Safety Policy in relation to the duties of the post, and at all times give due regard to the health and safety of both themselves and others when carrying out their duties.
• Actively seek to implement the City of London’s Equal Opportunity Policy and the objective to promote equality of opportunity in relation to the duties of the post.
• To undertake any other duties that may reasonably be requested appropriate to the grade.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible for an apprenticeship, you must be:

• Require evidence of English and Maths GCSE Grade C/5 or equivalent.
• 16 or over by the end of the summer holidays.
• Living in England.
• Not in full-time education at the time of applying.
• If you are a non-UK citizen, you must have permission from the UK government to live in the UK (not for educational purposes), and have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least the previous three years before the start of the apprenticeship.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Your supporting information MUST cover the below points:

Include everything you think is relevant to answer the supporting questions below illustrating your skills, knowledge and experience. Be as specific as possible, we cannot guess or make assumptions, but will assess your application solely on the information provided.

Please enter your answers to the following questions in the Supporting Statement section on the application form:

1. What do you know about the City of London Corporation?

2. What interests you in this role?

3. What skills do you think you can bring to the role?

4. What interests you about an apprenticeship?

5. Please provide your personal statement to identify your strengths and other transferable skills and personal interests (250-500 words).

To view the JD and application process, please click here –>Apprentice Job-Information-Pack 2024 – Gardener Apprentice WHP