Apprentice Gardener

An exciting opportunity has arisen for the role of horticulture apprentice at the Auckland project. Working within the parks and gardens team building on knowledge and skills to help implement an agreed programme of improvement & maintenance works in our diverse gardens complex. Including the walled garden, castle curtilage gardens and further afield in our other venues such as hotels, carparks and other garden spaces. Engaging with members of the public to help produce a truly wonderful visitor experience.

**As an apprentice gardener here at the Auckland project you will**:
Develop growing skills in a unique setting, with guidance from a highly motivated and skilled team. You will be part of a team that maintains the outdoor spaces to a high standard. Learning traditional and new skills with a hands-on approach. You will become part of an excellent team that values the outdoors and brings to life the garden spaces and their stories, helping to maintain wonderful spaces for visitors to enjoy and spend time in. You will be learning as you work and will follow the Level 2 Horticulture Apprenticeship Standard.

**A Typical Day**:
As a horticulture apprentice you will be supported by your manager and mentor to help you develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours to help you progress and achieve your apprenticeship. You will learn about checking tools, equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) ensuring they are maintained and are safe. You will work in a way that minimising the impact on the environment when you carrying out day to day duties. You will develop good customer service skills and knowledge of the Auckland Project and will be confident when you deal with other colleagues and the general public. When preparing to plant you will look after the plants during the planting and immediately after, developing your knowledge and skills to keep them healthy and understand pests, pathogens and disorders, and the importance of weed management and pruning. You will learn about and get involved with developing landscapes with shrubs, trees, turf and seeds and also the importance of maintaining hard surfaces such as car parks and paths. You will be given the opportunity to experience the varied aspects of work that a trainee gardener would be expected to carry out.

**Person Specification**:
Essential Criteria
- Good communication skills with a flexible approach to work
- Interested in horticulture and outside spaces
- Maths and English GCSE at grade 2 or E or equivalent
- Have a positive and motivated attitude towards work, including having pride in what you do
- The ability to take and follow instructions

Desirable Criteria
- A keen interest in working within the heritage sector
- Interest in garden history and a history of the north east of England.
- Have a safety-led mind-set for self, colleagues and the public.
- Customer service skills

**The Auckland Project**

The Auckland Project is working to create positive change for those living, working and visiting Bishop Auckland. To do so we are creating a visitor destination in Bishop Auckland, incorporating Auckland Castle (once home to the Prince Bishops of Durham), a Spanish Gallery, Faith Museum, Walled Garden, Deer Park, Mining Art Gallery, Auckland Tower visitor centre and Weardale Railway.

Our visitor destination and community development programme broadly fits into four areas:
To help **individuals** by creating a sense of aspiration as well as providing opportunities for skills development

To help the **community** to become resilient and economically sound by creating opportunities for partnerships, building a year-round tourist market and supporting small creative industries to thrive

To protect, sustain and enhance our **natural environment**

To restore and enhance the beauty and historic significance of the **built environment**.

By working with us, you are helping to ensure the town’s future is as magnificent and vibrant as its past.

**How to Apply**

**Job Types**: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 24 months

**Salary**: £4.81-£9.50 per hour

**Benefits**:

- Company pension
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- Life insurance
- On-site parking

Schedule:

- 8 hour shift
- Day shift
- Holidays
- Monday to Friday
- Weekend availability

Work Location: One location