Garden Apprentice

SummaryGrow your career with an Apprenticeship with the National Trust Garden team.

Further information on the Apprenticeship Standard Horticulture or landscape operative level 2
- What do you understand about the Apprenticeship scheme?
- What do you know about the National Trust, and what attracts you to this role?
- What skills do you think would be the most important for a Garden Apprentice?

**This can lead to an assistant gardener or gardener role and potentially move to an L3 Horticulture Supervisor apprenticeship after the additional experience.**

What it's like to work here We employ more than 600 gardeners, from Apprentices and Assistant Gardeners to Head Gardeners and Garden Managers We care for over 200 gardens and 190 historic parklands reflecting 500 years of UK garden history. Our gardens are home to the largest plantcollection in Europe. Our gardeners are responsible for the conservation and development of our gardens and plant collections for an increasing number of members and visitors. We also support people’s access to nature and heritage through partner projectswithin our city centres. Our gardeners are responsible for their care, conservation and regular maintenance to share with our ever expanding audience.

Biddulph Grange Garden is a truly remarkable Victorian garden full of themed areas connected by tunnels, steps, and avenues.

As such, it offers a huge range of tasks and opportunities to learn various necessary skills - we can cover all garden tasks from precision mowing to achieve straight stripes to preparing 100’s of plants for the Dahlia Walk display.

Because it is a style known as High Victorian, the presentation of the garden must be immaculate and the garden team work towards this expectation with every task.

Although based at Biddulph, we work closely with Wightwick Manor and Moseley Old Hall, the other properties within our portfolio.

Click here for more information about this location What you'll be doing You’ll be working with your Trust Line Manager/ Mentor on tasks specific to your apprenticeship, as part of the wider team, and working outdoors in all weathers. You’ll attend, and prepare for, monthly review meetings with your Provider Mentor and be accountablefor your progression concerning the Apprenticeship Standard. You’ll be required to complete and upload relevant evidence to the appropriate e-portfolio system to document your progress and maintain timesheets for Off-the-Job training. You’ll abide by the Trust’sways of working and uphold our Values and Behaviours. You’ll be required to complete mandatory e-learning courses and training and prepare for exams if applicable.You’ll need to attend six block weeks of training at our nominated college for your garden,with all travel, food and accommodation costs covered.

**Please also read the complete role profile attached to this advert.**

Who we're looking for Applications will be assessed against the below criteria, as well as the content of your cover letter

The minimum standards required for this role are:

- Team player with the ability to work independently or as part of a wider team
- Keen to learn, be committed to self-development and enthusiastic about acquiring new skills
- A genuine passion for gardening, nature and the outdoors
- Good attention to detail
- 2 GCSEs at grades D/3 including English and maths or equivalent

The package The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audienceswe serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

Wherever you’re from, and whatever your background, we want to hear from you - and it doesn’t matter if you’re jam first, cream first, or even if you don’t like scones at all. Everyone is welcome.

Benefits for working at the National Trust include:

- Flexible working whenever possible
- Free parking at most locations
- Free entry to our properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
- Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.