Gardener/ Horticultural Assistant

An opportunity has arisen for a self-employed gardener to be part of a team and carry out various horticultural tasks in a variety of settings. Your work will vary between working on large and small private gardens at private properties, agricultural land, small commercial sites and public greenspaces. As a gardener, you will be working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment where no two days are the same. This role is for three days per week (Tuesdays Wednesdays and Thursdays) with occasional days to help cover when other staff are on leave.

**The main duties include but are not limited to**:
General garden maintenance tasks weeding and tidying,
- Soil cultivation, digging, forking, mulching, watering, raking, edging and composting
- Mowing and strimming
- Hedge cutting, pruning, and shaping
- Garden clearances and renovations
- Specimen shrub and tree pruning
- Creating lawns
- Planting and border rejuvenation
- Light groundwork
- Occasional arboriculture groundwork
- Checking the health of plants by identifying any pests or diseases and controlling them
- Creating and maintaining relationships with clients
- Working as part of a team

It is of the upmost importance to represent the company in a good light when working, as existing clients who have been served by the founders for over a decade, are extremely valued and reputation is key.

**Skills**
- Effective communication skills
- Ability to work under pressure and at a face pace
- Good time management skills
- Good customer service skills and rapport abilities
- Strong eye for detail and finishes
- Reliable weed identification skills (essential)
- Grit
- for working in all weathers and tough conditions (essential)
- Good knowledge of specific horticultural materials, methods, tools and equipment.
- Proficient in using land-based machinery and hand tools for various gardening tasks
- Passion for gardening and a good understanding of different plant species
- Ability to work independently and follow instructions accurately (essential)

**Experience**
- Gardening min 1 years
- Pruning specialist shrubs, trees and topiary
- Mowing, strimming and cutting large hedges
- Experience in using various gardening tools
- Basic landscape maintenance techniques

**Desirable but not essential (possible opportunity to acquire these certificates)**
- RHS qualification or similar (or working towards)
- Chainsaw maintenance and cross cutting Cs30
- Felling small trees cs31
- Aerial rescue cs38
- Chainsaw with rope cs39

Typical on-site working hours are **8am-5pm**

15mins morning break paid and 30mins lunch break unpaid

Seasonal variation expected, with opportunity to work over-time.

**Job includes**:

- Uniform
- Use of tools
- Work van
- Continuous on-site training
- Stunning work locations with plenty of variety and wonderful clientele

We will also consider school leavers who can prove they have a genuine interest in horticulture, gardening or tree care.

**Job Types**: Part-time, Permanent

Pay: £14.00 per hour

Expected hours: 25.5 per week

Application question(s):

- Are you familiar with garden machinery?
- Do you have any health conditions or disabilities which may impact your physical performance while working?
- What is your preferred interest within horticulture and why?
- Please rate your plant knowledge and identification skills between 1-10 (1 being low and 10 being excellent)
- What skills and attributes do you believe you have to offer that could contribute to the success of the business on a day
- to
- day basis?
- What do you like about the outdoors the most?
- Out of the following, which do you prefer? 1. Mowing 2. Pruning shrubs 3. Planting 4. hedgecutting.

**Education**:

- GCSE or equivalent (required)

**Experience**:

- Horticultural/land-based work: 1 year (preferred)

Licence/Certification:

- Driving license (required)

Work Location: On the road

Reference ID: HORTG23