Advert Close Date: Monday 10th June 2024

Apprentice Arborist 

At The Crown Estate, we actively manage a diverse portfolio, across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, to create lasting and shared prosperity for the nation.  

We manage the whole of the Windsor Estate, encompassing some 15,800 acres, where our role as long term custodians is nowhere more apparent. Windsor is one of the country’s most unique and important environmental and ecological sites. It is an ancient Royal landscape of forests, grasslands, lakes and gardens with a 1,000 years of history including historical monuments, rare wildlife and National Collections of plants and Champion Trees. 

An operational Estate with farms, vineyard, commercial forestry as well as residential and commercial lettings, we also welcome 6 million visitors every year, placing it among the UK’s top visitor attractions. 

Our apprenticeship is a development and learning role which will enable you to gain knowledge, skills and experience in Arboriculture. You do not need experience for this role, just plenty of interest in Arboriculture and a desire to learn. 

What you’ll be doing 

You will work as part of a team of professionals across 3200 hectares of sustainable multi-purpose forest to deliver the highest forestry and arboricultural standards.  You will support the team by undertaking a range of activities including chainsaw and aerial tree work. This will involve using safety critical equipment including chainsaws, pesticides, brush cutters, clearing saws, wood chippers. This is a manual role involving working at significant heights almost entirely outdoors in all weathers. 

You will be expected to comply with health and safety legislation and safe working practices and undertake on and off the job training to a set programme. 

Working alongside a team of professionals on tasks specific to your apprenticeship, you will develop the skills and knowledge relevant to the apprenticeship standard. 

This apprenticeship will be delivered through a blended learning model involving a balance of taught online activities, webinars, and tutorials covering theoretical knowledge requirements and on campus workshop time to hone your practical skills. 

About you 

We are looking for people who can demonstrate their communication and problem solving skills and are able to work well in a team, have attention to detail and meet the following eligibility criteria by the start date: 

• A minimum of 2 GCSE’s which must include English and maths at grade E/2, functional skills level 1 or equivalent (If you hold an EHCP, entry level 3 in English and Maths is acceptable).  
• Aged 16 or over and have completed year 11  
• Not in full time education  
• Have the right to work in the UK  
• Able to travel to Windsor Great Park – our working hours are 7.30am to 4.30pm 

What we offer 

• Salary aligned to the Living Wage 
• Discretionary bonus scheme 
• 28 days holiday per annum plus bank holidays 
• Private health care 
• Life assurance 
• Choice of two pension schemes 
• Discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes 
• Rental deposit scheme 
• Employee Assistance programme 
• Cycle to work loan 

Our recruitment process 

Our goal is to build a truly diverse team and incorporate diversity into everything we do – enabling our people to thrive in a collaborative and inclusive culture. We are keen to ensure diversity of thought and lived experience at The Crown Estate, so want to use this as an opportunity to broaden the range of skills, experience and perspectives represented in our teams, and ensure that we continue to be led by our commitment to inclusion so that we can fulfil our purpose for the communities we serve. 

We particularly encourage applications from women and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, as these groups are underrepresented here. 

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long-term condition and need us to make any adjustments, changes or do anything differently during the recruitment process, please let us know by contacting Jack Dines via email on jack.dines@thecrownestate.co.uk.