Overview
Working and learning in both horticulture and landscape industries is very rewarding, offering diverse employment opportunities and including a range of transferable skills into many other industries.
This part-time work-based apprenticeship is for learners who want to gain hands-on practical skills whilst employed in a work-based industry. It will prepare you with the skills and knowledge to work in the landscape industry successfully.
Work is generally outside throughout the year, so apprentices frequently work outside in all weathers. Often, people new to the industry will cover a range of hands-on practical tasks with specialist skills learned over 24 months, attending college one day a week.
The college require you to undergo an initial assessment and a formal interview with the performance coach to see if you meet the requirements of the course and what your aspirations are to achieve.
Delivery
The tutors, staff, and performance coaches are highly qualified in their industries. The College provides a plant nursery, library facilities and computer rooms.
Practical lessons will involve hands-on training and observation to demonstrate the use of specialised tools and equipment, such as tape measures, measuring wheels, string lines, and zip levels You will develop skills in measuring and setting out a site for construction including how to interpret a construction drawing, defining features, and marking out hazards.
You will cover fundamental concepts of landscaping in class: post fencing and depths, site surveying, and common problems and how to overcome them.
Computer workshops will focus on developing IT skills, each learner will be given their own electronic portfolio where they can document their learning journey. You would be expected to upload diary entries reflecting on your work experiences, presentations, and plant profiles on plants you have worked, with to help you learn about scientific plant naming.
Off-the-Job Training: refers to learning activities that take place outside of your regular work duties: attending college, learning new skills or additional courses related to your industry. industry.
Units
You will cover the following specialist units:
Unit 1) Health and safety: Being able to identify potential hazards and manage the risks, manual handling, basic first aid, responsibilities to employer and employee, as well as understanding legislation relevant to your industry.
Unit 2) Communication: The importance of clear communication and different forms of communication aids and their uses: emails, phone calls, direct contact.
Unit 3) Industry understanding: The importance and benefits of green space in the community and environment, wellbeing, wildlife, and climate. The diversity of businesses within the industry.
Unit 4) Business: Understanding your organisation, use of IT skills, keeping records, team working, awareness of commercial pressure, and working safely on site with the public.
Unit 5) Use and maintain non-powered and handheld powered equipment: Using the correct tools and machinery in your industry, and the importance of maintenance and regular checks to ensure they remain in good working order.
Unit 6) Use and maintain pedestrian-controlled powered equipment: Use of lawn mowers, rotovators, strimmers and hedge trimmers. Working safely to minimise environmental damage and the methods to dispose of waste.
Unit 7) Environmental: Controlling sources of pollution, fuel spills, oil, and pesticides from entering water-protected species, and recognising invasive species. Reducing waste products, recycling, and environmental best practices.
Unit 8) Plant identification and classification: Scientific names including genus, species, and cultivar. Knowing why and how plants are identified.
Unit 9) Vegetation control: How to control and methods used for site clearance including prevention and control measures for pests and diseases on work sites.
Unit 10) Soil Science and Cultivation: Why, when, and how to cultivate soils, different growing media and mulches, and ways to modify soil for plant growth, cultivation, and drainage.
Unit 11) Plant Establishment and Maintenance: Sowing seeds in open ground, laying turf, planting out plants and aftercare requirements, including feeding and mulching, and looking at different pruning methods for different plants.
Unit 12) Plant growth and development: How to manage plants correctly in different environments: Basic understanding of the science behind plant growth, roots, stems, leaves and flowers and their development. The relationship between environmental conditions and plant growth.
Unit 13) Plant health: Be able to identify and manage pests, diseases, and disorders. undertake biosecurity measures to prevent transmission of pests and diseases.
Unit 14) Survey and mark out site for landscape features: Be able to interpret construction drawings and site levels, layout of plans including overhead and underground hazards looking at site levels and methods used to measure and set out a site.
Unit 15) Construct hard landscape features: Using a range of selective tools, learn to construct a range of hard landscape features safely and be able to install hardstanding surfaces including drainage, concrete footings, and stone bases.
Unit 16) Maintain hard landscape features: Demonstrate ways to maintain fences, walls, water features, timber features. Products you might use for protection and longevity.
Unit 20) Behaviours: have a safety-led mindset for self, colleagues, and the public. Customer care, show dignity, respect and empathy when dealing with others, including clients, the public and colleagues.
End-Point Assessment (EPA)
The EPA can only be taken after the conditions of the Assessment Gateway have been successfully achieved:
- Emergency First aid: Level 3 award in emergency first aid at work
- Certificate of competence in abrasive wheel machines
Gateway to End Point Assessment: on conclusion that the above assessment for the gateway requirements have been achieved, in your final year, you will be able to proceed to the end-point assessment stage of the apprenticeship. You are expected to complete the assessment gateway requirements within three months of your planned apprenticeship completion.
EPA Consists of:
- Online Knowledge Test
- Synoptic Practical Assessment
- Professional Discussion
Maths and English
Those who did not achieve a grade 2 in their GCSE’s will need to undertake and pass a L1 exam, and go on to attempt a L2. If you achieved a grade 3 you must attempt a L2 exam during the apprenticeship.
For those with an education, health and care plan, or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3 and British Sign Language qualification is an alternative to English qualification for whom this is their primary language.
Typically 20% off-the-job training
Since the introduction of new style apprenticeships in May 2017, it’s been a requirement that every apprentice spends at least 20% of their time on off-the-job training. The required 20% off-the-job training hours will be calculated via the apprentices contracted hours of work, holiday entitlement and length of programme and will be clearly specified in our commitment statement. This requirement doesn’t have to be a daunting prospect – and doesn’t even mean the apprentice has to be away from their workplace 20% of the time.
Apprentice wages
Every apprentice must be paid a lawful wage for the time they are in work and in off the-job training. The employer must meet the cost of the apprentice’s wages. An employer can only pay the apprenticeship minimum wage from the start of the apprenticeship programme and not before. You can find information on the national minimum wage, the apprenticeship rate, and the definition of an employee on GOV.UK.
Progression
With experience you could:
- continue with your current job and progress into a management role
- become a supervisor/foreman or manager
- set up your own business
You’ll be able to benefit from:
Bali (British Association Landscape Industries): the advantages of becoming a member.
Student membership: ideal for students looking to gain footing in the landscaping industry with links to Go-Landscape and up-to-date industry-relevant news.
Bali Chalk Fund ‘National Student of the Year’ Landscape or Garden Design Award: the opportunity to be nominated.