Level 2 Horticulture Operative Apprenticeship

This course is suitable for individuals who are already working – or looking to start a career – in horticulture. No experience is necessary. Candidates must enjoy practical, hands-on work outdoors in all weather conditions.

The course combines classroom learning with hands-on-experience in the workplace. Apprentices attend College once a week, typically on a Wednesday in Year One and Tuesday in Year Two, to develop the underpinning knowledge needed in the horticulture sector, including topics such as soil management and plant identification, The remaining four days will be spent working in the garden where apprentices build practical skills and gain experience. 

This blended learning approach allows apprentices to apply what they have learnt in College directly to their work, helping them to gain the confidence, skills and knowledge needed for a successful career in the horticulture industry.

Length of Programme

The length of the training for this apprenticeship is typically 24 months. The EPA period is typically three months.

• GCSE Maths and English – grade 4 and above – or a willingness to work towards these qualifications.
• A strong work ethic and good communication skills.

The apprentice will follow a training programme to complete the apprenticeship requirements and meet the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for them to be fully competent.

• The apprentice works and trains with the employer and/or training provider.
• The apprentice will create and maintain a mandatory portfolio to provide supporting evidence that will be needed to supplement the knowledge, skills and behaviours observed by the Independent Assessor at the End Point Assessment. The portfolio will be used as evidence for the professional discussion.
• A record of off-the-job training – this is training that must occur for a minimum of 20% of the time the apprentice is paid to work and is training delivered outside of their normal working duties – to develop a wider understanding of the industry.

The qualification consists of learning including:

• Comply with health and safety legislation, industry guidance and organisational policies.
• Carry out operations to minimise adverse environmental impacts (including pollution control) in line with legislation, industry guidance and organisational policies.
• Operate or use tools equipment and machinery.
• Process waste from horticultural activities.
• Record keeping including digital and written records.
• Communicate with supervisor, colleagues, public and others.
• Comply with biosecurity and invasive species legislation, industry guidance and organisational policies.
• Maintain plant health including pests, pathogens and disorders.
• Prepare site for planting, carry out planting and provide appropriate care to plants during and immediately after planting.
• Control vegetation including site clearance, weed management, pruning and basic turf management.
• Install soft landscape materials, for example shrubs, trees, turf and seeds.
• Maintain hard surfaces, features or structures.
• Work to support the business and wider teams.
• Produce plants through propagation.
• Manage ornamental turf.
• Establish and maintain soft landscape elements (for example, herbaceous perennials and annual displays).

In addition, the apprentice will achieve the following qualifications:

• Level 3 Award or training and assessment in Emergency First Aid at Work
• Level 2 Award in Safe Use of Pesticides OR City & Guilds Level 2 Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides
• Level 2 Award in the Safe Application of Pesticides Using Handheld Equipment OR City & Guilds Level 2 Award in the Safe Application of Pesticides Using Pedestrian Handheld Equipment.

Learning will take place in a variety of ways, which could include workplace training, formal courses, work shadowing, industrial visits, research, self-study, attendance at College for classroom/workshop activities and time spent completing assignments set by the assessor.

You will attend Derby College Group’s Broomfield Campus, one day a week.

You will be expected to undertake off-the-job training within the workplace and spend time completing additional work and evidence towards your portfolio.

You will be required to wear PPE in the workplace, and in College during practical tasks. You will also be required to bring along writing materials e.g. books, pens, laptops to enable you to complete your learning.

The apprentice will undertake their End Point Assessment when the employer, training provider and apprentice all consider that they are ready to do so.  This stage of the apprenticeship is known as the gateway and will not be reached until the apprentice has completed the entirety of their portfolio and required off-the-job training hours, typically no earlier than 12 months.

An End Point Assessment (EPA) is an assessment at the end of your apprenticeship. It will assess you against the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) in the occupational standard. Your training will cover the knowledge, skills and behaviours. The EPA is your opportunity to show an independent assessor how well you can carry out the occupation you have been trained for.

The assessment methods are as follows:

Multiple-choice test

You will complete a multiple-choice test. It will be closed book, meaning you will not have access to any books or reference materials. The test will have 30 multiple-choice questions. You will have 60 minutes to complete it.

Practical assessment with questions

An observation with questions involves an independent assessor observing an apprentice undertaking work as part of their normal duties. The practical assessment with questions must take 285 minutes.

Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence.

A professional discussion is a two-way discussion that involves both the independent assessor and the apprentice actively listening and participating in a formal conversation. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to make detailed and proactive contributions to confirm their competency across the KSBs mapped to this method.

The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are:

• fail
• pass
• distinction

When you pass the EPA, you will be awarded your apprenticeship certificate.

Following completion of your apprenticeship, you could be employed full time as a horticulture operative and progress into more senior roles within the sector such as head gardener or team supervisor. This qualification also provides a strong foundation to progress to Level 3 studies.

For more information, contact Derby College Group on 0800 0280289 or enquiries@derby-college.ac.uk

Apprenticeships are a paid route into employment, so apprentices earn a wage while they train. Training costs are usually covered by the employer, meaning apprentices do not pay course fees. Additional support may be available in some cases, depending on individual circumstances.