Course Overview
As a horticulture and landscape supervisor, you could be overseeing work in public parks and gardens, green spaces and historic gardens, private gardens and estates or in production nurseries and retail outlets. Many businesses will be specialised in their activities, such as grounds maintenance (soft-landscape) or landscape construction (hard-landscape). Your employment area will dictate which option you’ll pursue in this apprenticeship: the horticulture option focuses on plant propagation and growth, while landscape construction focuses on the installation of features and structures. Home to a vast array of natural and manmade resources, Lackham’s 1600 acre estate is the perfect place to study horticulture and landscape construction. From woodlands and wetlands to manicured lawns and sports pitches, including a Walled Garden with tropical and cold greenhouses, Lackham’s industry-leading resources are unparalleled, giving you the opportunity to pursue your passion, transforming skills and knowledge into a fulfilling career.
What will I learn?
Industry understanding is key: you’ll appreciate the importance and benefits of green space, and learn the different types of horticultural management appropriate to different sites. You’ll gain core, transferrable business skills in communication, supervision and working safely. You’ll build your industry skills in environmental awareness, plant growth and development, tools, equipment and machinery, vegetation control, biosecurity, plant identification and classification, soils, biodiversity and heritage, and how to assess, repair and maintain hard structures. As part of the course you’ll also undertake several useful qualifications, including in First Aid and Pesticides – depending on industry regulations and your career choice, you may also have to complete additional certificates of training.
Study, Assessment and Qualifications
Full time apprentices will typically spend 18-24 months on-programme working towards the occupational standard, with a minimum of 20% off-the-job training.
You’ll undertake an end point assessment on completion of the training programme and the on-programme portfolio.
Entry Requirements
Minimum Entry GCSE grade C in Maths and English. All applicants will be required to pass initial assessments in Maths and English.
You must have secured a position with an employer and be ready to start working with them before you can begin your apprenticeship course.
If you already have an employer and they have agreed to put you through an apprenticeship, contact the Apprenticeship team and we'll get you started. Email apprenticeships@wiltshire.ac.uk or call 0845 345 2235.
If you don’t have an employer, you can still apply for an apprenticeship directly - check out our latest apprenticeship vacancies here: https://www.wiltshire.ac.uk/information/apprenticeship-faqs/apprenticeship-vacancies
Additional Costs and Information
The typical duration for this apprenticeship is 18-24 months.
You will attend college for one day per week during term time as part of your training.
To assist you during your apprenticeship, you may be required to purchase some equipment and resources.
What Could I Do Next?
Foundation Degree in Environmental Science and Sustainability
