L2 Horticulture Operative Apprenticeship

COURSE OVERVIEW

For those who love the great outdoors, have an interest in plants and enjoy undertaking practical tasks Horticulture offers a very exciting and rewarding career with many different career opportunities to explore. The course offers the opportunity to learn on the job four days a week, gaining a wide range of skills and attending college 1 day a week to gain further knowledge and practical experience to underpin and strengthen what is learnt in the workplace.

Horticulture Operative pathway

The Horticulture Operative pathway is suitable for those who want to begin a career in public parks, greenspaces and gardens, gardening on private estates and in historic gardens or working for grounds maintenance companies, garden centres and retail plant nurseries.

Core learning and specialist learning

Horticulture Operative Apprentices undertaking this course receive training in core areas necessary to gain valuable horticultural understanding and skills, including general horticulture, using tools and equipment, plant knowledge, pests and diseases and environmental awareness.

Horticulture Operative apprenticeship content (specialist learning)

· Establishment and maintenance of a wide range of horticultural features including herbaceous borders, trees and shrubs, hedges, ponds and rock gardens

· Pruning a wide range of plants

· Growing plants from scratch (Plant propagation) using a range of methods

At the end of your 24 month apprenticeship, you will be assessed through an end point assessment (EPA) once you, your employer and we are satisfied you are ready. This consists of; online knowledge tests, a practical skills test and a professional discussion with the assessor. This assessment is carried out by the endpoint assessment organisation who is independent from the college. The EPA must be undertaken within a 3 month period following 24 months of the apprenticeship