Grounds Maintenance Apprentice in Sheffield

We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Grounds Maintenance Apprentice to join our Sheffield Local Authority account based in Sheffield. The Grounds Maintenance Apprentice will be fully involved at the operational level, helping to drive change to ensure we meet the Amey Group and Client goals, making our highways activities future-proof. You will play a key role in transforming the carbon and climate change ambitions of key clients into real actions, whilst we help you to develop essential skills for building future-proof organisations. From day one you will be given real responsibility, gaining invaluable experience and exposure, working alongside our industry experts and across your team.

As an apprentice you will be working alongside the team to deliver the responsibilities and build foundational skills across horticulture, landscape construction, and general site maintenance.

Responsibilities:

• Storm Clearance
• Tree planting and young tree maintenance
• Operate and maintain light plant and power tools
• Pesticide/herbicide spraying
• Propagation duties
• Composition/waste management
• Maintenance of ornamental grass
• Identification of plants including scientific names
• Biodiversity and invasive species legislation
• Establish and maintain soft landscape (perennial and annual)
• Carry out any other duties which may reasonably be expected
• Apply health and safety processes and procedures including risk assessments and CDM, manual handling, legislative requirements and organisational policies
• Follow safe systems of work and safety information in line with employer requirements or site context
• Apply environmental mitigation measures including storage and disposal of waste, sorting materials for recycling or composting, in compliance with legal requirements and policies
• Select, undertake a pre-start check, set up, clean, store and safely operate tools, equipment and machinery
• Communicate with technical and non-technical audiences using appropriate language
• Identify plants commonly grown in the UK by scientific names
• Maintain phytosanitary and bio-security procedures for the site
• Identify and report symptoms of common UK plant pests, pathogens and disorders
• Maintain plant health, including basic needs such as water, nutrition, and light
• Cultivate, improve and preserve soils by mechanical methods or hand including amelioration and mulching
• Clear unwanted vegetation and weeds using suitable techniques
• Remove unwanted or damaged growth from plants using pruning cuts
• Plant shrubs and a tree using a simple tree pit
• Install turf and maintain turf where appropriate
• Mow turf using pedestrian-controlled powered mower
• Maintain or protect hard surfaces, features or structures (e.g., painting, re-gravelling, weed removal, drain clearance, cleaning)
• Use digital tools and techniques for research, collaboration, CPD and problem resolution
• Measure and set out sites for landscape construction
• Use hand cutting of hard landscape materials and repair landscape features
• Construct paved features (paths, patios, sheds) with appropriate level and base preparation
• Construct vertical landscape features (fences, ornamental features, walls)
• Install drainage in landscaping
• Construct horizontal landscape features (excluding paving)
• Propagate plants by cuttings and seed sowing
• Provide aftercare to turf and maintain turf/meadows, including irrigation and monitoring
• Identify if plants are suitable to site, purpose and aesthetics
• Maintain soft landscapes (staking, division, seasonal clearance, re-planting)
• Monitor and control plant pests, pathogens, and disorders using basic control methods
• Plant herbaceous and seasonal planting
• Prune plants to maintain healthy growth and form
• Share additional relevant qualifications and industry experience as appropriate
• Be open to discussion of how the apprenticeship can reflect what you already know

Qualifications & Skills:

• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Numeracy skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical thinking
• Team working
• Initiative
• Non-judgemental attitude
• Patience
• Physical fitness
• GCSE/functional skills: if not held, must achieve minimum Level 3 in Maths and English during initial assessment

Additional Requirements:

• Full UK driving license
• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age
• Random drug and alcohol testing may be required

Amey is a leading infrastructure services and engineering company with over 11,000 people delivering critical services. We are trusted partners of Government at national and local levels, managing assets and complex projects vital to the country.