HORTICULTURAL TRAINEE (PLANT NURSERY) in Cardiff

Do you have a passion for working outdoors and a desire to develop a career in Nursery Operations?

Cardiff Councils Parks Services are currently seeking four motivated, enthusiastic individuals to join and play a pivotal role within their teams of skilled personnel.

Cardiff is one of the greenest cities in the United Kingdom and the Council recognises that the parks and open spaces play a significant role in the general well‑being of the citizens of the city. We currently have sixteen parks and open spaces holding Green Flag status and historically have been successful in achieving gold medals in Britain in Bloom and Entente Florale, as well as attaining awards at RHS shows at Cardiff, Tatton and Chelsea. The service has also won an employer’s award from the Association of Public Service Excellence for the Parks traineeship scheme, the most recent being in 2022 when one of our trainees won APSE Apprentice of the Year.

About the job

We have an exciting full time trainee opportunity within the Parks Services. This position is a paid traineeship incorporating a fully funded day release to college allowing you to gain recognised qualifications in the relevant discipline. You will be fully supported throughout your traineeship by an appointed mentor who will be on hand every step of the way. Throughout the traineeship you will work alongside and be supported by some of the very best teams, gaining the knowledge and experience to develop yourself into the next possible APSE Apprentice of the year. You will also receive in house training on various tools, machinery, and attend corporate training courses.

What We Are Looking For From You

You will be working in Cardiff’s iconic Bute Park Nursery, learning skills through an in‑house programme of practical training. It will be supplemented by study towards a professional qualification in Amenity Horticulture and related operations, such as:

• Propagation – Seed Sowing, Plugs, potting on, Lifecycle care of the plants
• Harden off, ready for planting out.
• Operating machinery – Tray filling, Composter, Seed transplanter
• Taking delivery, working the shop
• Best practice for tropical house plants
• Tree stock, roses, shrubs, hedges
• Plant Identification
• Mainly at the nursery but fall into wider team at quieter times.
• Identify pests and diseases and best practices, treatment, Quarantine Stock.
• Watering Duties
• Cuttings, Propagation, seed transplanting, potting on, weeding of pots, setting up irrigation, Stock movement, preparing for deliveries, cash flow and card payments,
• Maintaining high standard of cleanliness, Correct health and safety measures (PPE),

All this enhances the city’s proud horticultural heritage and contributes to the upkeep of our fragile environment and ecosystems. This Trainee scheme is an ideal way for the right candidates to gain quality experience in a wide range of Nursery operations, and to develop a career in Horticulture.

This post is temporary until 31/10/2028.

We welcome applications in both English and Welsh. Applications received in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than English applications.

Job Category Apprentice / Trainee

Working Pattern/Contract Type Full Time Temporary

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