At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our horticultural team to enhance Leicester's beautiful parks and green spaces.
- Company: Leicester City Council, dedicated to improving community wellbeing.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, pension scheme, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Opportunities for training and development in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the community while enjoying a healthy work/life balance.
- Qualifications: Experience in horticulture or groundsmanship, with a focus on safety and teamwork.
The predicted salary is between 25785 - 31515 £ per year.
Join our horticultural team to make improvements to the landscape of the city. Leicester is covered by a wealth of soft and hard open spaces that includes a range of parks, gardens, country parks, nature areas, 150,000 individual trees and 107 hectares of woodlands, canal, and riverside, 150 play and outdoor gym facilities, sports facilities, highways, and housing green spaces totalling 1,250 hectares. It is widely recognised that quality open spaces contribute to residents’ quality of life and improve physical and mental health wellbeing, with parks in Leicester attracting around 9 million visitors per annum.
Join our specialist team of Craft Gardeners to undertake high quality horticultural work and grounds maintenance work to maintain and further improve parks and open spaces and all other green infrastructure within the city of Leicester. You’ll be based at Abbey Park although you may be required at other grounds maintenance depots as and when required to meet service demands. This is a full-time, permanent position working 37 hours per week from Monday to Friday. You’ll be available to start the working day at 7:30am and when required, work outside of normal working hours including providing emergency cover for out of hours. You’ll be able to work outside in all weathers, anywhere in the city and wear PPE where appropriate.
What You’ll Be Doing
- You’ll work under the guidance of the Local Area Manager and Team Leader, to maintain horticultural features as well as hard landscape features including buildings.
- This includes preparing and applying chemicals, keeping sites clean and tidy, and maintaining sports features such as artificial surfaces.
- You’ll operate and maintain hand and mechanical specialist equipment in accordance with health and safety guidelines.
- You’ll be confident in providing advice to people using our facilities to ensure a high standard of customer service is achieved.
What You’ll Need
- With previous experience in either horticulture or groundsmanship, you'll understand COSHH regulations and have knowledge of health & safety.
- You'll have the ability to carry out manual handling and lifting heavy equipment and materials.
- You’ll be able to work without close supervision, whilst using your own initiative as well as working well in a team environment.
- You’ll be a highly safety conscious individual in the day-to-day tasks especially when using specialist equipment.
- Using good literacy and numeracy skills you’ll complete relevant paperwork, and ensure records are accurate and up to date.
- A full driving licence is essential as you will be required to carry out driving duties.
What We Can Offer You
As well as the satisfaction of helping to improve thousands of lives across Leicester, you can look forward to a work environment that encourages a healthy work/life balance. You’ll enjoy generous annual leave, membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and the option of flexible working. We’ll also give you the chance to develop your skills and expertise with a variety of training and development opportunities. In addition, you can choose from several flexible benefits, including discounts on city buses and trains.
Join us
We’re committed to recruiting a diverse and highly-talented workforce as we continue to build a council that is fitting and representative of our great city. That’s why we’ve designed our recruitment process to put you at your ease, make you feel welcome and bring the best out of you. We’ll do all we can to make our recruitment process as fair as possible.
If you’d like a chat about this post, feel free to contact Mark Humphrey by email to mark.humphrey@leicester.gov.uk or call 0116 454 3774.
Craft Gardener in Leicester employer: Leicester City Council
Leicester City Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. As a Trainee Accountant, you will benefit from a structured training programme, mentorship, and the opportunity to work on real projects while enjoying flexible working arrangements and generous annual leave. With a clear pathway to a permanent qualified accountant role, this position not only provides valuable experience but also fosters ambition and leadership in the finance sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Craft Gardener in Leicester
✨Get Hands-On at Local Events
Hit up local horticulture fairs, plant shows, and farmer’s markets. These gatherings are a goldmine for networking and usually attract employers looking for passionate candidates. Chat with the vendors and fellow enthusiasts; you never know who might know about a full-time opening at a place like Leicester City Council.
✨Join Gardening Clubs and Online Communities
Become part of local gardening clubs or online forums where like-minded folks share tips and job leads. These communities can often clue you in on upcoming vacancies. Remember, people in these groups often work in the industry and can help us get our foot in the door at places like Leicester City Council.
✨Show Off Your Green Thumb
Consider creating a public portfolio showcasing your gardening projects, designs, or any unique plants you've cultivated. A well-documented journey through your horticulture experiences can make you stand out when chasing full-time roles. It’s basically your way of shouting, 'Look at what I can do!' to potential employers.
✨Apply Early and Often!
The horticulture field can be competitive, especially for full-time roles. Keep an eye on seasonal hiring trends and don’t hesitate to apply as soon as positions open up. Check out our website regularly for openings at Leicester City Council; staying ahead of the game can give us the edge we need.
We think you need these skills to ace Craft Gardener in Leicester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Green Thumb:In horticulture, it's all about showcasing your hands-on experience. Make sure your CV highlights any relevant gardening, landscaping, or plant care roles you've held. Also, don’t forget to mention any specific skills like plant identification or pest management that make you a great fit for the position at Leicester City Council.
Include Certifications and Training:If you've got any horticulture-related certifications, such as in organic gardening or landscape design, be sure to include them. This will set you apart from other applicants and show that you’re committed to expanding your knowledge in the field, which is crucial for a full-time role like Craft Gardener.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter should reflect not just your passion for plants but also how your experience aligns with what Leicester City Council is looking for. Share specific examples of projects you've worked on or challenges you've overcome in previous horticultural roles to demonstrate your suitability for the full-time position.
Be Ready to Talk Numbers:When applying for a full-time role in horticulture, it's helpful to quantify your achievements. Did you increase crop yields or reduce waste in a previous job? Highlight these metrics in your CV to give hiring managers at Leicester City Council a clear picture of your capabilities!
How to prepare for a job interview at Leicester City Council
✨Get to Know Your Plants
Brush up on your plant knowledge! Be prepared to discuss specific species, their growth requirements, and potential pests. Remember, the role involves practical horticultural skills – so don’t be shy about sharing your hands-on experience with various plants and gardening techniques.
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
If you've worked on garden designs, landscaping projects, or community gardens, bring along a portfolio showcasing your work. Visuals speak a thousand words, and this will help us see your creativity and practical skills in action. Plus, don’t forget to have a few stories about challenges you faced and how you overcame them!
✨Be Ready for a Plant Quiz
Prepare for some technical questions related to horticulture! We may ask you about soil types, plant propagation methods, or pest management strategies. This helps us assess your depth of knowledge and problem-solving skills – so don’t skip the revision!
✨Passion for Sustainability
Horticulture often revolves around sustainability practices, so be ready to discuss any experience you have with eco-friendly gardening methods or sustainable designs. This role at Leicester City Council might have a focus on environmental impact, so showing your commitment could set you apart from other candidates.
