Arborist

The arboricultural industry manages trees for their benefits and values in diverse urban and rural locations, from city parks and urban woodlands to country estates and private gardens.

Arborist work involves chainsaw work, pruning, dismantling and using appropriate machinery such as brushwood chipper, undertaking aerial tree work, and ground-based. They do a range of tree work jobs with indirect supervision. They can support the tree work team across a range of essential technical skills.

What apprentices will learn

• The use and application of arboricultural equipment
• The principles of the establisment, growth and care of trees
• Current environmental, wildlife and health and safety legislation, standards and codes of practice in relation to arboricultural works
• Legislation relating to trees eg. Tree Preservation Orders and Conservation Areas
• To recognise health and safety needs onsite and work safely
• How to take instruction from the job supervisor and other senior work colleagues to include signing onto the site specific risk assessment / emergency action plan and maintaining records
• Procedures and specific instructions for dealing with incidents and emergencies
• Electrical safety for working in the vicinity of power lines
• Felling and processing trees
• How to climb trees using a rope and harness, and using elevated platforms
• How to recognising different types of trees and shrubs
• How to identifying and managing pests, diseases and tree defects
• How to select appropriate equipment for the Load and unload equipment safely
• Set out work place signage (highway & non highway) and assists with traffic control
• Process tree work arisings using appropriate machinery
• How to take appropriate care of tools, equipment and customer property
• How to recognise a basic range of tree and shrub species using common and scientific names
• How to Identify pests, diseases, disorders and tree defects
• How to carry out a range of ground-based pruning operations
• The benefits of trees
• Felling and processing small trees
• How to support aerial tree workers both Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP) and climbing with transfer of equipment for aerial tree work operations
• How to perform an aerial rescue of colleague from a rope and harness and a MEWP
• Work safely at height in the tree under supervision
• Prepare sites for planting, plant trees and provide support, protection and aftercare
• For more information on the skills, knowledge and behaviours associated and learnt on this apprenticeship, please download the file attached to this link: Arborist Level 2

Qualifications Awarded

• Apprenticeship Certificate
• Level 3 award in emergency first aid at work
• Level 2 award in safe use of brushwood chipper
• Traffic Management (NRSWA Unit 002 Signing, Lighting and Guarding) OR Sector Scheme 12D
• Level 2 award in chainsaw maintenance
• Level 2 award in crosscutting timber using a chainsaw
• Level 2 award in felling and processing trees up to 380mm
• Level 2 award in accessing a tree using a rope and harness
• Level 3 award in aerial tree rescue operations
• Level 3 award in aerial cutting of trees using free fall techniques
• Level 1 in maths and/or English Functional Skills (if applicable)

Delivery model

The apprenticeship has a blended learning model with a mix of in college practical and theoretical learning over three day blocks on a monthly basis between October and January and in March and June. Online knowledge delivery and quarterly workplace competency and efficiency observation and assessments throughout the apprenticeship.

The entry requirements for all apprentices aged 18 or under at time of enrolment, will require either: 

• GCSE 4 or above in English (either Literature or Language), Maths and Science or equivilent 
• GCSE C or above in English (either Literature or Language), Maths and Science or equivilent 
• One year's industry experience (wherein a grade H/ 1 or above in English and Maths is required)

Should you not meet the entry requirements for English, Maths and Science, please get in contact with us. We are aware that there are many factors that may have affected your previous education and grades, so will consider these in support of the application on an individual basis.

For all apprentices aged 19 and over at time of enrolment, Functional Skills is an optional component of your apprenticeship programme. As a college, we support the progression of all our apprentices and provide the opportunity to undertake Functional Skills English and/or maths as part of your apprenticeship qualification. Throughout your pre-enrolment, you and your employer will have the opportunity to discuss this in more detail to help facilitate your decision.

In addition to your prior English, Maths and Science qualifications, you will complete an initial assessment for English and Maths as part of your pre-boarding session in college. This assessment will give us a current working level grade and will indicate which level Functional Skills you will be enrolled on if you have not got a GCSE 4/C or above in English and Maths. We may contact you to discuss this grade if we have any concerns.

If you have a grade 4/C or above in GCSE English and/or Maths, you will not be required to attend Functional Skills English and/or Maths sessions as part of your Apprenticeship.

Please note: You will be required to produce your GCSE certificates BEFORE you start your course to be exempt from attending Functional Skills English and Maths sessions.

To enrol onto an apprenticeship programme you need to be employed with a contract of employment. If you have an employer lined up or are already employed please contact our Business Services team on 01273 892127 or via email.

You must be in a role that will allow you the opportunity to develop the necessary skills, knowledge and behaviours set out in the apprenticeship. Additionally, apprentices must have a working level of maths and English that will allow successful achievement of level 1 functional skill prior to the end point assessment.

If you do not currently have an employer please visit the main Apprenticeships page for guidance on how to find and apply for an apprenticeship opportunity or register for our Talent Bank service.

If you are an employer and would like to recruit or enrol an existing employee onto an apprenticeship please contact our Business Services team on  01273 892127 or via email.