Horticulture Supervisor

Horticulture Supervisors can be employed to oversee work in public parks and gardens, green spaces and historic gardens, private gardens and estates or in production nurseries and retail outlets.

A Horticulture Supervisor can manage a site with minimum supervision, supervise a team and/or project and maintain the health and safety and security of personnel and resources.

Specialising in horticulture, this apprenticeship will focus on projects focused on plant propagation and plant growth, the establishment and maintenance of plants and cultivated areas in addition to development the supervisory skills to manage horticulture projects. 

What apprentices will learn

• Horticulture management appropriate to different sites
• Project process, planning work scheduling and requrements to meet specification
• Working to a budget
• Business operations and the impact of decisions
• Customer care
• Managing teams to deliver customer service
• Supervision; how to communicate with a team and provide work instructions
• How to manage a teams performance and provide feedback to team members and managers
• Health and safety, implement and maintain a positive safety culture with a team
• Waste hazards and waste reduction and recycling
• Plan growth and development,
• Understanding what nutrients plants need
• Knowledge of what grows well in different soils
• How to use and maintain gardening tools and equipment
• Plant removal
• Pest and disease control
• Tools, equipment and machinery
• Plant propagation methods using seed or vegetative methods
• Plant identification and classication
• Protection of biodiversity and heritage
• Assess, repair and maintain hard structures

Qualifications Awarded

• Apprenticeship Certificate
• Emergency first aid: Level 3 award in emergency first aid at work.
• Pesticides: Level 2 Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides Guidance OR Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of Pesticides
• Level 2 Award in the Safe Application of Pesticides using Pedestrian hand held Equipment (horticulture pathway only)
• Level 2 in maths and English (if applicable)

Delivery model

A mix of practical teaching and online theory workshops across two days a month (Tuesday and Wednesday). In college delivery will be at Plumpton College main campus and the Hortculture Centre of Excellence based at One Garden Brighton. Opportunity to attend industry masterclasses and guest speaker events will be available. 

End Point Assessment

• Professional discussion based on apprentice’s portfolio
• Online knowledge test
• Practical assessment
• Supervisory studies project

Entry Requirements

Prior to enrolment potential apprentices will be required to complete;

• Maths and English assessment
• Existing skills, knowledge and behaviour assessment

There is an expectation that anyone enroling on to this apprenticeship will have existing horticulture skills and knowledge. Ideally, candidates will have previously achieved (and can provide evidence) of GCSE grade C/4 in Maths and English* 

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, *if apprentices do not have evidence of prior maths and English achievements will be required to undertake and successfully achieve level 2 functional skill (equivalent to achieving a GCSE grade C/4 or above) prior to the end point assessment/completing their apprenticeship.

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.