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Level 2 Horticulture Operative Standard

About the course

This qualification is suitable for anyone working in a horticulture/soft landscaping industry including the establishment and maintenance of plants and cultivated area and therefore focuses on plant propagation and plant growth. The work is generally based outside and undertaken throughout the year, so apprentices will frequently work outside in all weathers. Often people new to the industry will start in a ‘hands-on’ role covering a range of practical tasks, with specialist skills being learnt through progression. A wide range of machinery and tools are used and additional training may be required depending on the nature of the works undertaken. Working and learning in the horticulture industry is rewarding, offers a diverse range of employment opportunities and includes a range of skills that are transferrable into many other industries.

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Entry requirements & additional information

Entry requirements

Entry Criteria

A potential Level 2 apprentice: 

Must be aged 16 or over & have officially left school. 

Must be employed (NOT self-employed) in the relevant occupational sector, working a minimum of 30 hours per week. 

An individual can only undertake an apprenticeship at the same or lower level than a qualification they already hold, if this allows the individual to acquire substantive new skills and the content of the training is materially different from any prior training or a previous apprenticeship. 

Must have the right to work in England & spend at least 50% of their working hours in England over the duration of the apprenticeship. 

Must be a citizen of a country with in the European Economic Area (EEA) or have the right of abode in the UK AND have been ordinarily resident in the EEA for at least the previous 3 years on the first day of learning. 

All Apprenticeships require Initial assessment, vocational skills scan, an interview and employment in the industry. 
 

*Typically, an applicant will have attained a minimum of 4 GCSEs at Grade E/2 or above including maths & English or a vocational qualification Level 1 plus GCSE grade E/2 or above in both maths & English. N.B. English & maths Functional Skills Level 1 will be accepted as an alternative to GCSE’s. 

All potential apprentices will be asked to complete an online functional skills assessment regardless of previous qualifications*. 

Apprentices who begin their apprenticeship training when aged 19+ will no longer be subject to the mandatory requirement to study towards and achieve English and Maths. However English and Maths will still be delivered as an embedded part of the apprenticeship.   

 For apprentices aged 19+, the apprentice or their employer can still choose for the apprentice to study towards and achieve English and Maths qualification.  

'The college advises learners to keep studying English and maths to enhance their career prospects and facilitate progression to higher-level qualifications'. 

 The government will continue to fund those apprentices that wish to study towards an English and maths qualification.  

Exceptional entries will be considered for all Apprenticeships at the discretion of the college based on experience, successful interview and outcomes of Initial and Diagnostic assessments for English and Maths to establish current levels of ability 

Learning and assessment

Theory work & learning materials delivered online with photographic, video & audio evidence being collected through the Onefile E-Portfolio platform, supported by off site technical training at Myerscough College as required.

The employer will have access to their apprentices Onefile E-Portfolio so they can monitor progress & work that has been set by the tutor.

The qualification is made up of a number of mandatory units designed to have maximum relevance to the job & integrate with day to day responsibilities.

An employer must allow an apprentice 20% of their working week to undertake work required to complete their apprenticeship (this is a legal requirement) & will include any college attendance required.

There will be an end point assessment, conducted by an independent assessor.

All components must be passed for the apprentice to meet the apprenticeship standard & these will include:

    • An online knowledge test to be taken at the end of the apprenticeship programme in controlled conditions.
    • A synoptic practical assessment
    • Professional Discussion

There will be 2 levels of achievement: Pass & Distinction

In the unlikely event of an apprentice needing to resit an End Point Assessment (or elements of the End Point Assessment), then the employer will be responsible for funding these additional costs.

Progression

Apprentices successfully completing the Level 2 Apprenticeship have opportunities to progress within the industry by continuing onto the Level 3 Apprenticeship in Horticulture or other Further Education courses.

Careers

Typical jobs apprentices will be able to progress onto on completion of the Level 2 Apprenticeship will depend on the qualifications and experience gained, but could include: Grounds/Garden Maintenance, Parks & Grounds Staff, Nurseries & Garden Centre Staff.

Myerscough College Horticulture
Myerscough College Horticulture

Horticulture

Horticulture is a rapidly growing area of the economy thanks to a strong public interest in gardening, plants, sustainability and food security. According to the Royal Horticultural Society, the horticulture industry is the largest employer in the UK, supplying 18 million gardeners.

The number of garden centres continues to increase and the public demand for attractive horticultural landscapes remains strong. This means that plant growers, suppliers and managers are constantly looking for ways to improve their businesses.

Landscaping involves the design, construction and maintenance of urban and rural environments – to develop ‘greener living’ in these areas. It’s a real government focus and includes everything from gardens, parks, streets, waterways, leisure facilities and open spaces through to large urban redevelopments. There are fantastic career opportunities as the landscape industry is made up of nearly 8,000 businesses employing around 140,000 people, including local authority departments, heritage garden attractions and commercial landscape companies.

Our Gold Medal winning garden at Southport Flower Show
Our Gold Medal winning garden at Southport Flower Show

Show Garden Success

Work experience doesn’t get much better than here at Myerscough. Our learners have helped build award-winning gardens across the country - from a Gold-Medal entry at Chelsea Flower Show to Gold and Silver Medals at Southport Flower Show! They’ve also been involved with garden builds for the BBC DIY SOS project in Blackpool and show gardens at the RHS Tatton Flower Show and Chorley Flower Show.

PlantWorld
PlantWorld

PlantWorld

Myerscough’s award-winning gardens are laid out across much of the western edge of the Myerscough campus. As part of our garden kingdom, horticulture students are spoilt for choice in our Plant World display glasshouses! There are bananas growing in the Tropical Zone, coffee plants and pineapples in the Edible Zone, a Mediterranean atmosphere in the Temperate Zone as well as beautiful specimen plants in the Flowering and Foliage Zones.

Myerscough College - Horticulture Glasshouses
Myerscough College - Horticulture Glasshouses

Superb Facilities

Our horticulture students have access to some of the best facilities available. There are brand new commercial glasshouses, an extensive plant collection, fully-equipped landscape and construction workshops, a new Sportsturf education facility, a CAD suite and drawing studio and dedicated garden plots for project work.

Scholarship Programme

Every year there’s the chance for students to apply for funding to undertake overseas trips as part of their studies thanks to travel scholarships. The annual fund, from the Lancaster and Morecambe Agriculture & Horticulture Society Scholarship programme, pays significant bursaries to encourage young horticulturalists to study or explore business ideas abroad. This year, Bronwyn Jones, 19, went to Singapore to be involved as a volunteer on the ‘Gardens by the Bay’ project looking at increasing public accessibility to gardens and using innovation and technology in creating a city in the garden.

Latest news, Horticulture

Myerscough College Fellow - Christine Walkden
Myerscough College Fellow - Christine Walkden

Christine Walkden: Honorary Fellow

"My passion for gardening was nurtured at Myerscough College and I've been getting my hands dirty ever since." Celebrity plantswoman and horticulturalist Christine was awarded an honorary fellowship and regularly works with the College and our Horticultural department.

Why study an Apprenticeship?

Everything you need to know about taking on an Apprentice with Myerscough College as well as the benefits and support available.

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Oldham Apprentices with WB Tutor David Hilton.jpg
Oldham Apprentices with WB Tutor David Hilton.jpg

Apprenticeship Vacancies

View all our Apprenticeship vacancies and apply online with the National Apprenticeship Service.

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Myerscough College Apprentice Case Studies
Myerscough College Apprentice Case Studies

Case Studies

Don't just take our word for it, meet a selection of our Apprentices and hear what they have to say about an Apprenticeship with Myerscough College.

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Myerscough College Traineeships
Myerscough College Traineeships

Traineeships

Traineeships offer the chance to develop your skills and experience in order to enhance your chances of progression to an Apprenticeship, college course or employment.

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Latest news, Horticulture

Myerscough College Apprenticeships
Myerscough College Apprenticeships

Download our Apprenticeship Guide

For more information about Apprenticeship at Myerscough College, download our handy guide.

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Myerscough College, St Michael's Road, Bilsborrow, Preston, PR3 0RY

For all enquiries please see our contact page or call 01995 642222.

UK Provider Registration Number: 10004478