Summary
This is a new and exciting opportunity to join the award-winning Planning Team as an Arboriculture Apprentice, to develop the necessary skills and qualification to be able to help provide specialist arboricultural advice on proposals affecting protected trees across South Staffordshire.
Wage
£18,832 a year
Annual Pay Awards, Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
Training course
Arboriculturist (level 4)
Hours
Monday to Friday and hybrid working, may include some evening and weekend working.
37 hours a week
Possible start date
Monday 1 September
Duration
2 years
Positions available
1
Work
As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.
What you’ll do at work
* Advise about trees including tree management (for example pruning, watering, tree protection, roots), health, the law (for example tree preservation orders, conservation zones), risk and the role of trees in development to the public, clients and colleagues
* Interpret and deliver tree / woodland management plans with reference to the role of trees in national / local planning policy and the context in regard to development proposals
* Survey tree populations in relation to design, demolition and construction including species identification, protections, size measurements, condition management recommendations, assessment of ‘useful life’ and quality assessments
* Survey trees to enable management for example for tree health, condition risk or aesthetic purposes
* Inspect individual trees including identification, pests and diseases, health, defects, planning requirements, risk, site / location factors and recommendations for future actions / monitoring
* Identify and respond to tree pests and diseases for example reporting, biosecurity measures, nursery stock selection, removal, treatments
* Use tree management software including databases and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
* Enforce legislation and regulation regarding trees, woodlands and forests to include tree preservation orders, conservation zones, felling licenses and other designations
* Supervise tree work operations to specification for example planting, felling and maintenance operations, to include health and safety on site, environmental, access and quality of works
* Supervise contractors, including motivation, quality of work, coordination of resources, health and safety. Develop relationships with customers, stakeholders and colleagues
* Provide good customer service, deal with complaints and identify new opportunities for income generation. Promote the organisation, products, services or activities and the benefits of trees, woodlands and forests
* Work within defined budgets. Assist with sourcing of additional funding for example through grant applications. Write estimates and quotes for work. Develop costings for jobs
Occupational Duties:
* Follow systems and processes required by the organisation and report on information from those systems to monitor organisational performance
* Engage local communities in tree care and management
Where you’ll work
Council Offices
Wolverhampton Road
Wolverhampton
Staffordshire
WV8 1PX
Training
An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.
College or training organisation
MYERSCOUGH COLLEGE
Your training course
Arboriculturist (level 4)
Equal to higher national certificate (HNC)
Course contents
* Tree inspection including assessment of health, defects, safety risks, site factors, planning requirements and aesthetics.
* Interpret maps and plans.
* Assess tree risk to inform decision making.
* Specify arboricultural works.
* Select advanced diagnostic equipment for tree risk assessment.
* Select biosecurity protocols.
* Follow instructions and processes.
* Write arboricultural reports.
* Use software-based tree management systems, including associated laptop and handheld remote working equipment.
* Produce plans using digital mapping software (for example GIS).
* Select and use different formats to communicate information (for example table, image, map, text, graph).
* Collect, research and analyse arboricultural information and data including reliable information sources.
* Advise on implications of arboricultural policy, legislation, regulation and best practice including local and national planning policy.
* Identification of tree species, their characteristics and requirements for healthy growth.
* Manage projects including working within budget, systems and processes.
* Produce quotations or tenders including defining a scope/specification of work.
* Foster professional relationships with clients, customers and colleagues and engage with the community.
* Negotiate with colleagues and stakeholders to achieve desired outcomes.
* Communicate information to technical and non- technical audiences using a range of techniques.
* Take meeting notes or minutes.
* Seek further information from managers, supervisors or colleagues, when necessary.
* Create and evaluate relevant risk assessments and method statements for arboricultural operations.
* Provide customer service.
* Identify soil type, properties, condition and implications for tree health.
* Value trees as assets for both amenity and ecosystem service provision.
* Establish and monitor quality standards for tree work operations.
* Promote the organisation, products, services or activities.
* Collect tree data including taking measurements.
* Make tree management recommendations verbally.
* Identify tree pests and pathogens, assess impacts on tree health and suggest management responses.
* Assess tree planting practices.
* Tree inspection including assessment of health, defects, safety risks, site factors, planning requirements and aesthetics.
* Interpret maps and plans.
* Assess tree risk to inform decision making.
* Specify arboricultural works.
* Select advanced diagnostic equipment for tree risk assessment.
* Select biosecurity protocols.
* Follow instructions and processes.
* Write arboricultural reports.
* Use software-based tree management systems, including associated laptop and handheld remote working equipment.
* Produce plans using digital mapping software (for example GIS).
* Select and use different formats to communicate information (for example table, image, map, text, graph).
* Collect, research and analyse arboricultural information and data including reliable information sources.
* Advise on implications of arboricultural policy, legislation, regulation and best practice including local and national planning policy.
* Identification of tree species, their characteristics and requirements for healthy growth.
* Manage projects including working within budget, systems and processes.
* Produce quotations or tenders including defining a scope/specification of work.
* Foster professional relationships with clients, customers and colleagues and engage with the community.
* Negotiate with colleagues and stakeholders to achieve desired outcomes.
* Communicate information to technical and non- technical audiences using a range of techniques.
* Take meeting notes or minutes.
* Seek further information from managers, supervisors or colleagues, when necessary.
* Create and evaluate relevant risk assessments and method statements for arboricultural operations.
* Provide customer service.
* Identify soil type, properties, condition and implications for tree health.
* Value trees as assets for both amenity and ecosystem service provision.
* Establish and monitor quality standards for tree work operations.
* Promote the organisation, products, services or activities.
* Collect tree data including taking measurements.
* Make tree management recommendations verbally.
* Identify tree pests and pathogens, assess impacts on tree health and suggest management responses.
* Assess tree planting practices.
Your training plan
Arboriculturist Level 4 Apprenticeship Standard:
* Delivery of the knowledge requirements for this programme is online in line with Myerscough College semesters, and approximately 240 delivery hours (30 per module)
* There will also be distance learning support tutorials and mentoring activity throughout the programme
* Workplace visits will also occur and these will be discussed at sign up
* Attendance at the mandatory online lectures and tutorials will count towards the 20% off the job training requirement for the apprenticeship
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
* English (grade Level 4 (Old Grade C or above))
* Maths (grade Level 4 (Old Grade C or above))
A Level in:
* Aboriculatural of equivalent (grade Level 3)
Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.
Skills
* Communication skills
* IT skills
* Attention to detail
* Organisation skills
* Customer care skills
* Problem solving skills
* Presentation skills
* Administrative skills
* Number skills
* Analytical skills
* Logical
* Team working
* Creative
* Initiative
* Non judgemental
* Patience
Other requirements
Outdoor working due to site visits.