Salary – £300 per week or National Minimum Wage (whichever is the greater)
Job Type – Fixed term for 2 years
Hours – 37 hours – On-site
The role
We are currently looking to appoint a Green Spaces Apprentice to join the Green Spaces Team. As Green Spaces Apprentice, you will gain hands on experience and learn to carry out grounds maintenance activities, grass and turf care, sports pitch maintenance, Cemetery work and tree maintenance. You will also receive college based training to secure a Level 2 Arborist qualification.
Qualifications
Minimum of 4 GCSEs at grade D/3 including Maths and English
OR a Vocational qualification Level 1, plus GCSE grade D/3 in both maths and English.
NB: English & maths Functional Skills Level 1 will be accepted as an alternative to GCSEs.
Duties and responsibilities
- Undergo a structured training programme in relation to a range of gardening/horticultural/arborist activities following instructions and under the supervision of fully qualified staff.
- General grounds maintenance of the areas e.g. grass cutting, hedge trimming, clearing leaves and litter, clearing shrub beds, planting, pruning, seeding duties and constructional labouring.
- Use and maintenance of tools and equipment including powered hand tools, which includes pedestrian mowing equipment, chainsaws, strimmers, hedge trimmers and leaf blowers. The operation of other grounds maintenance equipment could be required e.g. ride on mowing equipment.
- Assist in work within a cemetery setting.
- Soft and hard landscaping and basic tree maintenance under direction.
- Clearance of snow and ice from public highways and other public places.
- Assist higher graded Green Spaces operatives in their work.
- Observe the customer care standards and treat all customers with dignity and respect.
- All duties must be carried out to comply with: The Health & Safety at Work Act. Acts of Parliament, Statutory Instruments and Regulations and other legal requirements. Nationally agreed Codes of Practice, which are relevant.
- All duties will be carried out in the working conditions normally inherent in the job.
- All necessary paperwork must be completed.
Person Specification
- Commitment to successfully completing all training within a 2 year period
- Ability to work on own initiative and make decisions within pre-determined guidelines.
- To follow work instructions, both written and verbal, and implement them
- Ability to work as part of a team.
- Skills in customer care.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Good communication skills, both orally and written.
- Ability to work in an outdoor environment and capable of working in a physically demanding job.
- General understanding of employees’ responsibilities in terms of Health and Safety at work.
- The ability to work some overtime during Bank Holidays and peak periods.
- Ability and willingness to demonstrate the council’s values and behaviours
Benefits
• Family friendly policies
• On-site free parking
• Up to 31 days' annual leave
• Option to purchase additional leave
• Salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme
• Savings and loan scheme
• Discounted gym membership
• Generous pension scheme
• Additional voluntary contribution to AVC
• Staff reward scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee forums (Your Voice, Health & Wellbeing)
General Statement
The information contained in this job description is provided to assist employees joining the council to understand and appreciate the work content of their post and the role they will play in the organisation. However, the following point should be noted:
• Whilst every endeavour has been made to outline all the duties and responsibilities of the post, a document such as this does not permit every item to be specified in detail. Broad headings, therefore, may have been used, in which case all the usual associated routines are naturally included in the job description.
How to apply
Download and complete the application form at
Application forms should be returned to: recruitment@rossendalebc.gov.uk OR
Rossendale Borough Council, People & Policy, The Business Centre, Futures Park, Bacup, Lancashire, OL13 0BB
Alternatively, email your name and address, quoting reference number PE0011 to recruitment@rossendalebc.gov.uk or telephone People and Policy on 01706 252513.
Closing Date – Monday 27th January 2025 at 10am
Interview Date – Thursday 6th February 2025
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident .