Landscaper apprenticeships - where to start
You can get into this job through
a college coursean apprenticeshipworking towards this roleapplying directlyspecialist courses run by a professional body
College
You may find it useful to build up your skills by doing a course, like:
- Level 1 Diploma in Skills for Working in Horticulture Industries
- Level 2 Certificate in Practical Horticulture
- Level 3 Certificate or Diploma in Horticulture
You may need 2 or fewer GCSEs at grades 3 to 1 (D to G), or equivalent, for a Level 1 course. You'll need 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a Level 2 course. You'll also need 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a Level 3 course.
Apprenticeship
You can get into this job through a horticulture and landscape operative Level 2 apprenticeship, which has 2 options:
horticulture or landscape construction. You could move onto a landscape supervisor advanced apprenticeship as you get more experience.
You'll usually need some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for a Level 2 apprenticeship. You'll need 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for a Level 3 apprenticeship.
Work
You could start as an assistant landscaper and work your way up.
If you have some related work experience, this could help you to get an assistant job.
Direct Application
There are no formal requirements to be a landscaper, but most employers will expect you to have some horticulture knowledge and experience.
Other Routes
The Royal Horticultural Society offers courses which are suitable if you want to learn more about gardening, or if you want to get qualifications that will help you get a job in horticulture.
Landscaper apprenticeships - what it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- the ability to work well with others
- physical skills like lifting, bending and carrying
- ambition and a desire to succeed
- customer service skills
- the ability to work well with your hands
- physical fitness and endurance
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Landscaper apprenticeships - what you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
On a typical day you may:
- discuss clients’ needs
- work from plans made by garden designers or landscape architects
- order supplies
- prepare the ground or interior space
- turf and seed lawns
- plant and prune trees and shrubs
- put in new plants
- install features like paving, paths, water features and rock gardens
- advise the client on how to look after the space
- provide on-going maintenance
Working environment
You could work in a garden, at a client's business, at a client's home or at a garden centre.
Your working environment may be physically demanding and outdoors in all weathers.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Career path and progression - Landscaper apprenticeships
In larger firms, you could progress to a supervisory or management position. With experience, you could become a self-employed contractor.
You could also move into a teaching role.