Apprentice Arborist/ Tree Surgeon

We are a small and friendly arboriculture approved company who take pride in our work. We have 60+ years combined experience and a wide customer base including The National Trust, Parish Councils, schools and domestic clients. Our apprentice would be exposed to experienced mentors & understand how to operate to a high standard.

Hours: 40 hours per week. Monday – Friday.

Salary: £13,312 - £17,888 per annum

Application deadline: 29th July 2024

About the Employer

The Living Forest Limited is a professional and friendly company which has been operating for over 25 years, providing the highest standards of tree care and forestry services across the South East of England. Our wide range of clients include various property management companies, local developers, the National Trust, Kent County Council, Borough and Parish councils, schools, private estates and numerous individual home owners. With over 100 years combined arboricultural and forestry experience, our consultancy team is able to offer a comprehensive and skilled service, specialising in tree surveys, tree safety inspections and woodland management.

What will the apprentice be doing?

You would have a variety of tasks, which would increase as you become more qualified, but generally you would:

• undertake chainsaw work on ground and above level for felling and reduction work
• climb trees in a safe & controlled manner to access crucial areas to operate within
• operate a wood chipper to deal with wood waste created from your role

Training Provider: Plumpton College

During your training, in addition to your Arborist Level 2 apprenticeship qualification, you will also work towards gaining certificates of competence including chainsaw maintenance, crosscutting and tree climbing/aerial rescue as well as other certificated courses such as Emergency First Aid At Work.

The apprentice will study at Plumpton College - you will have access to the latest equipment and technology and tutors and work with coaches with over 20+ years’ experience of working in the sector. The training will be delivered in a block release manner. The apprentice will gain the L2 Arborist Apprenticeship Certificate from completing the course.

The following licence to practice qualifications would be required prior to end point assessment:

• Level 3 award in emergency first aid at work
• Level 2 award in safe use of brushwood chipper
• Traffic Management (NRSWA Unit 002 Signing, Lighting and Guarding) OR Sector Scheme 12D
• Level 2 award in chainsaw maintenance
• Level 2 award in crosscutting timber using a chainsaw
• Level 2 award in felling and processing trees up to 380mm
• Level 2 award in accessing a tree using a rope and harness
• Level 3 award in aerial tree rescue operations
• Level 3 award in aerial cutting of trees using free fall techniques
• Level 2 award in safe use of mobile elevated work platform
• Level 3 award in use of a chainsaw from a Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP)
• Apprentices without Level 1 English and maths will need to achieve this level and take the test for Level 2 English and maths prior to taking the end-point assessment.

The apprenticeship has a blended learning model with a mix of in college practical and theoretical learning over three day blocks on a monthly basis between October and January and in March and June. Online knowledge delivery and quarterly workplace competency and efficiency observation and assessments throughout the apprenticeship.

Desired Skills

• Communication skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Team working
• Initiative
• Physical fitness
• Hard-woking
• Eager to learn

Things to consider

• The applicant will need to get to and from our base of operations reliably, so own transport is advised.

Job Type: Apprenticeship

Salary: £13,312.00-£17,888.00 per year

Application question(s):

• Do you own a car? If so do you drive?
• Why do you wish to pursue a career in arboriculture?

Work Location: In person