Horticultural Apprentice - Crop Technician​/Production

Excellent opportunity for a keen and enthusiastic person to join our horticulture team and follow a career in commercial ornamental plant production. The Bransford Webbs Plant Company, situated between Worcester and Malvern is one of the UK’s leading nurseries supplying approx 2 million plants per year to Garden Centres.

We pay apprentices the NLW regardless of their age currently £12.71 per hour. Any overtime worked is paid at 1½ times this rate. Apprentices are enrolled onto our company bonus scheme which is profit related and paid annually.

Training course Crop technician (level
3)

Hours - Autumn/Winter: 8:00–4:30 Monday–Thursday, 8:00–3:30 Friday. Spring/Summer: 7:00–3:30 Monday–Thursday; 7:00–2:30 Friday – 39 hours a week.

Start Date:

Monday 5 October 2026

Duration: 2 years

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands‑on experience.

During the two years, the apprentice will gain experience in all areas of the nursery including:

• Propagation, including seed sowing, taking cuttings, and division
  Potting (Machine)
• Feeding
• Irrigation
• Pest & Disease Control
• Quality Control
  Dispatch

BRANSFORD
WORCESTER
WR6 5JN

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

• Identify and mitigate risks to promote and maintain health, safety and security. (Core)
• Manage accurate paper or digital records within the workplace. (Core)
• Maintain and operate machinery and equipment in accordance with manufacturer operating instructions. (Core)
• Maximise economic sustainability by optimising plant growth when carrying out operations. (Core)
• Establish crops to ensure efficient and sustainable growth. (Core)
• Operate vehicles in accordance with manufacturer operating instructions. (Core)
• Control pests, weeds and diseases using integrated pest management. (Core)
• Apply and store pest management treatments in accordance with standard operating procedures, legislation and regulations. (Core)
• Carry out plant nutrient application or irrigation tasks required by the crop. (Core)
• Carry out harvesting and dispatch operations. (Core)
• Assess and monitor crops for quality, performance and specification requirements. (Core)
• Select harvesting techniques taking account of crop condition and quality requirements. (Core)
• Maintain biosecurity and hygiene practices in line with legislation, regulations and organisational requirements. (Core)
• Keep harvested crops in suitable conditions to maintain quality. (Core)
• Maintain soils or substrates to ensure sustainable, efficient and healthy growth. (Core)
• Sample and evaluate soil or substrate health to determine nutrition requirements. (Core)
• Comply with health and safety legislation, regulations, guidelines and procedures relevant to own role. (Core)
• Participate in learning and CPD activities. (Core)
• Manage own time to achieve tasks to schedule. (Core)
• Consider different approaches to current working practices, identifying improvements, developments and innovative ideas. (Core)
• Set and monitor machinery performance to ensure good seed or plant establishment and crop growth. (Soil based)
• Set machinery and equipment taking into account the crop, environment, soil condition and specification requirements. (Soil based)
• Maintain non‑productive areas. (Soil based)
• Assess the impact of machinery on soil structure and identify potential damage in accordance with legislation. (Soil based)
• Optimise growth conditions for crops, based on the specific needs of the plant relative to the environment. (Container based)
• Maintain productive and non‑productive areas. (Container based)
• Plan for and carry out the removal of waste materials following harvest or dispatch. (Container based)
• Evaluate and select different growing mediums taking into account site conditions and production requirements. (Container based)

Level 2 Awards in:

Safe Use of Pesticides

On completion of the pesticides foundation unit above also choose one of the following units:

• Boom sprayer, mounted, trailed or self‑propelled equipment
• Handheld applicator equipment
• Level 3 award in Emergency First Aid at Work

GCSE in:

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

• Initiative
• Physical fitness

Position requires working in all seasons, and some tasks can be physically demanding.

The Bransford Webbs Plant Company is one of the leading growers of ornamental plants in the UK. We are a wholesale nursery based in Worcestershire, supplying new and innovative plant promotions to garden centres across the UK.

Potential of a full‑time position upon successful completion of qualification and proven work commitment, however this cannot be guaranteed.

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

WARWICKSHIRE COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC.