There has never been a more exciting time to join Wirral Council. We’ve got ambitious targets to meet and to achieve everything we have promised to our residents, we need people who are ready to deliver the very best for our communities and show how they can #BeTheDifference. Our vision is to secure the best possible future for our residents, defined by the community prosperity we create and supported by our excellent people and services. If you strive to #BeTheDifference and want to be at the heart of our change and improvement journey, then this could be the perfect job for you.

Are you unsure about the next steps in your career?

Do you want to earn a competitive salary whilst being provided with the tools to start a successful career?

If so, we have a fantastic opportunity for 3 apprentices to embark on an exciting career with us whilst gaining a recognised professional qualification. This is a unique opportunity for you to develop the skills and experience required for a professional career within Grounds Maintenance.

Wirral council appreciates what apprentices can bring to our organisation, we value enthusiasm, fresh perspectives and want to invest time into progressing your career by giving you the opportunity to learn and develop your skills within a large ground’s maintenance employer. Wirral’s Parks & Countryside Service offers a professional and reliable service to all customers across the borough, we would love you to join us on our journey to #BeTheDifference to our residents.

The apprenticeship is a Level 2 Horticulture and Landscape Operative, which includes Level 1/2 Functional Skills in Maths and English (if required) and will consist of an end-point assessment (EPA). Expected duration of the apprenticeship is 24 months with a possible start date of August or September 2023.

You will be guided through your apprenticeship in conjunction with a learning provider and mentor, using a structured framework to support your development, goals and success whilst building the knowledge and skills required to enhance your professional future.

Throughout the apprenticeship, you will undertake regular rotations through various sectors of the Parks & Countryside Department learning skills of a wide range of Horticultural disciplines including parks, cemeteries, arboriculture, sports, and artificial surfaces.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to communicate with a wide range of people including colleagues, members of the public, volunteers and work alongside ‘Friends of Parks’ and community groups on joint projects and have involvement with other key partners, delivering a range of public and community-based initiatives.

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship qualification and a full driving licence, a permanent position within Wirral’s Parks and Countryside Department will be made available to you.

We’re looking for team players who are good communicators and who show enthusiasm and personal drive. You must be willing to learn proactively and have an interest or experience of horticultural work. You will need to show commitment to continuous professional development.

You must possess a willingness to work outdoors in varying weather conditions and the ability to travel throughout the Borough using private or public transport. Ability to work flexible hours, with occasional evening, weekend, and bank holiday work.

These posts are annualised hours averaging a 36-hour week:
36 five-day weeks at 40 hours, starting at 7am
16 four-day weeks at 27 hours, starting at 8am

Working at Wirral

You’ll also want to know what it’s like to work here so, as a start:

Our values are more than just pieces of paper on our walls! We’ve all played a role in developing these, so they reflect the immense pride we have in what we do, what matters to us, what inspires us and inform how we think, approach things and behave.

We believe in ensuring staff are well looked after, staff wellbeing is a priority for us. We’re serious about recognising and rewarding people for the great things they do. You’ll benefit from our track record of developing, growing and investing in our people.

We have a range of staff benefits including staff discounts, an excellent pension scheme which includes a generous employer contribution rate, immediate life cover and ill-health protection. We have a strong flexible working approach, hybrid working, family-friendly employment initiatives and an annual leave package starting with 28 days leave plus public holidays.

We have an inclusive, engaged culture, everyone has a voice, everyone is valued for their contribution and understands the role they play in delivering our strategic priorities.

Each voice is heard, each contribution valued. We embrace diversity in our workforce and recognise it is critical to our success. We support an inclusive culture that champions differences and nurtures a sense of belonging. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds, who share our values and our commitment to inclusion to apply for roles with us.

We want you to be your best at work, we create the conditions to help you thrive and we mirror this in our recruitment process. If you’d like us to do anything differently during the recruitment process to make it barrier-free and as accessible as possible please contact recruitment@wirral.gov.uk

Please note that in accordance with the Council’s policy, employees who are in a formal redeployment situation will be considered in the first instance for all vacancies.

It is Council policy not to re-appoint any employee who has left under the terms of the Council's Early Voluntary Retirement (EVR) scheme or who have left with a voluntary severance (VS) package, unless in exceptional circumstances.

Applications will be accepted until midnight on the closing date.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the specified date should we receive sufficient applications.

Applications can only be accepted through the Jobs page following registration.  Forms received via the post will not be processed.

All applicants invited to interview must evidence their right to work in the UK.  Details of required documents can be found by clicking the link at the bottom of the Jobs page.

The job description and other supporting documents will not be accessible once the vacancy closing date has passed so if a copy is required you should download it now.