Search is on for budding apprentices

Fifteen apprenticeships which are open to people of all ages are up for grabs - 8 horticultural apprenticeships, 5 fine turf apprenticeships and 2 arborist apprenticeships.

The successful applicants will help look after Sunderland's award-winning green flag parks, stunning seafront, colourful planting schemes, open spaces and miles of roadside verges as well as around 40 football pitches, 14 bowling greens and three cricket pitches.

This will involve working in all aspects of either horticultural, sports pitch maintenance and grounds maintenance or arboriculture work. They will also have the opportunity to be involved in the wider street scene role.

Each apprenticeship comes with full training which will enable the successful candidates to become expert in the use of a wide range of specialised tools and equipment specific to their area of work and to develop the necessary expert skills, ability and qualifications to carry out a full range of horticultural and grounds maintenance activities. Arboriculture apprentices will also be trained to carry out activities on the ground, from an aerial platform, and using ropes and harnesses.

All the apprentices will undertake Level 2 apprenticeship training one day a week at East Durham College, be supported through their apprenticeship by a college assessor and receive regular workplace mentoring.

While the apprenticeships are all fixed term roles ranging from 21 to 22 months, no-one knows better than senior environmental services technician Joe Chipp that apprenticeships can lead on to a career for life.

Joe from Ford joined the City Council as apprentice 10 years ago and in his current role, is responsible for overseeing the work of the team which helps to look after the city's award winning Barnes Park. He also helps to keep the city moving during the winter months by driving a gritter as part of the City Council's winter maintenance programme. 

Joe said: "If anyone is thinking of signing up to be an apprentice, I'd say go for it 100 per cent. I've never looked back. I work outside in the sun, doing everything from grass cutting and hedge trimming to marking out a football pitch so it's not just about planting flowers, there's a lot more to it than that. I've worked my way up quite quickly and the pay and holidays are good."

Councillor Claire Rowntree, Deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council, said:  "Apprenticeships provide great opportunities for people of all ages, at any stage of their career. We see them as an integral part of our workforce strategy and as a career development opportunity for people of all ages. Many of our apprentices go on to a further apprenticeship, secure a job with the council or use the skills and training they have gained to get a job within the city so I'd encourage anyone who is interested to apply.

"We know that the environment and living in a clean green city are things that really matter to our residents. These apprenticeships offer the opportunity to really make a difference working in one of our award winning parks or along our beautiful seafront, as well helping keep our hugely popular sports pitches in tip top condition for the generations of Jordan Pickfords and Jordan Hendersons to come."

The City Council offers a competitive starting salary for all newly recruited apprentices appointed into entry level posts, starting on £5.59 per hour, rather than the statutory rate of £4.30 per hour, with the national minimum wage for age applying in subsequent years where this is higher.

In terms of the support available for apprentices, the council also offers:

• Relevant and focussed on the job training
• Time off work to complete the off the job apprenticeship learning,  at college or in the workplace
• An allocated supervisor/mentor to provide support throughout the apprenticeship
• Access to well-being and occupational health services
• Support to apply for permanent job opportunities during and towards the end of the apprenticeship

Anyone interested in applying for one of the apprenticeships has until Sunday 11 July to get their applications in.
Visit: https://www.northeastjobs.org.uk/ and search for apprenticeships.