Vacancies

Apprentice Arborist

About the role

The broad purpose of the arborist apprenticeship is the care and maintenance of trees for their benefits and values in diverse urban and rural locations, from street trees, city parks and urban woodlands to country estates and private gardens. The industry manages trees adjacent to highways, railways, watercourses and power lines. The work of an Arborist involves diverse activities such as chainsaw work, aerial tree work, pruning, dismantling of trees, and using machinery such as brushwood chippers.

Arborists play an important role in managing biodiversity by carrying out practical solutions in the management of trees, including at times those that are rare or in a heritage environment. The Arborist is not only tasked with the practical management of the ageing tree process, but the care of the next generation of trees, which will be vitally important for the future generations. This work includes the management of pests and disease, and formative pruning of young trees in order to form a good canopy structure for the longevity of trees.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with many different people during a typical working day, including managers, supervisors, contract managers to local tree officers and arboricultural consultants overseeing arboricultural works. Other interactions may involve stakeholders, clients, landowners, and organisations managing built infrastructure, for example utility companies, highways, street lighting, waterways, railways. The most important interactions will be with clients and members of the public and will involve using a range of communication methods and techniques from fielding complaints and concerns, to explaining why an arboricultural operation is to be carried out.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for applying best practice for the practical side of the arboriculture industry. This will include felling, climbing, pruning and dismantling of trees, and the use of machinery like woodchippers and stump grinders. Ground-based duties include preparing the work site, kit maintenance, formative pruning and hedge maintenance. An Arborist is also expected to maintain effective communication with internal and external stakeholders, work together and be a collaborative team member. They will need an awareness of other colleagues' roles.

for further information please see the following link;

Arborist / Skills England

What will you be doing?

Working out of our Robinson Way Depot in Kettering to support Arborists in delivering high quality standards of tree care within North Northamptonshire’s Assets and Environment team across the area. The apprenticeship role offers hands on experience while studying towards a formal qualification contributing to the planting, maintenance and removal of trees.

Principal responsibilities

To work towards and achieving the Arborist Apprenticeship with either a Pass or Distinction grade

Carry out relevant site-based tasks as directed to ensure the gathering of knowledge, skills and behaviours of your apprenticeship, using both knowledge received through college work and practical experience gained through the workplace

To continually train and develop yourself in line with the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours of the apprenticeship

To attend mentoring sessions where applicable

Use of arboriculture care equipment to perform tree care and maintenance across the Councils tree stock and other associated tasks within the expected remit of Assets and Environment provision across Parks and Open Spaces, identified Council assets and other locations within the area of operation as directed by the Arboricultural Development Manager in line with the Councils relevant policy and procedures.

To work in all weather conditions providing service outcomes across the area of operation as directed.

To carry out all routine inspections of equipment prior to use and to ensure that equipment is clean, adequately greased, levels are topped up and maintained, stored and returned as directed.

To adhere to the requirements of the Fleet division carrying out all operational inspections to vehicles as directed.

Ensure that all Health and Safety procedures are always followed and any hazards reported immediately. Understand and follow, North Northamptonshire Councils Health and Safety Management System at all times.

To carry out relevant site-based tasks as directed to ensure the safe/compliant delivery of arboriculture tasks. To ensure policies and procedures are always adhered to whilst performing any tasks across the Council’s estate.

About you

To work towards the appropriate recognised apprenticeship standard

Good communication skills

Ability to follow instructions

Health and Safety aware

Capacity to undertake physical aspects of the role including manual handling, walking long distances, using pedestrian equipment and working in all weather conditions

Ability to work at height

Ability to work as part of a team to deliver objectives and standards across Council assets.

Willing to undertake training

Ability to demonstrate awareness/understanding of equal opportunities and other people’s behaviour, physical, social and welfare needs.

Our benefits

Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we’re transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people.

You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!

Why choose us?

We offer a vibrant working environment with:

a competitive salary
a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.

We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.

About us

Our Values and Behaviours

Our values define who we are and how we operate, by forming the foundation for how we interact with our customers, colleagues and provide our services. They are also at the forefront of our decision making and delivery and are:

Customer-focused
Respectful
Efficient
Supportive
Trustworthy

Our Key Commitments

Our key commitments help ensure that the priorities we make, now and in the future, maintain the necessary breadth of focus in those areas that we believe matter most.

We are proud to be a recognised Disability Confident Employer and is committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.

North Northamptonshire Council re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant in June 2024 which highlights the Council’s pledge to support the Armed Forces community. The council obtained the silver status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) and we are now currently working towards achieving Gold status.

Further information can be found at Jobs and careers | North Northamptonshire Council (northnorthants.gov.uk)

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