What apprenticeship are you studying?
Level 2 in Amenity Horticulture
Why did you decide to do an apprenticeship with Cormac?
I was studying at Duchy College, Camborne on a Level 2 diploma in Horticulture and wanting a career in horticulture alongside this I was volunteering with Cormac to gain working experience and knowledge in this area.
What does a typical day look like in your role?
A normal day will be working in Cornwall Council’s Formal Parks & Gardens in Falmouth and Redruth doing routine works for season to include weeding, pruning, planting, grass cutting and and general upkeep and tidy of parks alongside working with volunteers as the season dictates. Working at campus/higher profile FM locations in Falmouth, Redruth and Truro (NCH) doing similar duties but more prescribed by client but also attention to the hard surfaces which may include weed treatment or dealing with including pressure washing. Currently I am working at NCH, Truro draining and clearing large mirror pond for reinstatement of mirror pond and partial wildlife area.
Any other duties that are deemed necessary, examples are working at Royal Cornwall Show with visitors including children showcasing Cormac’s environment delivery and giving better understanding to wider audience of what Cormac delivers. In late spring and autumn working with schoolchildren from 5 schools in Falmouth & Redruth areas to help plant bedding plant for community involvement and ownership to help deliver reduction in damage to formal parks.
What is your favourite thing about your apprenticeship?
Working and delivering horticulture in formal parks to make them look good to a high standard.
What skills and experience have you gained as part of your apprenticeship?
The volume of training alongside my horticulture course from water training to all machinery we use from strimmer’s, hedge trimmer’s, pedestrian and ride on mowers. I have just completed my First Aid at Work Level 3, pesticides course and have abrasive wheels next alongside introduction to risk assessments, the list goes on. I was not expecting the level of training that would be provided and needed to work in formal parks and at Cormac. I also have to learn plant names in Latin which is a daily process to reinforce my knowledge and skills but part of my end point assessment.
What has been your proudest moment during your apprenticeship?
Passing my pesticides course, you have to be perfect in knowledge and execution to pass. Working with the community and working at Royal Cornwall Show with Community Partnership Officer Lea Thomas last year – with travelling it was a 15/16-hour day, exhausting and rewarding and obviously meeting our MD Dominic Bostock in person and working with him to deliver miniature bug hotels.
What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship?
There is a lot of hard work and training to be done when you are a horticulture apprentice, can be very intense at times and can put you under pressure to deliver all but definitely worth it. Cormac is a great platform for anyone considering an apprenticeship in horticulture, you would never receive all this variety with quality of sites, education, training and support in a small company, and I enjoy it all. But you must be prepared for a lot of hard work and want to do this work to enjoy this work as then it can be very engaging and rewarding.