What is the job role?
This is a unique apprenticeship where you will:
1. Be paid while you learn
2. Gain a Level 3 qualification
3. Work outdoors, with communities, across growing sites and neighbourhoods
4. Learn practical ecological horticulture and the relational skills needed for community change
5. Be supported, mentored and trusted with real responsibility
You’ll spend your time between Food Union’s CV5 growing site, emergent Green for All community gardens, and the wider network of green spaces across the city—learning how food, climate, justice and care intersect in real life.
With support from Food Union Coordinators and Green for All partners, you will:
• Work alongside community members at Food Union’s CV5 site and other Green for All spaces
• Learn practical, ecological and organic growing methods—from seed propagation to harvest
• Help shape welcoming, safe and inclusive spaces for people to garden together
• Support workshops and events (from composting to natural dyes, from hedge laying to shared meals)
• Build confidence—not just crops—in the people you work with
• Contribute to planting plans, tool care, soil health and habitat creation
• Learn how community food projects collaborate with councils, charities and national partners
• Play a role in a city-wide movement for greener, fairer futures
You’ll also learn how to work responsibly and safely, including health & safety, risk assessment, and supporting a wide range of people in outdoor environments.
You will undertake the Level 3 Horticulture Operative Apprenticeship standard. Further information for this apprenticeship can be found on:
This apprenticeship role is a fixed-term contract for 35 months in line with the length of the apprenticeship training.
This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
All candidates must have the Right to Work in the UK. We are currently not offering sponsorship for this role.
Who are we looking for?
If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:
6. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
7. Are currently in care or have previously been in care
8. If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition
For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.
Closing date: 27th May
Pre-interview and assessment date (via Microsoft Teams)*: 8th June
Interview date(s) (Face-to-face): 12th or 16th June
* The pre-interview is a short session to give the candidates further details of the apprenticeship role and to help them understand what to expect from and how to prepare for the final interview. You will also complete a short diagnostic assessment to check the level of Maths and English that they are currently working at and identify any support they may require..
Did you know that there is support available to help you with your application?
If you would like support in completing your application or have any questions about our recruitment and selection processes, help is available at The Job Shop.
We would recommend that all applicants take advantage of this service in order to maximise the chances of being shortlisted.
Address: West Orchard Way, Coventry CV1 1FY
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About Coventry
Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.
We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.
At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.
To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.