Sky Garden’s Guide to Thriving Winter Houseplants
At idverde, we absolutely adore indoor plants and truly believe they elevate indoor spaces. Not only do they add beauty, but they also have a positive impact on our health and well-being.
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Grounds Maintenance, Landscape Creation, Arboriculture, Sports Surfacing, Parks management, IOS Managing Safely Training, Ecology & Biodiversity, Grass cutting, Horticulture, Street Cleaning, Soft Landscaping, Hard Landscaping
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idverde provides a wide range of green services, including grounds maintenance, landscape creation, and advice services, to both private and public sectors across the UK.
05 February 2024
idverde celebrates National Apprenticeship Week: Part One
National Apprenticeship Week is an annual event that celebrates the benefits and opportunities of apprenticeships for individuals, employers, and the economy. It aims to raise awareness of the different types of apprenticeships available, and how they can help people develop the skills and knowledge they need for a rewarding career.
The theme for National Apprenticeship Week 2024 the 17th celebration, is “Skills for Life”. You can find more information and resources on the National Apprenticeship Week website.
At idverde, we value apprenticeships highly, as they enable us to create opportunities and build skills within our business, both for the present and the future. We are committed to developing our own people, and we offer apprenticeships to new colleagues who want to join the industry, as well as to existing colleagues who want to enhance their skills.
Apprenticeships are beneficial for everyone; the employer, the colleague, and the customer. They allow us to grow our own people to meet our needs, and to fulfil our mission of creating and maintaining landscapes for clients, employing colleagues who are motivated to do their best, in an environment where they feel valued and proud to work for idverde.
An idverde apprentice will learn the skills needed to carry out various tasks in our industry to a high standard. They will also gain a nationally recognised qualification that will boost their employability and career prospects. idverde offers a wide range of apprenticeships, from Level 2 to Level 7, in different specialisms such as Horticulture, Trees and Timber, Land Based Engineering, Business Administration, Accountancy, Digital Marketing, and more.
For National Apprenticeship Week, we’ve been talking to some of our apprentices to find out more about their experiences on their learning journey.
Meet Keaton Jones: Grounds Maintenance Operative
What type of apprenticeship are you doing?
Horticulture – Level 2
Why did you decide to do this apprenticeship?
I wanted to expand my knowledge and further my career.
Tell us about a recent day at work.
After completing my tasks for the morning, I went around a new area with my Team Leader. We talked about some of the different plants ill be working around in the coming days and leant a lot about some new plants.
What’s an interesting fact you’ve learned during your apprenticeship so far?
One of the most interesting facts I’ve learned during my apprenticeship recently is that roses have to be cut a certain way because of water travelling down the stems. This is because roses are very sensitive to water loss and disease, and the way they are pruned can affect their health and flowering.
What are the best (and the worst!) things about being an apprentice?
I think the apprenticeship overall is really enjoyable – the team work and support is also really good. I have recommended it to everyone at idverde already!
What advice would you give to anyone considering doing an apprenticeship?
I recommend to study hard, and take it seriously.
Where would you like to be in five years?
In five years’ time I would like to be in a higher position within idverde.
Meet Lamberto Venturelli: Apprentice
What type of apprenticeship are you doing?
Level 2 Horticultural Apprenticeship
Why did you decide to do this apprenticeship?
I decided on this apprenticeship to gain skills and knowledge of the gardening sector.
Tell us about a recent day at work
A recent day at work involved litter picking in a public open space. I walked around the park and collected any rubbish or waste that I found, using gloves and a bin bag. Then I moved on to weeding grass from a flower bed and clearing debris and dried leaves. I used a hoe and a trowel to dig out the unwanted grass and weeds from the soil, and a spring rake and a grabber to gather the debris and leaves. I filled up tonne bags with the green waste and tipped them into the cage of the service van. I repeated this process for several flower beds in the park, making them look neat and healthy. I enjoy working in the fresh air and making the park a more pleasant place for the public.
What’s an interesting fact you’ve learned during your apprenticeship so far?
I have learnt how to speed up different processes and duties that looked difficult and time-consuming at first. In a few months I was able to improve my skills and complete my tasks in less time and in a more efficient way.
What is the best things about being an apprentice?
The best thing is that when you make mistakes or forget things, the team leaders are very tolerant and understanding and are happy to help.
Would you recommend people take up an apprenticeship with idverde?
Yes definitely. The ground maintenance that I do, means you get to perform various duties, so you gain skills in many different areas.
What advice would you give to anyone considering doing an apprenticeship?
Be very open minded, make sure you are constantly listening, and I suggest recording or writing whatever you have done on a daily base. Recording what you tasks you have completed and what new things you have learnt.
Where would you like to be in five years?
I hope to still be in the gardening sector.
Meet Lee Barker: Contract Supervisor
What type of apprenticeship are you doing?
Level 2 Horticultural/ Landscaping Apprenticeship
Why did you decide to do this Apprenticeship?
I have been in the industry for many years but have I have never been taught the correct procedures for grounds maintenance, so I saw this apprenticeship as an opportunity to improve my skills.
What’s an interesting fact you’ve learned during your apprenticeship so far?
One of the interesting facts I’ve learned during my idverde apprenticeship so far is the origin of the name dandelion. Dandelion is derived from the French word dent-de-lion, which means “lion’s tooth” and refers to the jagged shape of the plant’s leaves. This name was a translation of the Latin term dens leonis, which was also used in medieval times.
What are the best (and the worst!) things about being an apprentice?
Some of the best things about being an apprentice are the opportunities to learn new skills, gain practical experience, and earn a salary while studying. As the course progresses, I learn a variety of skills that are relevant to my chosen profession and industry. For example, I learn how to use different tools and equipment, how to communicate effectively with customers and colleagues, and how to solve problems. These skills not only help me perform better in my current role, but also prepare me for future career advancement and challenges.
Why would you recommend people take up an apprenticeship with idverde?
I would recommend people take up an apprenticeship with idverde because it is a great opportunity to learn from the experts in the field of horticulture and landscaping. I am learning the professional terminology and skills needed to carry out various tasks in our industry to a high standard.
Meet Nigel Whyte: Mobile Gardener
What type of apprenticeship are you doing?
Horticultural Landscaping
Why did you decide to do this apprenticeship?
I decided to do the apprenticeship to gain more knowledge and a better understanding of my job and further my career.
Tell us about a recent day at work
Myself and Allan, my team leader, had. to meet up with our Supervisor Miles and the parks officer Jade for a walk about one of our sites. Together we looked at the beds, the rose bushes and other foliage to see what needed pruning and deadheading. We all discussed and made a plan of action. Myself and Allan started by clearing out the dead leaves pruning and deadheading where necessary, then we cleared all the broken branches and then weeded.
What’s an interesting fact you’ve learned during your apprenticeship so far?
One very interesting fact I have recently learnt is the different types of plant species and how many there are. Also that all plants have English and Latin names.
What are the best (and the worst!) things about being an apprentice?
One of the things I have found difficult is being older and studying at my age, but the best thing is the I have found a new confidence to study.
Why would you recommend people take up an apprenticeship with idverde?
Yes, it is a good opportunity to gain more knowledge and progress in your field.
What advice would you give to anyone considering doing an apprenticeship?
I would encourage everyone to do it as it’s great to build confidence. I never thought I would go back to studying and I have gained so much.
Where would you like to be in five years?
I look forward to passing my current course and having a role in the future with more responsibility.
