idverde celebrates National Apprenticeship Week: Part Two

National Apprenticeship Week is an annual event that celebrates the benefits and opportunities of apprenticeships for individuals, employers, and the economy. At idverde we realise the importance of engaging with the next generation of colleagues across our business, whether that be gardeners, landscapers, or more office-based roles.

The theme for National Apprenticeship Week 2024 the 17^th celebration, is “Skills for Life”. You can find more information and resources on the National Apprenticeship Week website.

For National Apprenticeship Week, we’ve been talking to some of our apprentices to find out more about their experiences on their learning journey.

Tell us about a recent day at work

A recent day at work was quite busy and productive. We started by edging the beds of the flower gardens, giving them a neat and tidy look. Then we removed any weeds that were growing in the soil, making sure to pull them out by the roots. After that, we applied a layer of mulch over the top, which helps to retain moisture, prevent erosion, and suppress weed growth. We also did some leafing, as all the parks were covered with fallen leaves from the trees. We work hard to make the parks look clean and beautiful for the visitors.

What’s an interesting fact you’ve learned during your apprenticeship so far?

One of the most fascinating facts I’ve learned during my apprenticeship so far is that there are many families in many different plants. A plant family is a group of plants that share certain characteristics, such as flower structure, leaf arrangement, fruit type, and seed dispersal. Some of the most common plant families are the rose family, the mint family, the pea family, and the grass family. Each family has hundreds or thousands of species, and some of them are very important for human food, medicine, and culture.

What are the best (and the worst!) things about being an apprentice?

Being an apprentice has its pros and cons, like any other learning experience. The best thing about it is that you get to learn things about the course you chose, and gain practical skills and knowledge that are relevant to your future career. You also get to work with experienced professionals who can mentor you and give you feedback. The worst thing about it is that you have to balance your work and study commitments, and meet deadlines for both. Sometimes, this can be stressful and challenging, especially if you have other responsibilities or interests outside of your apprenticeship. However, with good time management and planning, you can overcome these difficulties and enjoy the benefits of being an apprentice.

Would you recommend people take up an apprenticeship with idverde?

Yes, I would recommend it, as you can learn new skills and important skills which will help you in the future with a career you want to be in.

What advice would you give to anyone considering doing an apprenticeship?

I would advise to take your time and don’t feel rushed, making sure you take the time to learn.

Where would you like to be in five years?

In five years I would like to have built upon my knowledge and be in a higher position in my chosen career.

What does your tutor or colleague say?

Lewis’ colleague Craig says ‘Lewis is a very good worker and apprentice; he always tries his best and does his work on time’.

What’s an interesting fact you’ve learned during your apprenticeship so far?

I’ve really enjoyed learning the Latin names and unique facts about different plants such as Skunk Cabbage. I also thought it was interesting that English Lavender does not originate from England.

What are the best (and the worst!) things about being an apprentice?

I’m really enjoying learning all these new things I thought I never would, and having a great deal of support with it is amazing. I cannot think of any negatives of being an apprentice.

Why would you recommend people take up an apprenticeship with idverde?

So far, I have been given a tremendous amount of support and flexibility to make appointments or reschedule if needed, along with things happening in my personal life. The apprenticeship is very interactive and I never feel like any one person is being left behind. As well as being really informative there looks like there will be some exciting days coming up.

What advice would you give to anyone considering doing an apprenticeship?

Don’t overthink it at the start. It can be daunting when you find out how much there is to learn, but it is a step-by-step process and as you go the knowledge will stick and fall into place. There is always additional support if you need it. Also, you will always get out of it what you put into it.

Where would you like to be in five years?

I would like to continue working for idverde, but maybe branch out with my knowledge, either working my way up the ladder or advancing my career role in some other way. Either way I would want to stay in this line of work.

What does your tutor or colleague say? [Completed by the apprentices’ tutor or colleague]
Name and job title John Langston L&D Specialist

Andrew is an enthusiastic learner and seems to particularly like getting to know his plant names and is getting better with remembering them at each session. He is enjoying the course and always makes good contributions during the sessions.

What type of apprenticeship are you doing?

Horticulture, landscaping, machinery;

Why did you decide to do this apprenticeship?

I decided to do an apprenticeship to further advance my knowledge in the field of gardening and landscaping and enhance my career.

Tell us about a recent day at work

I am working on a contract for the local Parish Council. I complete weekly confirmed jobs like grass cutting, leaf clearing, pruning shrubs etc.

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 so far with idverde is that plants have really difficult names! This is because plants are named using a system called binomial nomenclature, which means that each plant has a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms.

What are the best (and the worst!) things about being an apprentice?

The best thing is that I get to step back from my day to day tasks at work, do something different and learn. The worst is that I have to learn the scientific names of the plants!

Why would you recommend people take up an apprenticeship with idverde?

Yes, I would recommend an idverde apprenticeship. You learn so many interesting things along with your day job and you can improve your knowledge each day.

What advice would you give to anyone considering doing an apprenticeship?

Do it, you get paid to learn!

Where would you like to be in five years?

In five years’ time I would like to be in a management position.

What does your tutor or colleague say? (To be completed by the apprentices’ tutor or colleague) Name and job title John Langston L&D Specialis

Bogdan is enthusiastic and likes learning and researching his work. He always gets fully involved and makes great contributions during the sessions.