Master Staff are currently recruiting on behalf of our Leyland-based client for an experienced Horticultural Assistant to support their busy production and nursery team.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with a genuine passion for horticulture and plant care who enjoys practical, hands-on work. The position involves working within a busy horticultural production environment, helping to ensure plants and shrubs are grown, maintained, quality checked and prepared to the highest possible standards.

Previous horticultural experience is essential for this position, and experience within plant quality control, nurseries, garden centres, commercial growing or greenhouse environments would be particularly beneficial.

The position is initially offered on a seasonal temporary basis, with the potential for full-time permanent employment following a successful probationary period.

The Role

As a Horticultural Assistant, you’ll work across different areas of the nursery and production operation, supporting plants throughout the growing, quality control and dispatch process.

A key part of the position will be ensuring plants and shrubs meet the company’s high quality standards before being prepared for customer orders.

This is a physically active, hands-on role, so you’ll need to be comfortable working on your feet, carrying out manual tasks and working both indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.

Key Responsibilities

Your day-to-day duties will include:

• Inspecting plants, shrubs and other horticultural products throughout the nursery
• Carrying out quality control checks to ensure plants meet the required standards
• Identifying signs of poor plant health, damage, disease or other quality issues
• Monitoring plants throughout the growing process
• Helping to maintain appropriate watering and irrigation schedules
• Checking general plant health and growing conditions
• Assisting with planting, potting and transplanting
• Preparing soil, compost and growing areas
• Pruning, trimming and maintaining plants and shrubs
• Completing and preparing customer plant and shrub orders
• Selecting appropriate plants against customer order requirements
• Preparing plants for dispatch and ensuring orders are completed accurately
• Using hand tools including pruners, shovels and other horticultural equipment
• Using relevant power tools safely where required
• Supporting greenhouse operations and maintaining suitable growing conditions
• Transplanting seedlings and young plants
• Moving plants, pots, soil and other materials around the nursery
• Maintaining clean, tidy and organised growing and production areas
• Following all company health and safety procedures
• Supporting the wider nursery and production team during busy periods
• Completing other general horticultural and nursery duties as required

Quality Control & Plant Care

Quality is an important part of this position. You’ll be expected to have a good eye for detail and take pride in ensuring plants are presented to a high standard.

You’ll help identify any plants that don’t meet the required quality standards and work with the wider team to ensure issues are addressed before products are dispatched to customers.

Previous experience carrying out quality checks specifically within horticulture or plant care would therefore be a significant advantage.

What We’re Looking For

To be considered for this position, you should have:

• Previous horticultural experience – essential
• A genuine interest and passion for plants and horticulture
• Good knowledge of general plant care
• Previous nursery, greenhouse, garden centre or commercial growing experience would be advantageous
• Previous quality control experience within plant care would be a distinct advantage
• An understanding of watering, irrigation and general growing requirements
• Experience using horticultural hand tools safely and effectively
• Confidence using relevant power tools where required
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to identify potential plant health or quality issues
• A reliable and conscientious approach to work
• Ability to follow instructions accurately
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Good organisational skills
• A positive and hardworking attitude

Physical Requirements

Due to the nature of the role, candidates must be comfortable with:

• Regular manual handling
• Lifting and moving plants, pots and materials
• Standing and walking for extended periods
• Bending, reaching and carrying out repetitive horticultural tasks
• Working both indoors and outdoors
• Working in varying weather conditions

What’s in it for You?

• Opportunity to work with a highly reputable horticultural company
• Hands-on role working with a wide variety of plants and shrubs
• Varied duties across plant care, production and quality control
• Seasonal employment opportunity
• Potential to secure full-time permanent employment
• Opportunity to develop further horticultural and nursery experience
• Supportive team environment
• Excellent opportunity for someone passionate about building a career within horticulture

Apply Today

If you have previous horticultural experience and a passion for maintaining excellent standards of plant care, we’d love to hear from you.

This would be particularly suited to candidates with experience as a Horticultural Assistant, Nursery Worker, Plant Nursery Operative, Horticultural Operative, Greenhouse Assistant, Gardener or Plant Quality Control Operative.

Please apply today with your CV or contact the Master Staff team for further information.