Food Union Green for All Apprentice

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias.

Founded and managed by The Pod, Food Union is a social activism programme rooted in soil, food, and relationships. Since 2014 we’ve been quietly proving that growing food together can change the way a city cares for itself—ecologically, socially and economically. We work alongside communities to grow food, knowledge and confidence, connecting people to place and to each other.

We are proud delivery partners of Coventry Green for All, a citywide programme reimagining how open spaces, food growing and nature belong to everyone. This apprenticeship sits at the heart of that work.

The role is a key part of the city’s Coventry Green for All programme, which is funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the Nature Towns and Cities programme. Nature Towns and Cities is a partnership initiative between Natural England, National Trust and National Lottery Heritage Fund, a powerful alliance of local and national partners. This role is a genuine investment in a person—and in Coventry’s future.

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

Our Values are:

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

This is a unique apprenticeship where you will:

• Be paid while you learn
• Gain a Level 3 qualification
• Work outdoors, with communities, across growing sites and neighbourhoods
• Learn practical ecological horticulture and the relational skills needed for community change
• 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: Horticulture or landscaping supervisor / Skills England

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 1974 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.

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:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care
• 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 2026
Pre-interview and assessment date (via Microsoft Teams)*: 8th June 2026
Interview date(s) (Face-to-face): 12th or 16th June 2026

* 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
Phone: 024 7678 5740
Email: jobshop@coventry.gov.uk
Website: http://www.coventry.gov.uk/jobshop

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 5100 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.

If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards & benefits package which includes:

• Flexible working arrangements
• An outstanding local government pension scheme
• Great opportunities to develop with access to accredited courses.
• Access to an award-winning Occupational Health Service
• Salary Sacrifice Scheme