TCV
Connecting people and green spaces
Job Vacancies
Green Skills Trainee x 24
Location: Scotland
Salary: £13.45 per hour
Hours: 21 per week (part time)
Contract Type: Fixed term until 10/03/2027
Apply by 18th March 2026
About the role
Join the Green Skills - John Muir Way Program!
We're excited to announce a new partnership program called Green Skills - John Muir Way. It's a collaboration between TCV, City of Edinburgh Council, Falkirk Council, Scottish Canals and East Dunbartonshire Council. We're looking for 24 enthusiastic trainees (4 teams of 6) to help improve biodiversity along the John Muir Way Route.
What You'll Learn
You'll get hands-on experience in countryside and greenspace management, including:
- Creating and maintaining wildflower meadows: Ground prep, sowing wildflowers, and scything.
- Woodland creation and management: Planting trees and hedges, aftercare, pruning, and management.
- Managing invasive species: Removing plants like Himalayan Balsam, Rhododendron, and Salmonberry.
- General land-based skills: Strimming, path construction, and more.
- Access projects and infrastructure: Installing signs, benches, gates, and maintaining pathways.
What does that look like
- You will meet at your designated local pick up point every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and travel with your fellow trainees in a minibus.
- The minibus will be pre-loaded with the tools and materials you'll be using to the local greenspace you will be working where you will carry out various tasks (as above) that improve the environment.
- At the end of the working day, you will be returned to the pick-up point.
- Your days will vary - some days you might be on training, or you'll be carrying out tool maintenance, but it will follow the same pattern, and you'll know in advance what you will be doing and when.
Who We're Looking For
If you're 16-24 years old and face barriers to employment (such as, but not limited to economic challenges, lack of qualifications, neurodivergence, mental health issues, care experience, or disabilities), we want to hear from you! We're seeking reliable, eager-to-learn individuals who love practical work and the outdoors.
Program Details
- Duration: 10 months
- Schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (21 hours/week)
- Pay: Real Living Wage 13.45/hr
- 134 hours annual leave including 2-week (42 hours) Christmas/New Year break and 2 other program breaks in July (21hours) and September (21 hours)
- Uniform and PPE provided
Training and Support
You'll get a mix of on-the-job training and courses like Outdoor First Aid, Health and Safety, Manual Handling and LANTRA Strimmer Brushcutter, LANTRA Pole Saw or LANTRA Pesticides. Plus, you'll have a mentor to support you throughout the program. Towards the end, we'll help you with work placements, CV writing and interview techniques.
How to Apply
Please fill in the TCV application form and return it to Tricia Burden at t.burden@tcv.org.uk. To download the TCV application form in PDF or word format please scroll to the green box below, if using a tablet or phone tap and hold to download, alternatively please email the contact for your area listed below and request the application form.
If you are offered the job, you will need to provide proof of identity and the right to work in the UK (which can be through a photo ID such as driving licence or passport. There are other routes such as birth certificate and NI number if you do not have either of these. We will also need details of a UK bank account to pay your salary).
We also require a Level 1 Disclosure. A Level 1 check will contain details of convictions and conditional cautions considered to be 'unspent' under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Find more info here Apply for a Level 1 disclosure - mygov.scot however, a conviction or caution will not automatically mean you cannot apply for and be successful in gaining a position with TCV, so don't let this hold you back!
This awesome opportunity is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Ready to join us? Let's make a difference together!
Feel free to ask if you have any questions or need more information -
Edinburgh - matt.orwin@tcv.org.uk
Falkirk East - lizzy.turner@tcv.org.uk
Scottish Canals (Falkirk West) - john.woods@tcv.org.uk
East Dunbartonshire - daniel.mcewan@tcv.org.uk
Selection days are week beginning 30th March.
The second stage of recruitment will be through a selection day. This will not be a formal interview. You will not require a suit and tie. We need you to come in sensible clothes for working in the outdoors. You will be invited to come and work with us for a couple of hours, meet the team, get a taste for the kind of work you will be doing and ask any questions you might have. We will ask you a series of questions, informally, about your experience, why you want to take part in the traineeship, what you like about being outdoors and what you enjoy about doing hands on work.
To fulfil the role, you must be resident in the UK and have the right to work in the UK.
Safeguarding
TCV is committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of children and adults at risk.
All employees are expected to follow TCV's Safeguarding Policy, complete mandatory safeguarding training, and promptly report any concerns.
Safeguarding is a core part of working safely and responsibly at TCV.
A bit more about us
We are The Conservation Volunteers.
Our vision is Better Nature For All.
Our mission is to connect people together to protect and restore nature, delivering lasting benefits for both
Since 1959, The Conservation Volunteers has been a charity creating opportunities for people to create, improve and care for nature in the green spaces around them across the UK.
Our variety of projects cover a bit of everything involving nature. Volunteers muddy their boots in parks, community gardens, woodland, sites of special scientific interest, nature reserves, schools and hospital grounds, helping create a glorious network of protected green space across the UK.
This work connects people with nature, and that connection delivers powerful results.
Join in, feel good.
Please take a moment to view the recruitment pack.
Please view the job description.
It's important to demonstrate that you meet the criteria outlined in the job description.
How to apply
Please submit your completed application form to Tricia Burden no later than noon on 18th March 2026. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early or extend the closing date depending on the number of applicants. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience.
You can download a TCV application form in PDF or Word format.
If you download the PDF form we advise opening it in Adobe Acrobat Reader to complete it. Online PDF previewers (e.g., Google Drive) do not always support form completion.
Interviews will be held on week commencing 30th March 2026 at sites in Falkirk, East Dunbartonshire and Edinburgh.
Occasionally, we receive a large number of responses to our advertisements. If you do not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date (18th March 2026), please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Thank you for your interest in TCV.
To better understand who is applying for and obtaining roles at TCV, please complete our Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form. You can download this in either PDF or Word format. This information is crucial for identifying and eliminating barriers that may prevent people from joining us. Rest assured, this data will not be part of your application evaluation.
Our goal is to create a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone's individuality is recognised and valued. We believe that embracing diversity helps us achieve our goals more effectively. We welcome applications from all individuals who wish to be part of our future, regardless of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital/civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we offer interviews to all applicants who have a disability, impairment or mental or physical health condition who meet the minimum criteria for the job. We provide reasonable adjustments and are committed to having an inclusive and accessible recruitment process.
If you wish to be considered under this scheme, please tell us in the appropriate part of the application form.
We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process, and you will be asked whether you require any during your application. If you would like to discuss your requirements further please contact the People Team via email or by telephone on 01302 388883. We also offer reasonable adjustments on the job.
Pre-employment checks
Any employment with TCV will be subject to the following checks prior to your start date:
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