Groundsperson apprenticeships

Groundsmen and greenkeepers > Groundsperson

Environment and land

Groundsperson apprenticeships - where to start

You can get into this job through

a university course

a college course

an apprenticeship

working towards this role

specialist courses run by a professional body

University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

sports surface management
sportsturf management
horticulture

You'll usually need:

1 or 2 A Levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
2 to 3 A Levels, or equivalent, for a degree

College

You might find it helpful to do a qualification before looking for work. Course subjects include:

Level 2 Certificate in Sports and Amenity Turf Maintenance
Level 2 Certificate in Practical Horticulture Skills
Level 3 Diploma in Horticulture

You'll usually need 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a Level 2 course. You'll need 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a Level 3 course.

Apprenticeship

You may be able to get into this job through a Level 2 apprenticeship as a sports turf operative. You could specialise in working on golf courses through a Level 2 or 3 golf greenkeeping apprenticeship.

You'll usually need: some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for a Level 2 apprenticeship. You'll need 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for a Level 3 apprenticeship.

Work

You may be able to find work as an assistant groundsperson without qualifications. You could then work your way up by getting experience and studying on the job.

Other Routes

You could take qualifications with an industry body like the Grounds Management Association. They offer courses at different levels in turf surface maintenance and management.

Groundsperson apprenticeships - what it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

to be thorough and pay attention to detail
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
the ability to work well with others
ambition and a desire to succeed
sensitivity and understanding
physical skills like movement, coordination and dexterity
the ability to work well with your hands
customer service skills
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to pass enhanced background checks, as you may be working with children and vulnerable adults. You may need a driving licence for some jobs.

Groundsperson apprenticeships - what you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

You may:

prepare land for laying grass turf
roll and mow grass
mark lines on pitches or greens, cut holes and move markers
remove water and rake ground
apply turf treatments to control weeds, fungal diseases and pests
install and maintain equipment
operate equipment like strimmers and ride-on mowers

Working environment

You could work at a school, in a park or on a sports field. Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers.

Career path and progression - Groundsperson apprenticeships

With experience, you could progress to supervisor, team leader or head of section. You could get training from the Grounds Management Association.

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Considering an Apprenticeship?

There are lots of benefits to apprenticeships, here are our top 5:

Paid Training
Not only will your organisation (or the Government) pay for all of your training, but you’ll be paid to do it. That means you could actually get paid to get your degree and have no debt!
Range of career opportunities
There are over 625 different apprenticeships to choose from, in a range of industries. Whether you’re interested in law, marketing, construction or engineering, you’ll find something up your street!
Earn & learn
As an apprentice, the minimum you’ll earn is £6.20 an hour, but we’ve seen apprentices earn a starting salary of up to £30,000 a year! You could also get other employee benefits like gym memberships, paid holiday and sick pay.
Great career prospects
Employers think apprentices are 15% more employable than those with other qualifications. In fact, many large employers train their graduates and apprentices together!
Learn on the job
There’s only so much you can learn when you just do a qualification. As an apprentice, you’ll also get to learn on the job - whether that’s designing amazing graphics, chopping vegetables or building engines!

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