Summary
Learn from experienced professionals, work on high-quality sports pitches and gain valuable skills in grounds keeping and turf care.
Wage
£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
Training course
Sports turf operative (level 2)
Hours
Working 40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year. Monday - Friday from 07:30 - 16:30 including a 1 hour unpaid break per day. There is a requirement to work one Saturday per month within term time, the accrued time can be taken at a later date.
40 hours a week
Start date
Monday 1 September 2025
Duration
1 year 6 months
Positions available
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you’ll do at work
* Pitch Maintenance and Preparation
* Equipment Management
* Health, Safety and Compliance
* Collaboration and Event Preparation
Where you’ll work
ST. BEDES SCHOOL
UPPER DICKER
HAILSHAM
BN27 3QH
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
PLUMPTON COLLEGE
Your training course
Sports turf operative (level 2)
Equal to GCSE
Course contents
* Apply the correct rates and range of materials to sports turf surfaces (e.g. grass seed, granular fertilisers, bulky top-dressing, turf and root zone).
* Set and mark out the sports turf surface in accordance with the relevant governing body rules (including line marking, the 3-4-5 squaring technique, and marking arcs and semi-circles).
* Prepare machinery and equipment to ensure their safe and effective use when carrying out sport turf tasks.
* Maintain levels of soil moisture using either irrigation or drainage systems.
* Inspect the condition of sports turf, make observations and communicate findings (e.g. PQS, weeds, pests, diseases, thatch content).
* Prepare the ground and established grass areas as part of sports turf renovation tasks (e.g. overseeding, turfing).
* Carry out cylinder mowing of sports turf surface(s) in accordance with set requirements.
* Carry out repair of sports turf surfaces using relevant equipment and machinery (e.g. divot repair, foot hole repair, animal damage).
* Prepare and safely operate a tractor and it's attachments.
* Select and use relevant communication styles (e.g. verbal, written, digital) to convey information to different audiences (e.g. clients, staff, suppliers).
* Adopts a systematic approach to troubleshooting and solving day-to-day resource or equipment issues.
* Identify a range of turf grasses (vegetative and seed). (Including, perennial ryegrass smooth stalk meadow grass, annual meadow grass, fescue grass (fine), bent grass).
* Carry out maintenance of sports turf surface using relevant equipment and machinery (including scarification, and aeration).
* Dispose of waste in a safe and sustainable manner.
* Apply the correct rates and range of materials to sports turf surfaces (e.g. grass seed, granular fertilisers, bulky top-dressing, turf and root zone).
* Set and mark out the sports turf surface in accordance with the relevant governing body rules (including line marking, the 3-4-5 squaring technique, and marking arcs and semi-circles).
* Prepare machinery and equipment to ensure their safe and effective use when carrying out sport turf tasks.
* Maintain levels of soil moisture using either irrigation or drainage systems.
* Inspect the condition of sports turf, make observations and communicate findings (e.g. PQS, weeds, pests, diseases, thatch content).
* Prepare the ground and established grass areas as part of sports turf renovation tasks (e.g. overseeding, turfing).
* Carry out cylinder mowing of sports turf surface(s) in accordance with set requirements.
* Carry out repair of sports turf surfaces using relevant equipment and machinery (e.g. divot repair, foot hole repair, animal damage).
* Prepare and safely operate a tractor and it's attachments.
* Select and use relevant communication styles (e.g. verbal, written, digital) to convey information to different audiences (e.g. clients, staff, suppliers).
* Adopts a systematic approach to troubleshooting and solving day-to-day resource or equipment issues.
* Identify a range of turf grasses (vegetative and seed). (Including, perennial ryegrass smooth stalk meadow grass, annual meadow grass, fescue grass (fine), bent grass).
* Carry out maintenance of sports turf surface using relevant equipment and machinery (including scarification, and aeration).
* Dispose of waste in a safe and sustainable manner.
Your training plan
Working towards a Level 2 Sports turf operative apprenticeship standard, including any required Functional Skills in English and maths. The training will take place at Bede's Senior School along with travel to Plumpton college, training days to be agreed.
Requirements
Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.
Skills
* Communication skills
* Attention to detail
* Logical
* Team working
* Creative
* Initiative
* Non judgemental
* Physical fitness
Other requirements
The vacancy involves working outdoors, training will be provided for the tools and machinery that will be used.