Apprentice Groundsperson

Summary

We have a vacancy for an Apprentice Groundsperson. The role will involve progressing through the apprenticeship programme whilst learning and experiencing the responsibility to deliver first class results as a member of the ground staff team.

Wage

£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Apprenticeship Wage £7.55 per hour, uplifting to National Minimum Wage after completing the first year of the apprenticeship.

Training course

Sports turf operative (level 2)

Hours

Full-time. 40 hours including home match days where required. Exact working days and hours to be confirmed.

40 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 July 2025

Duration

2 years

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

Main Duties:

Ensuring the Clubs playing areas are maintained and presented to the highest standard using a range of turfcare machinery and techniques
Cutting the pitch with cylinder and rotary machinery
Aeration of the pitch with various machinery
Nutritional applications to the surface
Undertake any renovation work
Maintain machinery that is on site
Work in a way that promotes good Health & Safety
Preparation of the pitch to include cutting, marking, divotting, brushing, rolling, forking, sand application, seeding and any other pitch duties
Deployment of rain covers, marking out and dismantling of practice nets

Other Duties:

To work with and support other team members as required to ensure an effective and efficient service is developed and delivered
You will be expected to seek ways of updating and improving personal skills, knowledge and understanding relevant to your own job role
Managing the upkeep and development of the pitch at the stadium, and the pitches and training facilities at the training ground
Cleaning and presentation of the external areas of the stadium and training ground
To promote a professional image of the club and themselves at all times
To adhere to SWFC policies including the implementation of Safeguarding and EDI initiatives and practices
Any other reasonable duties as requested by your line manager

Where you'll work

Hillsborough
Sheffield
S6 1SW

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

MYERSCOUGH COLLEGE

Your training course

Sports turf operative (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

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

This training plan has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

2 other subjects (grade 2-9/E-A*)
English (grade 2-9/E-A*)
Maths (grade 2-9/E-A*)

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

Team working
Interest in pitch preparation
Self-motivated and dedicated
Reliable and Hard working
A willingness to learn
Can-do attitude
Ability to follow instruction
Maintain high standards
A willingness to be adaptable
Good attention to detail

About this company

Sheffield Wednesday Football Club is a professional association football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. Equal Opportunities SWFC is an Equal Opportunities and Disability Confident employer and welcomes applicants from all sectors of the community. Safeguarding SWFC is committed to Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. As such you may be subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service and prior to taking up any role.

https://www.swfc.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

• Company Pension • Westfield Health Cover • Free Parking • 28 Days Holiday (inc bank holidays) • SWFC Season Ticket • Staff Discount at the Owls Megastore • Funded Training Opportunities.

After this apprenticeship

On completion of the apprenticeship, you would be qualified as a skilled Groundsperson with the opportunity of full-time permanent employment at SWFC or further opportunities within the industry.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

MYERSCOUGH COLLEGE

Employer Services

employerenquiries@myerscough.ac.uk

01995 642255

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000322296.

Apply now

Closes in 12 days (Thursday 5 June 2025 at 11:59pm)

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