Sports Turf Technician Apprentice
UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
Bristol (BS8 1TP)
Closes in 10 days (Tuesday 17 June 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 3 June 2025
Contents
Summary
During the apprenticeship, you will carry out repair, maintenance, and testing of sports grounds at Coombe Dingle Sports Complex, supported by an experienced team. You’ll gain hands-on experience in pitch preparation, maintenance, and rejuvenation. Additionally working towards a Level 3 qualification through University and College support.
- Wage
-
£23,414 a year
- Training course
- Advanced sports turf technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, Shifts to be confirmed.
35 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 4 August 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
By the end of the apprenticeship the apprentice will be able to:
- Supervise and undertake the preparation and maintenance of the playing surface in accordance with governing bodies requirements, rules and regulations
- Evaluate performance and agronomic data of playing surfaces (e.g. weather data, soil conditions, performance quality standard). Recommend improvements to turf health and playing surface conditions
- Monitor and control threats to turf health and apply sustainable integrated pest management practices (encompassing weeds, pests, and diseases)
- Supervise and implement processes, procedures and strategies for the effective usage of irrigation and drainage systems to maximise sports turf health and surface performance
- Prepare sports turf machinery and supervise maintenance programmes for equipment and machinery. Readying machinery for each set task – grass cutting, line marking, rolling, scarifying
- Agree the specification and implement resource and budget requirements for sports turf projects
- Supervise the adoption of sustainable and environmentally friendly working practices
- Ensure a safe working environment and the adoption of legal working practices including the reviewing of risk assessments
- Communicate with stakeholders, including bookings team, coaches, and captains on the factors affecting the condition of the sports turf and manage expectations
- Plan, prepare for and supervise the construction or renovation of the sports turf facilities
- To provide a welcoming environment to the customers of the University of Bristol Sports Facilities
- As part of the apprenticeship continue to develop through self-directed and directed study on Grounds Management Association, plus additional courses, and study days as appropriate
Where you'll work
Indoor Sports Centre
3 Tyndall Avenue
Bristol
BS8 1TP
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
BRIDGWATER AND TAUNTON COLLEGE
Your training course
Advanced sports turf technician (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self, team and others. Implement safe working practices in accordance with statutory legislation and regulations (including carrying out risk assessments).
- Allocate work and supervise staff in accordance with agreed maintenance plans.
- Oversee the preparation of playing surfaces in accordance with relevant governing body rules/regulations.
- Monitor sports turf surfaces and oversee the control of weeds, pests, diseases and disorders to an agreed plan. Develop a basic Integrated Pest Management plan.
- Develop a basic maintenance plan for the facility, for a determined time period (for example, preparation for key competitions or events).
- Apply a range of turfgrass growth and plant protection products (pesticides) in line with the agreed plan.
- Set run times and precipitation rates (irrigation) and drainage fall.
- Apply a range of techniques to gather agronomic and playability data by recording, interpreting and communicating in suitable formats (for example, electronic soil moisture, salinity, pH probes, soil sampler, thermometer, surface firmness testing equipment and playability testing).
- Evaluate sports turf surfaces and make recommendations for improvements based on findings.
- Promote environmental best practice and sustainable working practices.
- Estimate and programme resource requirements to meet the scope of the turfgrass maintenance plan.
- Oversee the preparation, general maintenance and storage of machines for use.
- Apply basic fault finding techniques in order to identify problems with powered machinery and equipment.
- Source information from suppliers/distributors/dealers to inform selection or tender services and or resources.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of the maintenance budgets.
- Identify, evaluate, plan and prepare sites for renovation.
- Supervise and monitor the renovation or establishment of a sports turf facility.
- Communicate information to stakeholders utilising formal and informal methods.
- Supervise meetings and brief colleagues.
- Assist with the training and mentoring of staff.
- Use information technology to assist with effective communication and record keeping.
- Manage own Continuing Professional Development, keeping up to date with working practices, environmental developments and advances in technology.
- Oversee and undertake the operation, maintenance and servicing of irrigation or drainage systems, including minor repairs and problem solving issues.
- Promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self, team and others. Implement safe working practices in accordance with statutory legislation and regulations (including carrying out risk assessments).
- Allocate work and supervise staff in accordance with agreed maintenance plans.
- Oversee the preparation of playing surfaces in accordance with relevant governing body rules/regulations.
- Monitor sports turf surfaces and oversee the control of weeds, pests, diseases and disorders to an agreed plan. Develop a basic Integrated Pest Management plan.
- Develop a basic maintenance plan for the facility, for a determined time period (for example, preparation for key competitions or events).
- Apply a range of turfgrass growth and plant protection products (pesticides) in line with the agreed plan.
- Set run times and precipitation rates (irrigation) and drainage fall.
- Apply a range of techniques to gather agronomic and playability data by recording, interpreting and communicating in suitable formats (for example, electronic soil moisture, salinity, pH probes, soil sampler, thermometer, surface firmness testing equipment and playability testing).
- Evaluate sports turf surfaces and make recommendations for improvements based on findings.
- Promote environmental best practice and sustainable working practices.
- Estimate and programme resource requirements to meet the scope of the turfgrass maintenance plan.
- Oversee the preparation, general maintenance and storage of machines for use.
- Apply basic fault finding techniques in order to identify problems with powered machinery and equipment.
- Source information from suppliers/distributors/dealers to inform selection or tender services and or resources.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of the maintenance budgets.
- Identify, evaluate, plan and prepare sites for renovation.
- Supervise and monitor the renovation or establishment of a sports turf facility.
- Communicate information to stakeholders utilising formal and informal methods.
- Supervise meetings and brief colleagues.
- Assist with the training and mentoring of staff.
- Use information technology to assist with effective communication and record keeping.
- Manage own Continuing Professional Development, keeping up to date with working practices, environmental developments and advances in technology.
- Oversee and undertake the operation, maintenance and servicing of irrigation or drainage systems, including minor repairs and problem solving issues.
Your training plan
Advanced Sports Turf Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade C/4)
- Maths (grade C/4)
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
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Administrative skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- Physical fitness
About this company
Bristol University is one of the most popular and successful universities in the UK, ranked 54th in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2025. https://bristol.ac.uk/inclusion/diversify-your-workforce/join-us/ (opens in new tab)
After this apprenticeship
- Whilst a permanent role cannot be guaranteed the majority of apprentices gain open ended employment
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
Niah Rhoden-Edwards
uob-apprenticeships@bristol.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000323572.
Apply now
Closes in 10 days (Tuesday 17 June 2025 at 11:59pm)
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