Apprentice Groundsman

North Lincolnshire Council

Scunthorpe (DN15 8TD)

Closes in 9 days (Saturday 8 November 2025)

Posted on 27 October 2025


Summary

North Lincolnshire Council is looking to recruit Apprentice Groundskeeper to join their Park and Open Spaces team. As an apprentice you will, work alongside experienced staff, gain job-specific skills, earn a wage & receive holiday pay and study towards a related apprenticeship standard (usually 6 hours per week).

Wage

£14,526.20 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)

Training course
Advanced sports turf technician (level 3)
Hours
37 hours per week Monday- Friday adjusted to occasional evening and weekend work where sports fixtures require.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 15 December 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

  • Prepare for matchdays by setting up goals, flags, and other necessary equipment
  • Contribute to general grounds maintenance tasks concerning the playing surface, its surroundings and general areas
  • Routine preparation and maintenance tasks for playing surfaces as agreed with the supervisor
  • Safely operate and maintain the equipment and machinery employed in grounds maintenance
  • Assist in the inspection, maintenance, and assembly of goal equipment in readiness for the new season
  • Maintain a clean, organised, and secure work area

Where you'll work

Glanford Park
Doncaster Road
Scunthorpe
DN15 8TD

Training

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

Training provider

KEITS TRAINING SERVICES LTD

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.

Training schedule

At the apprentices workplace

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade A- C)
  • Maths (grade A- C)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Organisation skills
  • Team working
  • Knowledge of Health and Safety
  • Time Management
  • Motivated

About this employer

North Lincolnshire Council have an aspiration to make North Lincolnshire the best place to live, work, visit and invest. We have built a strong working relationships in the pursuit of the realisation of this ambition and have delivered many successful employment and skills programmes over recent years, working hard to secure positive outcomes for our residents.

Company benefits

Staff discounts Access to pensions

Disability Confident

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

  • Become a qualified Sports Turf Technician at Level 3

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

North Lincolnshire Council

Tom Neary

tom.neary@northlincs.gov.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000348498.

Apply now

Closes in 9 days (Saturday 8 November 2025)

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