Grounds Keeper Apprentice

EASTBOURNE COLLEGE (INCORPORATED)

EASTBOURNE (BN21 4JY)

Closes in 12 days (Wednesday 11 February 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 27 January 2026

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Summary

Gain hands‑on experience maintaining six high‑quality sports sites, from cricket and rugby to synthetic pitches. You’ll help keep facilities in top condition, learn machinery and equipment upkeep, and work closely with coaching teams to support excellent sporting experiences.

Wage

£14,722.50 to £23,809.50, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Sports turf operative (level 2)
Hours
Monday - Friday, 8.00am - 4.00pm.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Tuesday 7 April 2026

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

Day to day responsibilities and tasks will vary, but will include: 

  • Carrying out day‑to‑day general maintenance of sports grounds
  • Marking out sports pitches and surfaces to required specifications
  • Aeration, mowing, and routine maintenance of sports surfaces
  • General maintenance of amenity and landscaped areas
  • Maintaining high standards of presentation across all areas
  • Ensuring ancillary areas, including viewing areas and pavilions, are kept tidy and safe

Where you'll work

EASTBOURNE COLLEGE
MARLBOROUGH HOUSE
OLD WISH ROAD
EASTBOURNE
BN21 4JY

Training

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

Training provider

PLUMPTON COLLEGE

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.

Training schedule

The training will take place in person, bi-weekly at Plumpton College

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Maths (grade 4)

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
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Number skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness
  • Detail oriented

Other requirements

Our apprentice will need to pass a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Due to the location of our college and surrounding areas, having your own means of transport is highly recommended.

About this employer

Eastbourne College is an award-winning HMC independent co-educational day and boarding school for around 600 pupils aged 13 to 18, set on the beautiful East Sussex coast. Working here means joining a professional community of teaching and support staff that values ambition, balance and wellbeing.

Healthy ambition and a focus on positivity and growth guide the way we work together at Eastbourne College. Staff benefit from excellent facilities, a collaborative culture and the inspiration of our coastal setting between the South Downs and the sea. We also invest in professional development and provide access to a range of staff benefits, including use of College facilities, pension schemes and wellbeing initiatives.

The College is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community, a place where we all – pupils and staff alike – can be ourselves and succeed on merit. As a respected employer in the independent education sector, Eastbourne College offers a rewarding and supportive environment where our staff can continue to develop their skills and, where possible, take on new responsibilities.

Company benefits

As an apprentice, you will be able to access to our Employee Assistance Programme, gain free tickets to college performances, get free lunches during normal working hours and be able to use the college gym and swimming pool.

After this apprenticeship

  • After the apprenticeship, we would take the apprentice on as a full time groundsperson

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

PLUMPTON COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000011084.

Apply now

Closes in 12 days (Wednesday 11 February 2026 at 11:59pm)