Sports Turf Apprentice

REIGATE GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Reigate (RH2 8PN)

Closes in 18 days (Monday 15 June 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 27 May 2026

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Summary

We are looking for an apprentice to join us in our grounds team. This is a great opportunity to begin a career in sports grounds & turf maintenance, combining on-the-job experience with formal training. You’ll gain valuable skills while contributing to the upkeep of a busy multi-sport site.

Wage

£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Sports turf operative (level 2)
Hours
Monday to Friday 07:30am to 4:30pm including some weekend work.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 22 June 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

You’ll be part of a team responsible for maintaining over 32 acres of sports grounds, including:

  • Cricket pitches
  • Rugby and football fields
  • Athletics facilities
  • All-weather hockey and tennis surfaces

Your work helps ensure students, staff, and visitors have the best possible experience using the facilities. You will do this by:

  • Preparing and marking out pitches for matches and training
  • Maintaining playing surfaces to a high standard
  • Using specialist equipment (e.g. mowers)
  • Tasks such as mowing, line marking, spiking, aeration, fertilising, repairs and turf care
  • Supporting general upkeep of outdoor spaces

Where you'll work

Hartswood Sports Ground
160 Dovers Green Road
Reigate
RH2 8PN

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

Training will take place 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
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Physical fitness

Other requirements

Having your own transport or working towards this is highly advised due to the location of the apprenticeship and the nature of the work that will be undertaken. 

About this employer

Reigate Grammar School (RGS) is one of the UK’s leading independent schools, with a history dating back over 300 years. Today, it educates more than 1050 students aged 11-18 and is widely recognised for both academic achievement and a strong focus on personal development.

The school offers high-quality facilities including sports pitches, all-weather surfaces, a swimming pool, sports halls and fitness spaces. This creates a busy and varied environment, where sport and outdoor activity play an important part in daily school life.

Working at RGS means being part of a supportive team that takes pride in its environment and the experience it provides for students, staff and visitors. We believe that great schools are built on great staff.

Company benefits

  • On-site parking
  • Free 2-course lunch provided 
  • Swimming pool and fitness facilities access
  • Tea & coffee available
  • Employee Assistance Programme
  • Workplace Pension Scheme

After this apprenticeship

A possible full-time role after completion of the apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

PLUMPTON COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000033696.

Apply now

Closes in 18 days (Monday 15 June 2026 at 11:59pm)