Sports Turf Apprentice
NORTHERN LAWN TENNIS CLUB
MANCHESTER (M20 3YA)
Closes in 24 days (Saturday 3 October 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 4 September 2026
Contents
Summary
As a Sports Turf Apprentice, you'll learn to prepare and maintain high-quality tennis courts and club grounds. Working with experienced staff, you'll gain practical skills, industry knowledge and recognised qualifications while supporting the day-to-day operation of a leading tennis venue. Ideal to build a career in sports turf.
- Wage
-
£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Sports turf operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday 7am- 3pm
You may be required to work a few hours on the occasional weekend to support with matches or events.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 2 November 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
- Assist with the preparation and maintenance of grass, clay, and artificial tennis courts
- Learn and carry out tasks such as mowing, line marking, brushing, irrigation, aeration, scarification, and topdressing
- Support seasonal renovation programmes across all playing surfaces
- Help monitor turf health, soil conditions, and court performance
- Operate grounds machinery and equipment safely under supervision
- Maintain surrounding landscaped areas, pathways, and spectator zones
- Keep work areas clean, safe, and organised
- Attend all required training and complete coursework towards your turf qualification
- Work collaboratively with the Grounds Team and contribute positively to club operations
Where you'll work
PALATINE RD
DIDSBURY
MANCHESTER
M20 3YA
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
TRAIN TOGETHER LIMITED
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 for the Level 2 Sports Turf Operative Apprenticeship will be provided by Train Together Ltd and take place directly in the workplace, allowing the apprentice to learn hands‑on alongside the grounds team.
In addition, day‑to‑day practical learning, the apprentice will receive monthly training sessions with a dedicated Trainer Coach, who will visit the site to deliver structured off‑the‑job training, review progress, and support their development throughout the programme.
Requirements
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Initiative
Other requirements
- A genuine interest in sports turf, horticulture, or outdoor practical work
- Positive attitude, willingness to learn, and pride in delivering high standards
- Reliable, punctual, and able to follow instructions
- Comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions
- Good communication skills and ability to work well within a team
About this employer
The Northern Lawn Tennis Club is one of the UK’s most prestigious and historic racquets clubs, known for its exceptional grass courts, artificial clay courts, covered padel courts and landscaped grounds. We pride ourselves on maintaining world‑class playing surfaces and providing members with an outstanding environment for tennis, squash, fitness, and social activity.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Potential for progression within the club upon successful completion of the apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
TRAIN TOGETHER LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000051435.
Apply now
Closes in 24 days (Saturday 3 October 2026 at 11:59pm)