Sports Turf Operative Apprentice
WIGAN ATHLETIC A.F.C. LIMITED
Lancashire (WN5 0UZ)
Closes in 4 days (Friday 19 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 15 September 2025
Contents
Summary
To prepare and maintain sports and amenity surfaces, providing a high-quality environment for all training and playing activities. This will be across all Wigan Athletic and Wigan Warriors sites.
- Wage
-
£22,308 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
The salary will be dependable on work experience and qualifications.
- Training course
- Sports turf operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 37.5 hours per week. Exact shifts TBC.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 29 September 2025
- 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
Prepare and maintain all works in relation to playing surfaces
and ensure that the preparatory and cultivation work to
maintain safe quality playing surfaces is completed.
- Work as part of the grounds care operation, when required to work in any of the stadium and training ground facilities
- Assist the Head Grounds person and Deputy Head Grounds person in delivering the pest control, weed control, seeding, fungicide and fertilisation/nutrition program for the playing surfaces
- Ensure that the initial marking out and setting up of playing surfaces is to a high standard to ensure the best possible results are achieved
- Always ensure safe use of the grounds care equipment
SUPPORTIVE OF CLUB ENVIRONMENT AND POLICIES:
- Cooperate fully with colleagues and be flexible when assisting them in response to business needs of the group
- Ensure a positive commitment towards equality and diversity by treating others fairly and not committing any form of direct or indirect discrimination, victimisation or harassment of any description and to promote positive working relations amongst employees and customers
- The above job description is not intended to be exhaustive; the duties and responsibilities may therefore vary over time according to the changing needs of the group
HEALTH AND SAFETY:
- Fully endorse, demonstrate and carry out the company’s health and safety policy
- Comply with all company policies and statutory regulations relating to health and safety, safe working practices, hygiene, cleanliness, fire and COSHH. This will include your awareness of any specific hazards in your workplace, and assist if required with the amending of risk assessments periodically
- Have a full knowledge of procedures for evacuation with regard to fire
- Identify and report maintenance requirements or hazards within the workplace and encourage any workforce to do the same to avoid injury
Where you'll work
Dw Stadium
Loire Drive Robin Park
Wigan
Lancashire
WN5 0UZ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE OLDHAM 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
Sports Turf Operative Level 2.
Training will be delivered by Oldham College in the workplace.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade Grade 9-4/A*-C or equivalent)
- Maths (grade Grade 9-4/A*-C or equivalent)
Desirable qualifications
Other in:
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
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Physical fitness
- Reliable and hardworking
- Able to work in all weathers
- Able to follow instructions
- Enthusiastic
- Able to work under pressure
Other requirements
You will be expected to be flexible with the working hours. There is a degree of lifting and carrying that you will need to be able to carry out. Applications will only be accepted through the National Apprenticeship Website: https://www.gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship. Please do not contact the employer direct. If your application is successful, you will be contacted by The Oldham College (normally via email) to invite you to attend a pre-interview and initial assessment.
About this employer
Wigan Athletic Football Club is a professional association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. Founded in 1932, they have played at the 25,138-seat The Brick Community Stadium since 1999, before which they played at Springfield Park.
After this apprenticeship
Subject to the needs of the club you will be entitled to apply for any full-time vacancies.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THE OLDHAM COLLEGE
Andrea Kearns
andrea.kearns@oldham.ac.uk
0161 785 4072
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000341972.
Apply now
Closes in 4 days (Friday 19 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
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