Grounds Maintenance Apprentice
LEISURE UNITED
Sunderland (SR4 0RW)
Closes in 6 days (Friday 27 February 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 19 February 2026
Contents
Summary
To ensure high quality facilities through upkeep and maintenance of the site and pitches.
- Wage
-
£15,704 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, 08:30 - 16:30 and may have to work some weekends.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 17 March 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
- The Grounds Person will liaise with the Management team and assist in all day-to-day and requirements of the multiple site maintenance areas
- To regularly maintain 3g playing surfaces e.g., brushing, raking, litter removal, goal maintenance
- To ensure playing surfaces avoid misuse by users and members of the public
- To ensure that the entrance and border areas of the playing fields are kept tidy and presentable and are free from misuse
- To complete sports turf maintenance according to best practice and availability of grounds care equipment
- To maintain on items of site equipment, to ensure they are of an acceptable standard
- To maintain and where necessary report service needs of all plant machinery and vehicles
- To ensure that a regular stock taking exercise takes place, to ensure that sufficient materials are always on site
- To liaise with members of the public, in a friendly and courteous manner, with particular reference to partner groups and general customer groups
- To ensure the necessary work sheets are completed on the required basis
- All maintenance personnel may be expected to work together at other specified sites when hosting tournaments or special events
- The ability to undertake other reasonable duties, at the request of a site Manager
- To maintain on site buildings, to ensure they are of an acceptable standard, both inside and out. This includes record keeping for housekeeping and health and safety
- Prepare, implement and monitor weekly, monthly and annual maintenance programmes to ensure the required standard of surface presentation
- Estimate resources required for work projects and maintenance works and liase with line manager in an appropriate timescale to ensure materials are ordered and ready when required
- Be fully knowledgeable of the Health and Safety regulations in the area of responsibility
- Possess a thorough understanding of legislation and safety relating to operation of machinery, chemicals, and dangerous substances
- Manage and check facilities, plant, buildings, and equipment to ensure safe working practices and Health and Safety legislation compliance
- Provide effective materials and machinery management to ensure all equipment is correctly used, stored, maintained, and serviced
- Assist the site manager in risk assessment and safety management
- Support the efficient use of resources
- Gather and record information to develop data and analyse past usage
- Make recommendations for improving the best use of resources and playing surfaces
Where you'll work
Leisure United Ford
Sunderland
SR4 0RW
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
BARNSLEY 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
- Delivery to be completed on site and off the job training either at Barnsley College or your place of work
- Student to complete Sports turf operative Level 2
- Student to attend Barnsley College once a month with travel expenses to be paid for by employer
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
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
18+ due to the nature of the role
About this employer
Leisure United is a UK-based charitable trust that operates football and fitness facilities within local communities. It provides 3G pitches, gyms, leagues and coaching programmes, reinvesting profits into grassroots sport and community initiatives to make physical activity accessible to all.
Company benefits
- Performance related payment
- Gym Membership
- Employee discount platform
- Free onsite parking
- Discount on Food and beverages
After this apprenticeship
- Full time role
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BARNSLEY COLLEGE
Eleasha Smith
apprenticeships@barnsley.ac.uk
+441226216166
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000016067.
Apply now
Closes in 6 days (Friday 27 February 2026 at 11:59pm)