Sports Turf Operative Apprentice
DURHAM CRICKET C.I.C.
County Durham (DH3 3QR)
Closes in 16 days (Friday 27 November 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 11 November 2026
Contents
Summary
We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Sports Turf Operative Apprentice to join our grounds maintenance team.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working outdoors, has an interest in sport and wants to develop practical skills in sports turf maintenance.
- Wage
-
£16,640 to £26,436.80, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
- Training course
- Sports turf operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday
8am-4pm - this will be liable to change during the season due to cricket matches being played.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 1 February 2027
- 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
- Assisting with the preparation and maintenance of the playing surfaces and outfield, and practice and nets areas
- Assisting and taking direction from the Head Groundsman in placing and removing covering and surface water from the playing area for all matches.
- Operating and maintaining grounds equipment in accordance with standard operating and safety procedures
Assisting in the marking out and setting up of playing surfaces. - Ensuring that all equipment is maintained on a day to day basis in accordance with routine operating requirements
To provide a helpful and professional service to all users of the facilities including players and coaches - Maintain equipment such as nets, posts and protective covers
- Following health and safety procedures at all times.
Where you'll work
Emirates Riverside
Riverside
Chester Le Street
County Durham
DH3 3QR
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
EAST DURHAM 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 in the workplace, with regular visits from a Sports Turf Trainer Coach, who will carry out reviews and set assignments.
More training information
Alongside your employment, you will complete a Level 2 Sports Turf Operative Apprenticeship with East Durham College.
You will develop practical knowledge and skills in:
- Sports turf maintenance and management.
- Soil types, grass varieties and growing conditions.
- Machinery operation and maintenance.
- Preparing and maintaining sports surfaces.
- Health and safety within the grounds maintenance industry.
- Identifying and managing turf pests, weeds and diseases.
- You will receive support from experienced workplace staff and your East Durham College Trainer Coach throughout your apprenticeship.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 3 or above)
- Maths (grade 3 or above)
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
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Patience
- Physical fitness
- Interest in Cricket/Sport
Other requirements
- Previous experience in grounds maintenance or gardening.(Desirable)
- Experience of working in cricket or sport and an interest in cricket. (Desirable)
- A full UK driving licence (Desirable)
About this employer
Durham County Cricket Club (DCCC) was established as an amateur Minor County in May 1882 and went onto become cricket’s most successful Minor County and the first to beat a First-Class County when defeating Yorkshire in 1973. Durham was awarded first class professional status in December 1991 – the only new First-Class County in over 70 years – and played in the professional structure from 1992.
In 1999, The Riverside hosted two matches of the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup and in 2003 the ground staged was elevated to Test match status. It has since hosted six England Men’s Test matches including an Ashes Test in 2013. In 2019 it hosted 3 matches of the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and since has hosted Men’s and Women’s international fixtures annually.
Since becoming a first-class county, DCCC has established English cricket’s most successful academy, regularly producing international stars for England, including Steve Harmison, Paul Collingwood, Mark Wood and Ben Stokes in the men’s game. In 2024 Durham team was one of 8 counties to receive tier one women’s professional status and in 2026 the team reached the final of the T20 Blast.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Potential for long-term employment and career progression within the grounds maintenance industry.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
EAST DURHAM COLLEGE
Adam Heslop
adam.heslop@eastdurham.ac.uk
01915185589
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000063020.
Apply now
Closes in 16 days (Friday 27 November 2026 at 11:59pm)