Groundsperson

Typical Salary

£17,000 To £48,000

Typical Hours

39 to 41 a week

evenings / weekends flexibly

How To Become a Groundsperson

You can get into this job through:

a university course
a college course
an apprenticeship
working towards this role
specialist courses run by a professional body

College / University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

sports surface management
sportsturf management
horticulture

1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma

2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

You might find it helpful to do a qualification before looking for work. Course subjects include:

Level 2 Certificate in Sports and Amenity Turf Maintenance
Level 2 Certificate in Practical Horticulture Skills
Level 3 Diploma in Horticulture

2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

Apprenticeship

You may be able to get into this job through an intermediate apprenticeship as a sports turf operative.

some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

You may be able to find work as an assistant groundsperson without qualifications. You could then work your way up by getting experience and studying on the job.

Other Routes

You could take qualifications with an industry body like the Institute of Groundsmanship. They offer courses at different levels in turf surface maintenance and management.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

to be thorough and pay attention to detail
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
the ability to work well with others
ambition and a desire to succeed
sensitivity and understanding
physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
the ability to work well with your hands
customer service skills
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day To Day Tasks

You may:

prepare land for laying turf (grass)
roll and mow grass
mark lines on pitches or greens, cut holes and move markers
remove water and rake ground
apply turf treatments to control weeds, fungal diseases, pests and turf problems
install and maintain equipment
operate equipment like strimmers and ride-on mowers

Working Environment

You could work at a school, in a park or on a sports field.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers.

Career Path & Progression

With experience, you could progress to supervisor, team leader or head of section.

You could get training from the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG).

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Institute of Groundsmanship for professional development and to make industry contacts.

Further information

You'll find more advice about careers and training as a groundsperson from the Institute of Groundsmanship.

Restrictions & Requirements

You'll need to:

pass enhanced background checks, as you may be working with children and vulnerable adults

You may need a driving licence for some jobs.