Sports Turf Operative Apprentice

Summary

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Grounds team, on a two-year apprenticeship course, working towards a Sports Turf Operative Level 2 Certificate. You will be working alongside and supporting the Grounds team to maintain and prepare the playing surfaces to an excellent standard to ensure that games can go ahead on schedule.

Annual wage

£13,312 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

This salary could potentially be higher dependant on experience.

Training course

Sports turf operative (level 2)

Hours

40 per week – to include evenings & weekends (shift times to be confirmed)

40 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 4 November

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

Undertaking routine maintenance work on the Club's sporting facilities, including pitch surfaces, to recognised national standards
Assist the Grounds team to ensure that the pitch and stadium are prepared correctly for fixtures and other events involving the playing surface
Safe operation of a range of horticultural equipment and machinery, ensuring all is maintained in accordance with routine operating requirements
Undertake general maintenance tasks in relation to the playing surface and surrounding areas
Loading, transporting, and storing equipment and materials safely
To have a flexible approach to working hours subject to the requirements of the Club
As an Apprentice you will, in the main, work alongside our experienced team who will teach you how to do the wide range of jobs associated with maintaining The Club’s grounds to the highest standard
The role will involve physical work such as mowing, digging, and movement of equipment and materials
Additional duties as reasonably requested by the Head Groundsperson
To adhere to the Club’s Safeguarding Policy at all times
To promote a safe and healthy working environment for all players and staff
To promote a professional image of the club and themselves at all times
To contribute to identifying and undertaking initiatives aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery
To work with and support other team members as required ensuring effective and efficient service is developed and delivered
You will be expected to seek ways of updating and improving personal skills, knowledge and understanding relevant to your own job role

Where you’ll work

Bloomfield Rd Blackpool

FY1 6JJ

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

THE OLDHAM COLLEGE

Your training course

Sports turf operative (level 2)

Equal to GCSE

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.

Your training plan

Sports Turf Operative Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard
The training schedule has yet to be agreed upon, further details will be made available at a later date

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade Grade 9-4/A*-C or equivalent)
Maths (grade Grade 9-4/A*-C or equivalent)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Physical fitness
Working outdoors

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 company

Blackpool Football Club is an English Professional Association Football Club based in the seaside town of Blackpool, Lancashire. The club was founded in 1887 and has a very storied history, from being a founding member of the Lancashire League in 1889, rising to the Top-Flight of the Football League (the old First Division) in 1930, to winning the FA Cup in 1953 and being promoted to the Premier League in 2010 (becoming the first Club to gain promotion from every division of the Football League via the play-off system.) The team are competing in League One, the third tier of the English Football League. The club have played their home games at Bloomfield Road since 1901.

http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Upon completion of the apprenticeship, the qualified Sports Turf Operative will be in an excellent position to apply for skilled positions in the sports turf industry, both nationally and internationally

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 VAC1000282256.

Apply now

Closes in 10 days (Friday 1 November at 11:59pm)

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