Grounds Staff Apprentice

Summary

We host approximately 30 polo tournaments year-round, as well as offering venue hire, meaning maintenance of the pitches and estate is of paramount of importance. This is an opportunity to become a pivotal part of a fun and welcoming team at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club.

Wage

£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

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Training course

Sports turf operative (level 2)

Hours

5 days per week 8.00am - 5.00pm This may include some weekend days.

40 hours a week

Start date

Thursday 8 May 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

Working as part of a team of 5 or 6 people who will:

Maintain the 6 polo fields
Carry out repairs/improvements around the estate including 170 stables, accommodations and offices
Mowing, strimming & garden maintenance

Where you’ll work

NORTH STREET
WINKFIELD
WINDSOR
SL4 4TH

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

THE WINDSOR FOREST COLLEGES GROUP

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.
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
Training for this apprenticeship will be delivered remotely

Requirements

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
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Team working
Initiative
Physical fitness
Gardening/Labouring Experience

Other requirements

Some ‘hands-on’ experience in gardening/labouring or similar is essential Job involves being outdoors and may involve operating machinery and heavy lifting Desirable - Experience around horses Full UK Driving Licence

About this company

Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club, known as ‘the Berkshire’, is one of the leading Polo Clubs in the country. We host polo tournaments throughout the summer and winter and hold various private events from small gatherings to large corporate events.

After this apprenticeship

Possibility of permanent full-time employment upon completion of the apprenticeship

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

THE WINDSOR FOREST COLLEGES GROUP

Rahul Kapur

rahul.kapur@windsor-forest.ac.uk

01753443855

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000314275.

Apply now

Closes in 7 days (Thursday 1 May 2025 at 11:59pm)

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