Groundsperson Apprentice

Summary

Colchester United Football Club is a fast-paced, forward-thinking organisation which strives to achieve greatness in all areas and is able to do this due to a highly dedicated and hardworking team behind it. We are looking for 2 apprentices to work with our Grounds team.

Annual wage: £13,312 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Sports turf operative (level 2)
Hours: Monday - Friday 7am to 4pm with an hour lunch break. Occasional weekend and match day work available.
40 hours a week
Possible start date: Monday 6 January
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

To work effectively within a small team to ensure all general pitch duties are carried out to the highest standards (e.g. line drawing and grass cutting)
To assist and take guidance from the Head Groundsman
To help maintain 6 professional turf pitches on a daily basis, 1 playing pitch at the Stadium and 5 additional pitches at the training ground at Florence Park, Tiptree
To assist in the pitch preparations on a Match Day (e.g. placing of goals etc.)

Where you’ll work

Colchester United FC Training Ground Florence Park Training Ground

Grange Road

Tiptree

CO5 0UH

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

SUFFOLK NEW 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.
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 Standard Level 2
English and maths (if required) Level 2
Suffolk New College

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

Maths (grade 3)
English (grade 3)

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

Team player
Strong work ethic
Willingness to Learn

Other requirements

The successful candidate will benefit from working closely within a small team consisting of the Maintenance Manager, Head Groundsman and two Maintenance Assistants. The Head Groundsman will mentor the candidate initially showing them all aspects of the role and will encourage hands-on participation from the candidate. Additional support will be available from The Maintenance Manager. The Candidate’s training will mainly take place at the Training Ground in Tiptree and the 5 pitches located there. Early applications are encouraged as this vacancy may close early if a sufficient number of applications are received.

About this company

League 2 Football Club 450 employees/workers in total Cat 2 status Academy Colchester Stadium, training ground in Tiptree

After this apprenticeship

Any career progression routes will be discussed upon successful completion of the apprenticeship.

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