Sports Turf Apprentice

As a Sports Turf Apprentice, you will help maintain and enhance the University of Leicester’s sports pitches and grounds, ensuring they are safe, high quality and ready for use. Working alongside experienced professionals, you’ll gain hands-on experience and complete a Level 2 Sports Turf Operative Apprenticeship.

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

1. Undertake a structured programme of practical sports turf maintenance and grounds management activities across the University's sports facilities, under the guidance of qualified staff.

   • Preparing, maintaining and renovating natural sports turf surfaces to meet performance and presentation standards
   • Operating and assisting with the use of sports turf machinery and equipment including mowers, aerators and associated attachments in accordance with training received
   • Carrying out routine turf maintenance activities including mowing, line marking, aeration, scarification, top dressing, overseeding, weed control, irrigation and litter removal. Assisting with the preparation of sports pitches and playing surfaces for training, fixtures and events
   • Monitoring turf condition and reporting issues relating to playing quality, pest, disease, weed or drainage concerns
   • Undertaking routine machinery cleaning, inspection and basic maintenance activities to ensure equipment remains safe and operational
   • Contributing to the maintenance of surrounding landscape areas, hedges, pathways and associated grounds where required
   • Maintaining accurate records of work undertaken and participating in the planning of maintenance activities

2. Work safely and responsibly at all times by complying with University policies, health and safety legislation, safe systems of work and environmental sustainability requirements. Ensure appropriate use of personal protective equipment and contribute to a safe environment for colleagues, students, visitors and sports participants.

3. Participate in team meetings and briefings, communicate effectively with colleagues and facility users, and undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required by the senior manager.

4. Apprenticeship Completion

   • Complete the Level 2, Sports Turf Operative Apprenticeship.
   • Off-the-job training will follow the time allocations outlined in the Occupational Standard
   • In addition to this, you will also complete all University of Leicester mandatory training, as and when required

Where you'll work

You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

• University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH
• Stoughton Road Playing Fields, Oadby, Leicester, LE2 4FS

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

Training provider

MYERSCOUGH 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.