Apprentice Grounds Keeper

Springwell Alternative Academy; Hassocks; On-site; GBP 15,000 - GBP 20,000; Full time

Job summary

A local educational institution in Hassocks is looking for an apprentice to join their Grounds team. The role involves maintaining high-quality sports facilities and learning various groundskeeping skills through bi-weekly training at Plumpton College. Applicants will gain hands-on experience in pitch preparation, gardening, and equipment use. This apprenticeship offers a clear path toward full-time employment after successful completion.

Benefits

Free lunches during term time

Parking on site

Pension scheme membership

Childcare vouchers

25 days of holiday increasing to 30 after 5 years

Qualifications

• Ability to operate or learn to operate machinery and tools safely.
• Willingness to learn Health & Safety procedures.

Responsibilities

• Maintain sports facilities and external estate.
• Use and maintain powered mechanical equipment and hand tools.
• Assist with gardening tasks as needed.
• Follow Health and Safety legislation.

Skills

Communication skills

Team working

Time-keeping skills

Flexibility

Adaptability

Motivation to learn

Education

Level 2 in Maths and English (if applicable)

Job description

We are looking for an apprentice to join our Grounds team. Here you will help maintain high‑quality sports facilities and the wider estate. You’ll gain hands‑on experience in pitch preparation, gardening, machinery use, and year‑round outdoor maintenance while working as part of a supportive, skilled team.

As this is an apprenticeship, you will attend Plumpton College for your learning once every two weeks.

Hours

37.5 hours. Monday to Friday, from 08:00 to 16:30. Additionally, overtime is available on Saturdays during the Summer term.

Application deadline

22nd February 2026, calls to applicants may occur before this deadline. Formal interviews to commence from the 23rd February. Start date currently set as 16th March 2026.

About Hurst

Hurstpierpoint College is a successful independent school, and a significant medium-sized enterprise in mid- Sussex with around 480 employees and a turnover of some £30 million pa. It is both a stimulating and a pleasant place in which to work.

The College is amongst the most successful independent schools in Sussex. It is co-educational and comprises a Senior School, Preparatory School, and Pre Prep with over 1,300 pupils in all. Over half the pupils in the Senior School are boarders (weekly or flexible).

The General Grounds Person is a member of the Support Staff and part of the Grounds and Gardening Team of the College and reports to the Grounds Manager, although on a day to day basis will be directed by the Deputy Grounds manager or Senior Gardener. The Support Staff of the College are ultimately the responsibility of the Director of Operations.

What will the apprentice be doing?

The main duties and responsibilities of the jobholder include, but are not limited to:

• Working as part of the Grounds team to maintain our busy and prestigious sport facilities, along with the rest of the external estate. This will involve tasks such as various types of pitch marking and preparation, including Cricket, Rugby, and Athletics.
• Keeping the gardens, thoroughfares, and highway footpaths clear and free from litter and debris at all times.
• Safe use and routine maintenance of all powered mechanical equipment, vehicles, and tractor operated machinery necessary for the job, this also includes hand tools and marking equipment.
• Carrying out gritting, salt spreading, snow clearing, as necessary, including footpaths and car parks throughout the school.
• If required, assisting the gardening staff as necessary with routine gardening duties including preparation, planting, seeding, turfing and maintenance of gardens, amenity areas, trees, shrubs, lawns and grass areas as well as pruning and hedge cutting.
• Assisting the other members of the support staff to prepare outdoor areas for events and functions.

All duties are to comply with current legislation governing Health and Safety at work and the control of Substances Hazardous to Health and relevant codes of practice.

What will apprentices learn with Plumpton College

• Apply seed, fertiliser and top‑dressing materials correctly to create high‑quality, professional playing surfaces.
• Set out and line‑mark sports pitches using official governing body rules, including arcs, semi‑circles and the 3‑4‑5 method.
• Prepare and operate turf‑care machinery safely, including mowers, tractors and specialist renovation equipment.
• Manage soil moisture levels through effective use of irrigation and drainage systems.
• Inspect turf health and diagnose issues, such as weeds, pests, diseases and thatch build‑up.
• Carry out turf renovation tasks like overseeding, turfing and repairing divots, foot holes or surface damage.
• Identify key turfgrass species commonly used in sports turf management.
• Maintain sports turf through aeration, scarification and cylinder mowing to achieve required performance standards.
• Communicate clearly with clients, colleagues and suppliers, using verbal, written and digital methods.
• Apply safe and sustainable working practices, including correct waste disposal and systematic troubleshooting.
• And much more.

Qualifications Awarded

• Apprenticeship Certificate
• Level 3 award in emergency first aid at work
• Level 2 in Maths and English (if applicable)

Delivery model

• The training will take place in person, bi-weekly at Plumpton College.

What is the expected career progression after this apprenticeship?

If the applicant successfully completes the probation period and qualifies after the two-year apprenticeship, they will be offered a full-time position.

Desired skills and personal qualities

• Communication skills
• Team working
• Time-keeping skills
• Flexibility
• Adaptable
• motivated to learn practical groundskeeping and gardening tasks while demonstrating the capability to safely operate, or quickly learn to operate, machinery, tools, and vehicles.
• Either have an understanding, or a willingness to learn Health & Safety procedures.

Benefits

• Free lunches during term time
• Parking on site
• Membership of the College’s contributory pension scheme
• Child care vouchers & optional BUPA private medical scheme
• 30 days (inclusive of Bank Holidays and 2 days given over the Christmas period). This entitlement will increase to 35 days after 5 years completed service

Things to consider

• Own transport is highly recommended due to our grounds location(s).
• Our apprentice will need to pass a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
• You MUST not be in any other form of full-time or part time formal education (such as school, college or university) to be eligible to apply for an apprenticeship. Shorter course may not apply.
• You MUST have lived in the UK for a minimum of 3 years prior to the start of learning and be eligible to work in the UK.
• This apprenticeship is approximately 18 months.

Job Type: Apprenticeship

Work Location: In person

Hurstpierpoint College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.