Grounds Operative

1 Livewest; Bristol; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused organization in the UK is seeking a Grounds Operative to enhance outdoor spaces. Responsibilities include maintaining gardens, using horticultural machinery, and ensuring health and safety standards are upheld. The ideal candidate will have experience in grounds maintenance and a valid UK manual driving licence. The role is full-time, primarily in the Somerset and North Somerset areas, and promotes a healthy, supportive working environment with training and development opportunities.

Benefits

Uniform and PPE supplied

Generous annual leave starting at 26 days

Pension contributions up to 9%

Health care cash plan amenities

Ongoing personal and professional growth opportunities

Qualifications

• Previous experience in grounds maintenance or a similar, outdoor, manual role.
• Knowledge of basic horticultural practices such as weeding, planting, and pruning.
• Full UK manual driving licence (essential).

Responsibilities

• Carry out general grounds maintenance, including grass cutting and hedge trimming.
• Operate and maintain horticultural machinery safely.
• Proactively report issues in communal areas.

Skills

Grounds maintenance experience

Good physical fitness

Horticultural knowledge

Health and safety understanding

Communication skills

Education

Horticulture qualification at Level 1

Tools

Horticultural equipment

Job description

About The Role

Are you passionate about outdoor work and making a visible difference in your community? Do you take pride in high standards and enjoy leading by example? If so, we'd love to hear from you!

As a Grounds Operative, you will play an important role in keeping our neighbourhoods looking their best. You'll deliver a high-quality grounds maintenance services across our estates, ensuring that our open spaces are safe, tidy, and attractive places for our customers and communities to enjoy.

Working as part of our Estates team, you will maintain a variety of outdoor spaces to a professional standard, taking pride in your work and representing LiveWest\'s values every day. You will help to keep our communities looking great, while ensuring that health and safety standards are upheld at all times.

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out general grounds maintenance, including grass cutting, hedge trimming, weeding, leaf clearance, and shrub bed maintenance to a professional standard.
• Operate and maintain horticultural machinery safely and correctly, including mowers, brushcutters, hedge cutters and blowers.
• Undertake inspections of communal areas, proactively reporting issues such as defects, fly-tipping, vandalism, or health and safety concerns.
• Maintain tools and equipment in safe working order, and report faults or damage promptly.
• Follow LiveWest's health and safety procedures at all times, promoting a safe working culture.
• Engage positively with customers, responding politely to queries and referring issues, where appropriate.
• Record completed work accurately, using handheld digital technology.
• Support the wider Estates team with seasonal and emergency tasks, such as gritting or reactive response work.

Why Join LiveWest

At LiveWest, we believe in creating better places to live, work, and grow.

As a Grounds Operative, you\'ll be part of a team that makes a real difference to the look and feel of our communities. You\'ll take pride in keeping our outdoor space clean, green, and welcoming for our customers, and you\'ll receive the training, tools, and support you need to do your best work.

If you enjoy working outdoors, take pride in high standards, and want to be part of a supportive team that values your contribution, then this is the perfect opportunity for you.

This role is being offered on a full time basis working 40 hours per week. This is a mobile role, working predominantly in the Somerset and North Somerset areas. You will ideally be based within a 30 minute commute of these areas.

Although this van does not come with an individually assigned company van, you will be required to drive a shared van as part of a van share arrangement. Therefore a full, UK, manual driving licence is essential.

DBS Statement

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable groups. Appointment to this role is subject to a satisfactory basic DBS check.

For further information about this role, and LiveWest, please view our candidate information pack.

About The Candidate

To be successful in your application for the role of Grounds Operative, you will have the essential skills and experience for a level 1 role (please see candidate information pack) and the following role specific skills and experience:

• Previous experience in grounds maintenance or a similar, outdoor, manual role
• Good physical fitness and ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Knowledge of basis horticultural practices such as weeding, planting, and pruning.
• Understanding of health and safety requirements, including COSHH and PUWER.
• Experience of operating and maintaining horticultural equipment safely.
• Ability to plan and prioritise work, using initiative and working independently.
• Good communication skills and a customer-focused approach.
• Good level of literacy and numeracy.
• Full UK manual driving licence (essential)

Desirable Qualifications

• Horticulture qualification at Level 1.
• PA1 and PA6 pesticide certificates.
• LANTRA certified training.

Please note: This role is not eligible for CoS. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the role without requiring a CoS.

About The Company

Our Reward and Benefits:

• Full Kit: Uniform and PPE supplied for your safety and convenience.
• Generous Annual Leave: Start with 26 days, plus bank holidays, increasing to 30 days with length of service - and the option to purchase up to 5 extra days (pro rated for part time roles).
• Pension Contributions: Enjoy up to 9% employer contributions with our Defined Contribution scheme.
• Health Benefits and Perks: Access to a health care cash plan (worth up to £1,100 annually), virtual GP services, discounted gym memberships, and retail discounts including access to a Blue Light Card.
• Learning and Development: Invest in your future with ongoing personal and professional growth opportunities.
• Family Support: Policies designed to help you balance work and family life, including a new child payment.
• Wellbeing Matters: Prioritise your health with mental health support, enhanced sick pay, wellness campaigns, and free flu jabs.
• Smarter Travel: Save with our Cycle to Work and Car Benefit schemes.
• Giving Back: Up to four paid volunteering days a year to support our communities.

About Us: At LiveWest, we are united by a shared mission: to create a home for everyone. Each of us takes pride in playing our part in achieving this goal. Our values guide everything we do - from how we work together to how we deliver exceptional services to our customers. Collaboration is at the heart of LiveWest, and we believe that we achieve more when we deliver together. As one of the largest employers in the South West, our team of 1,800 talented colleagues provides a wide range of services to our 80,000 customers. We are passionate about nurturing local talent and creating opportunities for people within the communities we serve. We are committed to supporting our colleagues, giving them the autonomy and encouragement they need to thrive and reach their full potential. Together, we are building brighter futures for everyone. Inclusion at LiveWest: We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered. We believe that our differences drive innovation, creativity, and excellence, and we strive to create an environment where all colleagues can thrive. As a proud member of Inclusive Employers, a Disability Confident Employer, and a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, we are dedicated to supporting all our colleagues and ensuring that our workplace is welcoming and accessible to all. We welcome individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to join our team. LiveWest is dedicated to equal opportunity and actively works to eliminate discrimination and promote diversity at all levels. Join us in our mission to create vibrant and inclusive communities. Make a difference with LiveWest, where every voice is heard, and every contribution is valued. You can read more about Inclusion at LiveWest by visiting our website.