Groundspeople look after sports and recreation grounds, including football, rugby and cricket pitches, tennis courts, golf courses and bowling greens. They keep the soil, grass and turf in good condition. They are also known as greenkeepers or sportsturf managers.

The Work

You could be:

• cutting grass with a mower and using a range of other tools, both powered and manual
• watering or fertilising grass, removing weeds or reseeding damaged patches
• maintaining and repairing grounds made of artificial materials
• marking out lines on playing fields and courts
• setting up equipment such as nets and posts
• installing and removing weatherproof covers
• looking after borders, hedges and flowerbeds in the grounds
• repairing walls and paths or digging ditches to drain water
• ensuring that playing surfaces meet the regulations of the relevant sporting body.

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:

• where you work
• the size of company or organisation you work for
• the demand for the job.

The starting salary is often based on the National Minimum Wage (NMW).

As of 1 April 2018 the National Minimum Wage is £4.20 an hour for workers aged 16 to 17, £5.90 an hour for workers aged 18 to 20 and £7.38 an hour for workers aged 21 to 24. The National Living Wage is £7.83 for workers aged 25 and over.

The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) recommends the following payscales (2017):

• junior groundsperson (aged 16) – £12,886 a year
• junior groundsperson (aged 17) – £15,517 a year
• groundsperson – £18,250 to £23,281 a year
• skilled groundsperson – £22,779 to £29,059 a year
• deputy head groundsperson – £24,358 to £31,088 a year
• head groundsperson – £29,773 to £40,863 a year
• grounds manager – £34,909 to £54,079 a year.

Conditions

• You could work for a sports club, a local council recreation department, a school, college or university, private estates or a landscape contractor.
• You might be based at one site or working over several different sites.
• You would work alone or in a small team, depending on where you work.
• You would have to work outdoors in all weathers.
• You would have to wear protective clothing in wet weather and when using fertilisers and pesticides.
• Your hours could be long, including early mornings, evenings or weekends, especially if you are making grounds ready for events.

Getting In

• A good general education is useful, and some employers may look for some subjects at National 4 or 5.
• You may get in through a Horticulture (Sports Turf) Modern Apprenticeship which will normally lead to Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) at SCQF Levels 5 and 6.
• You could take a full time course leading to a National Certificate (NC), National Qualification (NQ) or SVQ in a relevant subject before applying for a job. For example, an NC in Horticulture or Greenkeeping.
• Entry requirements for these courses vary from no formal qualifications up to 4-5 subjects at National 4 or 5.
• Previous work experience on a sports ground is helpful.
• You must be fit, as you will be active all day.
• A driving licence is useful, and for some posts, essential.

What Does it Take?

You need to be:

• practical and methodical
• good practical skills
• good with numbers, to work out quantities of pesticides and seeds
• able to work on your own as well as part of a team
• observant, to spot damage to sports grounds
• able to work in cold, wet or windy weather
• aware of safety issues when using machines.

You need to have some technical knowledge of soil and plant biology. Groundspeople usually have a strong interest in sport and the environment.

Training

• Training is usually on the job, supervised by the head groundsman or woman.
• You would usually also do part time study at college for an SVQ such as Horticulture (Sports Turf) at SCQF Levels 5 and 6.
• You might do extra specialist training for certificates in chemical spraying, chainsaw use and first aid.
• You can also study for qualifications from the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) and the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) while you are working.

Getting On

• With experience, you may be able to move up to be a supervisor or junior manager with responsibility for other staff.
• You may later be able to become a head groundsperson.
• Eventually, you could become an area manager with responsibility for several sites.
• Other possibilities include working for a private contractor or becoming self-employed.

Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.