Groundsman/woman

One of the essential elements of the majority of outdoor sports is the sports turf on which they are played. A groundsman/woman's key role is to ensure that the playing surface is in as good a condition as possible. It may be natural turf, synthetic turf or a combination of both, and may include sports surfaces such as tennis courts, bowling greens and cricket, football and rugby pitches.

Their work includes:

• marking out the playing areas
• erecting posts for play and preparing equipment, such as nets and flag posts
• caring for surrounding areas, such as flower beds
• using hand tools, such as rakes and spades
• operating light and heavy equipment, such as irrigation systems
• driving tractors that tow or have one of a variety of machines attached.

Grounds staff could sometimes be involved in the construction of a new surface. This may involve extra work, such as reading drawings and preparing the land.

Grounds staff working hours depend on the time of year and the type of sports being played. They may need to work at special events. Weekend and evening work may also be necessary. Most of the work is outdoors in all weather conditions and it involves a lot of physical work, including walking, lifting and bending.

Salaries may range from around £14,690 to £32,000 a year, or more.

A groundsman/woman needs to:

• be practical and methodical
• understand the different kinds of sports surfaces and how to maintain them
• be able to carry out the general duties and use heavy equipment and hand tools when required
• have a good awareness of health and safety issues
• be interested in working outdoors.

The largest employers of grounds staff are local authorities, which look after a wide range of playing fields and leisure facilities. There are also jobs with sports clubs, landscape contractors, schools and colleges, and golf clubs.

Although the job does not require formal qualifications, they may be beneficial. There is a range of qualifications available from the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG).

The Diploma in environmental and land-based studies will also be an advantageous qualification to have achieved prior to employment or further study. Training is often in the workplace and most trainees work alongside experienced colleagues for three to four years. They may go to college on day or block release. There are Diplomas in work-based amenity horticulture available at different levels, as well as specialist short courses, such as chainsaw operation and applying pesticides.

There may be opportunities with larger employers to progress to supervisor or team leader, deputy head groundsman/woman and head groundsman/woman, then to head of section or management jobs. It may be necessary to move to a different company to gain promotion.

There may also be opportunities to become self-employed and to work overseas.

Further details