Sports Groundskeeping | Oldham College

What will I learn on my apprenticeship?

Level 2/3 Intermediate Apprenticeship in Sports Turf Groundsman

A career in Sports Groundskeeping will require you to maintain and renovate the appearance of sports turf surfaces, from football grounds to general parks to horse racing! You will learn to identify and apply the correct materials and equipment for a job and develop working knowledge of different grasses and materials. Another element of the job is to assess the impact of weather on ground conditions.

You will be learn how to line mark a sports ground and generally make sure the ground is ready for play, by maintaining the area, airiating and scarifying the grass.

To keep safe whilst using all the equipment you will gain knowledge in the important elements of health and safety e.g how to use the tolls and machinery needed for the job.

Level 2 - Golf Greenkeeper

You will learn how to maintain, renovate and prepare a golf course ready for play. You will change golf holes, gain knowledge in the use of a variety of a tools and machinery, mowing, scarification, irrigation.

Level 3 - Advanced Golf Greenkeeper

You will continue to learn about the elements in Level 2 but in addition you will gain knowledge in supervisory management, estimating resources, managing resources.

Entry requirements - Good level of maths and English GCSE A-E/1-9

How will I be assessed?

The Apprentice will be assessed through a variety of assessment methods as agreed with their assessor to ensure that the knowledge and skills they learn are applied consistently in their role. The Apprentice will demonstrate their evidence by building an on line portfolio mapped towards the learning outcomes of the agreed units. Types of evidence will include written assignments, observation, and may also include questions and answers, professional discussion, witness testimonies and the examination of work products. The Assessor is looking to confirm the integration of theory into practice in line with the qualification assessment criteria. This will be quality assured to ensure is authentic, sufficient and valid before quality assurance from the external Awarding Organisation.

Level 2 - Golf Greenkeeper

All of the above plus end point assessment.

What will my apprenticeship lead to?

Level 2 courses will lead onto a Level 3

Progression routes can include Deputy/Head Groundsman and Greenkeepers.

Cost of my apprenticeship

Contribution Rules

16-18 Where the employer has under 50 employees and they are not a levy paying employer the learner is fully funded by the government, this rule also applies to 19-24 year old who are Care Leavers or in possession of an Educational Healthcare Plan
16-18 Where the employer has 50 or more employees and they are not a levy payer there will be a 5% charge with the government paying the remaining 95%. The 5% contribution will be invoiced as per the table above.
16-18 Where the employer is a levy payer, 100% of the funding will be claimed from their digital account on a monthly basis where the payments are scheduled according to the length of the learner's programme
19+ All employers that are not a levy payers there will be a 5% charge with the government paying the remaining 95%. The 5% contribution will be invoiced as per the table above.
19+ Where the employer is a levy payer, 100% of the funding will be claimed from their digital account on a monthly basis where the payments are scheduled according to the length of the learner's programme

Incentives

16-18 The employer will receive £1,000 incentive, 50% at 90 days following enrolment and 50% at 365 days following enrolment assuming the student is still employed and active on the Apprenticeship. The employer will need to invoice the college for this at that time and confirm their eligibility to make the claims at that point. This applies to Apprenticeship Frameworks only and not new Standards.
19-24 Where an employer has an Apprentice under the age of 25 where their earnings are below £43,000 per year the employer does not have to pay National Insurance Contributions (NIC's). Correct at the time of publication, check the HMRC section on gov.uk website

How to apply

You can apply for this programme via the Apply Now button, at the top.

If this course area is available as an apprenticeship, this will show under 'Study Option' on the right-hand side, just below the Apply Now button. You can view all of our apprenticeship vacanices and subjects by clicking the 'Apprenticeships' in the top menu.