The grassroots sport is growing with a new initiative to help recruit grounds staff
GRASSROOTS sport is Britain’s biggest hobby, but have you ever thought about starting a career that makes this possible?
With tens of thousands of playing fields, sports fields and stadiums across the country, grounds management is a crucial, often overlooked role.
Over the past ten years there have been fears that we would face a shortage of field staff, with many experienced employees retiring.
Progress is being made. The latest figures from the Grounds Management Association show that under-35s – such as James Ward, who works at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London – now make up 27 per cent of the ground workforce.
That’s compared to 19 percent in 2022.
Geoff Webb, head of the GMA, said: “It is hugely encouraging to see the number of young people entering the sector starting to increase.”
In addition, the number of site managers aged 24 and younger has also increased from three to five percent.
The starting salary for grounds staff or juniors can be up to £17,500 depending on age, experience and qualifications.
Many schemes offer training from the age of 16 or 18.
And now there are a growing number of companies offering apprenticeships.
For experienced groundsmen at major sporting venues, salaries can reach £50,000.
Next month, the GMA will hold its annual Grounds Week initiative, highlighting jobs and routes into the profession.
You can find out more about it at thegma.org.uk/learning/careers/career-advice or by searching for #Grounds-Week.
PITCH to help the sport, such as James, assistant grounds manager at Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur.
James, 33, from Herts, said: “I would recommend this job to anyone looking for a role where they feel valued and have great opportunities for career development.
“You don’t need any qualifications, it’s attitude over ability.
“A typical day consists of mowing, fertilizing or watering.
“We also have to move light installations in winter, plant beds around the stadium and hold planning meetings around the events we organize as a club.
“Weather conditions can be challenging, but being part of a community that produces surfaces for elite athletes to play on is extremely rewarding.
“If you’re interested in it as a career, I’d recommend volunteering at your local club to get started.”
NEW BOOST FOR TRAINEE CABBIES
Addison Lee, LONDON’s largest private taxi company, has launched a plan to secure the future of the black cab.
The company, whose van and courier fleet now includes 2,500 black cabs, has teamed up with taxi training specialists WizAnn Knowledge School to offer discounted course fees.
Aspiring black cab drivers must pass through The Knowledge and learn every road within a six-mile radius of Charing Cross.
But the cost of the four-year process can deter recruits.
Under the new scheme, trainees now pay just £30 per month in the first year and the final fourth year is free.
Liam Griffin, CEO of Addison Lee, said: “If we want to see the black cab flourish, we need to provide drivers with the right support and benefits to encourage them into the field.”
To apply to become a Black Cab driver, please register at tinyurl.com/36jj9v66.
HELP KEEP OUR COASTS SAFE
IGN is ready for a brilliant summer job: raising money for life-saving work around some of Britain’s best beaches and riverside spots.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is hiring 200 new personal fundraisers, with part-time, full-time, seasonal and year-round options.
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You will receive full training and competitive wages, while developing valuable professional and personal skills.
Lucy Hampson, RNLI senior face-to-face fundraising manager, said: “Our face-to-face fundraising roles are perfectly suited to anyone who is friendly, energetic and can talk to anyone.”
Apply at rnli.org/fundraiserjobs.
YES! THE LEAP DAY CAN PAY
GOOD OLD 2024 is a leap year – but does working the extra day at the end of this month mean more pay?
Alan Price, head of HR software company BrightHR, explains. . .
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- WHETHER you get paid an extra day depends on your company’s pay structure. So check your contract and previous pay slips.
- For those paid on an hourly basis with a one week pay reference (paid weekly) there is no difference.
- For hourly workers with a one-month pay reference period – meaning you are paid monthly – there should be an increase as you worked 21 days in February instead of the usual 20 days.
- Employees will see no difference as they are paid annually.
- If you are paid the national minimum wage, your company may need to carry out a compliance check to ensure that no breaches occur around the leap day and that working on the extra day does not bring your pay below the minimum wage.