GroundsPerson

The Perse School

GroundsPerson

GroundsPerson

Due to the continuing growth of our busy Grounds and Gardens department, we are looking to recruit a Groundsperson. The department is responsible for the maintenance of 76 acres split between the Upper School, Prep School, Pelican School, Porson Road sports field, and the Perse Playing Fields at Abington. Using the department vehicles, the team works flexibly across all sites. The role will involve maintaining the day to day upkeep of the hard and soft areas of the grounds, ensuring that the sports pitches are safe and fit for use and that all areas appear well maintained at all times, across all sites. Duties will also include assisting the Gardens team as/when required. Previous grounds experience is essential for the role, and a trade related NVQ would be an advantage.

Key Responsibilities

  • Maintenance of the sports turf including cutting, rolling, strimming, scarifying, aerating, watering, seeding, top dressing etc
  • Assisting the Gardens team with planting, weeding, pruning, watering etc
  • Marking out of the pitches including erection of goals/nets, corner flags and boundary marker in line with the School calendar
  • All aspects of cricket pitch preparation, maintenance, marking and renovation
  • Maintenance of paths, borders, hedges and roadways
  • Leaf clearance and removal
  • Early morning clearance of snow and ice from the pathways, pavements and roadways to ensure safe access for pedestrians and vehicles
  • Early morning and late afternoon gritting and salt application
  • Maintenance of artificial all weather surfaces
  • Minor machinery maintenance
  • Tress/shrub planning and maintenance as required
  • Maintenance of bark chipped areas including reapplication and sweeping
  • Keeping records up to date as required by the Head of Grounds and Gardens

Benefits

  • Competitive salary of up to £30,915
  • Membership of a Group Personal Pension Scheme with employer contributions of 13.75% of pensionable salary
  • Death in service benefits of three times salary
  • Free staff lunch provided during term time and certain periods of the school holidays
  • Free access to the school gym and swimming pool with certain time restrictions

The Perse School Cambridge is one of the country’s leading independent co-educational day schools for children aged 3-18.

Our aim is to be a leading employer of choice. This means we strive to be a school where staff say they are proud and excited to work, and feel valued, respected and motivated.

We are committed to providing a very competitive salary and benefits scheme at the same time as offering a wide range of opportunities for personal and professional development. We want our staff to feel engaged and purposeful so that they, in turn, help pupils to be happy and successful.

Further details including how to apply can be obtained from our website: https://www.perse.co.uk/work-with-us/

Closing date: Friday 23rd January at midday but applications will be considered as they are received; The Perse School reserves the right to make an appointment before the closing date.

The School actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

Safer Recruitment

The Perse School recognises that an important element in safeguarding our pupils is a robust recruitment process that incorporates measures to deter, reject or identify people who might abuse children, or who are otherwise unsuited to work with them. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including: references from previous employers, a Disclosure and Barring Service check at the enhanced level, as well as eligibility to work in the UK (in compliance with UK immigration regulations). All work carried out at the School on a regular basis amounts to regulated activity.  This role is also exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. The School is committed to acting in the best interests of the child so as to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. The School requires everyone who comes into contact with children and their families to share this commitment. Interviews will be conducted in person, and they will explore candidates’ suitability to work with children.

Finalists announced for 2026 BIGGA Awards

Finalists announced for 2026 BIGGA Awards: The finalists for the 2026 BIGGA Awards have been confirmed, with the winners set to be crowned at the BIGGA Celebration in Harrogate on Tuesday 20 January.

The event, taking place in the Royal Hall from 4:30pm and sponsored by Bernhard Academy, is among the key moments of BTME week and offers members and their guests a chance to come together to acknowledge the achievements of colleagues from across the association? turf industry. It is free to attend, with no need to register – just come along and join us for a complimentary drink’s reception before and after the ceremony.

Finalists announced for 2026 BIGGA Awards

Finalists announced for 2026 BIGGA Awards

The BIGGA Awards were established to recognise the exceptionally high standards, professionalism and dedication demonstrated by greenkeepers throughout the year. Hosted once again by Sky Sports presenter Sarah Stirk, the ceremony shines a light on those who deliver outstanding work on their courses, from major championship preparation to ambitious renovation projects and contributions that strengthen the wider profession.

A total of three BIGGA Awards will be presented on the night: Championship Greenkeeping Performance of the Year with Bernhard & Company, Greenkeeping Project of the Year with Price Turfcare, and the Outstanding Contribution of the Year with Kress. The latter, which recognises exceptional service to charity, the profession or wider society, has no shortlist and the recipient will be revealed on the night. In addition, the Celebration will feature the announcement of the Amenity Sprayer Operator of the Year, the induction of new BIGGA Life Members, and recognition of the latest Master Greenkeeper.

The event will also celebrate the incredible finale of an inspiring personal challenge, as Jack Percival completes his epic 300-mile run from Epsom, concluding in Harrogate. The senior greenkeeper at Royal Automobile Club is undertaking the run to raise awareness around mental health and funds for Percy’s Homeless Hub and the Greenkeepers Benevolent Fund.

With a mix of celebration, inspiration and well-earned recognition, the BIGGA Celebration is one of the most anticipated gatherings of the year for members and supporters of the greenkeeping community. All attendees are invited to join in marking the successes of the past year and applauding those who continue to push the profession forward.

Awards Finalists

Championship Greenkeeping Performance of the Year with Bernhard & Company

  • Burnham & Berrow
  • Nairn

Greenkeeping Project of the Year with Price Turfcare

  • Royal Aberdeen
  • Royal Birkdale
  • Bearsden

We look forward to welcoming you to the BIGGA Celebration, at the Royal Hall, 5.30pm on Tuesday 20 January 2026.

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Consolidate Turf Celebrates 20 Years at BTME

Consolidate Turf Celebrates 20 Years at BTME: Since its establishment in 2006, Consolidate Turf Health Solutions has been at the forefront of delivering innovative turf care solutions to clubs and venues across the UK.

The company’s two decades of growth and expertise are reflected in a loyal and expanding customer base and a commitment to sustainability, innovation, and great service. Now we are returning to BTME in 2026 to mark our 20th Anniversary with a new website launch and a new product.

Consolidate Turf Celebrates 20 Years at BTME

Consolidate Turf Celebrates 20 Years at BTME

Consolidate is proud to announce the launch of its brand-new website – www.consolidateturfsolutions.com. The updated site offers customers and industry professionals easy access to product information, technical support, educational resources, and the latest news from Consolidate.

Another highlight of BTME 2026 will be the official UK launch of the Gro Green 3.0 E Hole Cutter – an innovative electric hole changer designed to deliver precision, efficiency, and environmental benefits for groundskeepers.

Performance that speaks for itself:
• Cuts a new hole in just 8 seconds
• Replaces the plug in another 8 seconds
• Weighs only 9 kg (20 lb)

Consolidate Turf Health Solutions is now the exclusive licence holder for marketing this unique product across the UK. We invite all BTME 2026 attendees to visit stand 234 to talk to the team to discuss optimising your turf health and performance and to see how the Gro Green 3.0 E Hole Cutter can benefit your club or facility. The team welcomes questions, requests for detailed information, and advance bookings for on-site demonstrations post-BTME.

Visit us at BTME 2026 stand 234

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The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service Reflects on Landmark Year

The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service Reflects on Landmark Year: The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service has completed an outstanding year of progress in 2025, reinforcing its position as a leading global authority in environmentally responsible, high-performance golf course management.

Building on The R&A’s target to support clubs with independent, science-led guidance that balances conditioning and long-term environmental responsibility, the team expanded its reach and deepened its impact across Great Britain and Ireland, Continental Europe and Asia-Pacific.

The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service Reflects on Landmark Year

The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service Reflects on Landmark Year

Over the course of the year, The R&A’s Sustainable and Championship Agronomy team delivered around 420 agronomy visits to new and existing venues worldwide, providing tailored support on course performance, resource efficiency and climate-resilient practices across multiple regions.

In Europe, a number of new clubs were onboarded – Aloha Golf Club, Breitenloo Golf Club and La Finca Resort, in addition to forthcoming work at Lofoten Links.  This is alongside existing international partners such as Noordwijkse to underline rising demand for R&A expertise across continental markets. In Asia-Pacific, client expansion continued with additions including Los Cabos San Diego Golf (Philippines) and Mamiya Group (Japan), alongside confirmation of Taiheiyo Club Gotemba Course as an official R&A venue for the next three years. In GB&I, the Service strengthened its capability with two key hires: Jaey Goodchild and Stefan Carter both joining the agronomy team.

Knowledge-sharing and industry engagement remained a major focus. The team delivered over 30 key presentations across golf nations – including Switzerland, Finland, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Asia-Pacific markets and the UK – broadening the support offered by The R&A while providing practical agronomic guidance to clubs and industry bodies.

Reflecting on the year, Richard Windows, Assistant Director – Sustainable Agronomy Services at The R&A, said, This year has been a hugely positive one for the Sustainable Agronomy Service. The scale of delivery across regions, combined with the quality of engagement we’ve had with clubs and industry partners, shows just how committed the game is to environmentally responsible, high-performance golf.

“We’re proud of the progress made, but equally excited about the next phase – continuing to strengthen our support for courses worldwide with practical guidance, research-led innovations and a clear focus on helping facilities thrive long into the future.”

In GB&I, the Service continued to work closely with many of the region’s most influential venues, reflecting both the Service’s footprint at the highest level and the trust placed in its guidance by leading facilities.

Championship support was also central to the programme. The team provided agronomy input at The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush, the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl, The Amateur Championship at Royal St Georges and  Royal Cinque Ports, The Women’s Amateur Championship at Nairn, the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Emirates Golf Club (Dubai) and the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship  at Hoiana Shores (Vietnam), ensuring sustainable championship conditioning while showcasing world-class course standards on golf’s biggest stages.

Across Asia-Pacific, momentum continued to build under Chris Gray, who delivered sustainable golf presentations in China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. A GC2030 project also advanced in Australia and New Zealand, reflecting the region’s growing appetite for practical, research-linked solutions to long-term environmental pressures. Asia-Pacific delivery was further strengthened through the appointment of Dr Brett Morris and expanded Championship Agronomy support, including work confirmed for the 2026 Asian Games venue, Kasugai Country Club in Nagoya.

As 2025 concludes, The R&A Sustainable Agronomy Service stands on a year of meaningful global growth – defined not only by scale, but by the practical influence it is having on courses worldwide. With continued expansion across Europe, Asia-Pacific and GB&I, and championship-level expertise feeding directly into everyday course resilience, the Service remains firmly focused on helping golf thrive sustainably for decades to come.

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