Grounds Operative

University West of England; West of England; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hands-on role

Biodiversity projects

Training & development

Job summary

University West of England is seeking a hands-on Grounds Operative to care for and maintain campus outdoor spaces. You will work on lawns, planting areas, trees, hedges, and green spaces across our Bristol campus, operating grounds machinery safely.

The role supports sustainability initiatives and may require overtime to cover events and weather-related tasks. A driving licence and horticultural qualifications help, with training provided.

Qualifications

• Full current driving licence.
• RHS Level 2 in Horticulture or equivalent qualifications or significant hands-on horticultural experience.
• Experience using horticultural and grounds machinery, including ride-on mowers, tractors, brushcutters, hedge trimmers, and blowers.
• Experience in orchard or fruit tree maintenance.
• Experience with propagation, greenhouse or polytunnel work.
• Knowledge of edible plants, wildflower meadows, pond or waterway management.

Responsibilities

• Maintain lawns, planting areas, trees, hedges and green spaces across campus.
• Carry out practical grounds maintenance tasks and operate grounds machinery safely.
• Cover open days, Welcome Weekend and extreme weather events; overtime paid.

Skills

Driving licence

Grounds machinery experience

Orchard/fruit tree maintenance

Propagation & greenhouse work

Edible plants & biodiversity

Education

RHS Level 2 in Horticulture

Tools

Ride-on mowers

Tractors

Hedge trimmers

Brushcutters

Blowers

Job description

Grounds Operative

Company: University West of England Salary: £24,309 to £26,707 a year Hours: Full-time Location: Bristol, BS16 1QY Working pattern: On-site Job type: Temporary

We're looking for a hands-on Grounds Operative to join our Grounds Team at UWE Bristol, helping to care for and maintain our beautiful outdoor spaces across campus. This is a practical, operational role where you'll get stuck into maintaining lawns, planting areas, trees, hedges, and green spaces.

Flexibility is required to cover open days, Welcome Weekend, or extreme weather events, which will be paid as overtime.

Why You'll Love Working Here

Our grounds work has been recognised with a DEFRA award for pollinator support. Across our campuses, we implement wildlife-friendly practices to support pollinators, hedgehogs, and other local species, creating a vibrant and sustainable environment.

We offer:

• A varied, hands-on role
• Opportunities to work on sustainability and biodiversity projects.
• Training and development for role-specific skills.

We value practical experience as much as formal qualifications — if you have a passion for horticulture and grounds maintenance, you'll fit right in.

About you

You are practical, organised, and take pride in your work. You enjoy hands-on horticultural work and are comfortable operating grounds machinery safely.

A love of the environment, a commitment to sustainability, and an interest in supporting biodiversity will help you succeed in this role.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Full current driving licence.
• RHS Level 2 in Horticulture or equivalent qualifications or significant hands-on horticultural experience.
• Experience using horticultural and grounds machinery, including ride-on mowers, tractors, brushcutters, hedge trimmers, and blowers.
• Experience in orchard or fruit tree maintenance.
• Experience with propagation, greenhouse or polytunnel work.
• Knowledge of edible plants, wildflower meadows, pond or waterway management.

Desirable:

• PA1 and PA6 spraying licence.
• Trailer towing licence.

Where is this role based?

This post is based at our Frenchay campus.

Why UWE Bristol?

We are one of the largest providers of Higher Education in the South West with 38,000 students and 4,000 staff.

We offer a wide range of employee benefits as well as retail savings, onsite nursery and opportunities for training and personal development.

Add your individuality to ours

UWE Bristol recognises the power of a truly diverse university community.

We particularly encourage applications from global majority and female candidates as we are currently under-represented in this area, however all appointments are made strictly on individual merit.

As a Disability Confident employer we welcome applications from those who identify as having a disability.

Further information

If you would like to speak to us about this role, please email [e-mail].

Interviews are expected to take place at our Frenchay Campus, w/c 16th November, but this will be confirmed in time.

This is a full-time, fixed-term post, working 37 hours per week.

This post is available on a job share basis for applicants wishing to work part time.

This role is based on campus for all of your time.

Right to Work in the UK

If offered a role, you will need to provide valid documentation confirming your right to work in the UK before employment begins.

We may be able to sponsor eligible candidates for this role under the Skilled Worker visa route; however, visa sponsorship eligibility is assessed only at offer stage, being invited to interview does not indicate an offer of sponsorship.

If you do not qualify you may wish to explore other visa options.

Please note that UWE Bristol does not cover any visa or health surcharge costs.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme.