Grounds Operative

uwe bristol; West of England; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

UWE Bristol is seeking a hands-on Grounds Operative to join our Grounds Team, maintaining lawns, planting areas, trees, hedges and green spaces across campus.

You’ll be practical, organised and comfortable operating grounds machinery safely, with a commitment to sustainability and biodiversity to support our environment.

This is a full-time, fixed-term post requiring flexibility for open days and weather events, with interviews on campus.

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.

Responsibilities

• Care for and maintain lawns, planting areas, trees, hedges and green spaces across campus.
• Operate grounds machinery safely and efficiently.
• Support biodiversity and sustainability initiatives across the campus grounds.

Skills

Driving licence

Grounds machinery operation

Education

RHS Level 2 in Horticulture

Job description

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.

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.

Desirable

• PA1 and PA6 spraying licence.
• Trailer towing licence.
• Experience in orchard or fruit tree maintenance.
• Experience with propagation, greenhouse or polytunnel work.
• Knowledge of edible plants, wildflower meadows, pond or waterway management.

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

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.

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.