Grounds Maintenance
Overview
£19k - £30k
Entry Level
This career guide aims to help anyone who is interested in becoming a Grounds Maintenance Worker with the knowledge and tools they need to pursue and secure a position in this field successfully.
What is Grounds Maintenance?
Ground maintenance involves caring for and maintaining outdoor spaces, such as parks, gardens, sports fields, and commercial properties. This can include tasks like mowing lawns, trimming hedges, planting flowers, and ensuring spaces are clean and safe for public use.
You’ll often work outdoors, operating machinery, and using tools to keep landscapes neat and functional. Grounds Maintenance Workers also play a vital role in preserving biodiversity and creating green spaces for communities to enjoy.
This role is ideal for individuals who enjoy practical work, being outdoors, and contributing to the beauty and usability of outdoor environments.
Top Employers in the Field
- Local councils and government parks departments
- Landscaping and groundskeeping companies
- Sports clubs and golf courses
- Housing associations and estate management firms
- Commercial property and facilities management companies
- Environmental charities and community green space projects
With dedication and experience, a career in Grounds Maintenance can lead to rewarding opportunities in landscape design, conservation, and green space management.
What training is required?
While formal qualifications are not always necessary, the following can be beneficial:
- Level 1 or 2 Diploma in Horticulture or Landscaping
- Safe Use of Pesticides (PA1 and PA6) Certification
- Manual Handling and Health & Safety Training
- First Aid Certification for Outdoor Workers
What career progression is available?
A retrofit assessor is a great starting point for building a career in retrofit. See below career progression opportunities:
Description
Qualifications
Grounds Maintenance Operatives
Description
Carry out day-to-day tasks like mowing, planting, trimming, and clearing to maintain clean, safe, and attractive outdoor spaces.
Qualifications
No formal qualifications needed, but some basic training in horticulture or landscaping – and a strong work ethic – will help you stand out.
Senior Groundskeeper
Description
Senior Groundskeeper
After 1–2 years, you could step up as a Senior Groundskeeper. You’ll take responsibility for larger sites and help guide junior team members on day-to-day tasks.
Qualifications
Hands-on experience in grounds maintenance, plus additional training or certifications in horticulture or landscaping such as:
Level 1 or 2 in Practical Horticulture Skills
Level 2 Diploma in Work-Based Horticulture
LANTRA Awards - Bushcutters, Strimmers, Hedge Trimmers & mowers.
Pesticide Application (PA1/PA6)
Grounds Maintenance Supervisor
Description
With 3–5 years of experience, you could step up into a supervisory role.
You’ll be responsible for organising daily work schedules, managing a team of grounds staff, overseeing equipment use and maintenance, and ensuring health and safety procedures are followed.
You may also liaise with clients or local authorities to ensure service standards are met.
After 5+ years in the field, you might move into landscape design —planning outdoor spaces for parks, private gardens, housing developments, or public spaces.
This role combines creativity with technical knowledge of plants, materials, and land use.
Qualifications
Strong leadership and communication skills, experience supervising teams, and a good understanding of seasonal grounds care.
The following Qualifications can be beneficial:
A Level 3 Diploma in Horticulture
LANTRA or NPTC certificates in machinery use (e.g. hedge trimmers, strimmers, ride-on mowers)
CITB SSSTS (Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme) for managing site safety and compliance.
Landscape Designer
Description
After 5+ years in the field, you might move into landscape design —planning outdoor spaces for parks, private gardens, housing developments, or public spaces.
This role combines creativity with technical knowledge of plants, materials, and land use.
Qualifications
Formal qualifications in landscape architecture or design, and a creative approach to combining practical and aesthetic goals in outdoor spaces.
A creative eye and a strong understanding of outdoor environments.
Good drawing or computer-aided design (CAD) skills.
Experience in horticulture or landscaping work.
Ideally, one of the following design-focused qualifications:
Level 3 Diploma in Garden Design
Foundation Degree or BA (Hons) in Landscape Architecture / Garden Design
Short Courses in Garden or Landscape Design
What transferable skills do I need?
Physical Fitness
You’ll be outdoors and on your feet a lot, using tools and machinery – so being physically fit is important.
Attention to Detail
Taking care when planting, trimming, or mowing helps keep outdoor spaces looking their best.
Teamwork
You’ll often work with others to get things done – good communication and a team mindset really help.
Time Management
There may be lots of tasks to complete in a day, so knowing how to stay on track matters.
Equipment Handling
You'll use tools and machinery, so having some hands-on experience is a real bonus.