Lawns and Horticulture Groundsperson in Ascot

Welcome to Ascot where tradition meets innovation and excitement is the heartbeat of our business. We are a destination for over 500,000 guests each year where passion, elegance, and celebration converge. As one of the world’s leading racecourses, Ascot is renowned for its rich heritage spanning over 300 years. We are committed to building a Global lifestyle brand, wrapped around the world class horse racing we run. At Ascot we believe in preserving the beauty of our surroundings and minimising our ecological footprint.

We are currently seeking a Lawns and Horticulture Groundsperson to join our Grounds team based at our site at the racecourse in Ascot, Berkshire.

What you’ll be doing:

• Primarily maintaining the flower/shrub beds, troughs, pots and borders and general nursery stock production plus the lawns.
• This may also involve attendance on racedays, including those that take place at weekends.
• To plant bedding plants.
• To assist with potting on.
• To assist with weeding, pruning, and deadheading.
• To assist with plant and lawn watering.
• To assist with plant and lawn fertilising.
• To assist with spraying.
• To set up planting displays/schemes for racedays.
• To assist with edging lawns.
• To assist with the general tidying/cleaning of the garden areas both in and around the Grandstand.
• To assist in all general gardening duties including lawn care.
• To operate relevant machinery including use of petrol blowers and hedge cutters.
• In accordance with Health and Safety regulations, the job holder is required to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of the persons who may be affected by their activities.
• The job holder must co-operate with the Company to enable them to meet their legal duties.
• This list is not definitive.
• To undertake such other duties as the Company may at times reasonably require.

Skills and experience you can bring:

• Previous relevant experience in general grounds and plant maintenance.
• Be able to identify a range of ornamental plants.
• Have experience in the use of relevant machinery, including experience of using ride-on mowers and tractor driving.
• Must hold a valid Full UK Driver's License or equivalent.
• NVQ level 2 or equivalent - desirable.
• PA1/PA6 spraying pesticide certificates - desirable.

What you can expect from us:

• A best-in-class welcome with a tailored induction and racecourse tour, as well as a wide range of training schemes to help with your learning and development.
• Access to a range of wellbeing support for yourself and your family including a dedicated Employee Assistance Programme and Healthcare support app with 24/7 virtual GP access.
• Opportunity to make an impact in our volunteer week with a day out of the office to support local community and charity partners.
• End of year offices closed (extra 2 days annual leave added to your entitlement).
• Complimentary race day entry for friends and family.
• Exclusive discounts in local shops and cafes.
• Exclusive discounts from selected partner brands and suppliers.
• Invitations to our monthly social nights as well as annual parties and afternoon teas to celebrate our most special occasions throughout the year.

What sets us apart from the rest:

We take pride in our commitments to make a positive change for now and future generations to come, whether through our Diversity and Inclusion strategy and training programmes, our award-winning 'Racing To Zero' sustainability actions, or our forward-thinking employee benefits including flexible working and menopause policies, as well as health and EAP support access. We are also proud of our community outreach which includes a volunteering week for all employees to spend time supporting local charities.

Our Diversity and Inclusion Vision:

We are committed to ensuring guests from all backgrounds and communities feel welcome at the Racecourse and are working to ensure our internal teams are nurtured within a supportive and inclusive environment. Our mission is to eliminate discrimination and prejudice of any kind at our venue and throughout our business. By educating and implementing meaningful actions across all that we do, we can make certain that Ascot is a place for everyone to enjoy.

As an equal opportunities employer, Ascot Racecourse is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join our company.