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- Tasks: Join our team to maintain beautiful outdoor spaces and support community services.
- Company: Blue Arrow, a trusted employer with a commitment to inclusivity.
- Benefits: Earn £13.26 per hour with regular hours and ongoing work.
- Other info: Long-term temporary positions available with potential for growth.
- Why this job: Work outdoors, stay active, and make a positive impact in your community.
- Qualifications: Experience in grounds maintenance or relevant certifications preferred.
The predicted salary is between 27000 - 28000 £ per year.
Location: Ilkeston
Pay: £13.26 per hour
Hours: Monday to Thursday: 7:30am - 4:00pm; Friday: 7:30am - 12:30pm
Contract: Long-Term Temporary Positions
Blue Arrow is recruiting for five long-term temporary Maintenance roles to support essential grounds, environmental and public space maintenance across local sites in Ilkeston. These opportunities offer regular hours and ongoing work for dependable, physically fit candidates who enjoy working outdoors.
- Vacancy 1 - Cemetery Grave Digging Operative
This role supports burial services and requires sensitivity, resilience, and experience in physically demanding outdoor work.
Responsibilities:- Manual grave digging and preparation
- Operating a 360 mini excavator (certification required)
- Supporting burial services in a respectful manner
- Working in muddy, outdoor conditions
- Previous grave digging experience
- 360 mini excavator qualification
- Ability to manage emotional demands of the role
- Good level of physical fitness
- Vacancy 2 - Play Area Maintenance / Groundworker
Supporting the inspection, repair and installation of play areas and public infrastructure.
Responsibilities:- Inspecting and repairing children's play equipment
- Installing street furniture
- Mixing and laying concrete and tarmac
- General groundworks and maintenance tasks
- Experience in play area maintenance or groundworks
- Street Works and Abrasive Wheels tickets preferred
- Confident using hand tools
- Groundworks experience desirable
- Vacancy 3 - Sports Groundsman
Maintaining high-standard sports pitches and fine turf areas.
Responsibilities:- Fine turf maintenance (cricket, bowls, croquet, golf)
- Pitch preparation and line marking
- Ongoing sports grounds maintenance
- Experience maintaining fine turf
- Sports pitch marking experience
- PA1/PA6 certification
- Pedestrian or ride-on rotary/cylinder mower certification
- Vacancy 4 & Vacancy 5 - Grounds Maintenance Operatives (2 roles)
General grounds maintenance across highways, open spaces and cemeteries.
Responsibilities:- Grass cutting and vegetation control
- Strimming, hedge cutting and general grounds duties
- Supporting seasonal maintenance activities
- Experience using grounds maintenance equipment
- PA1/PA6 certification
- Pedestrian or ride-on mower experience
- Strimmer, hedge cutter and chainsaw experience (certificates desirable)
After submission of your application you will hear within 24-48 working hours.
Blue Arrow is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to helping find great work opportunities for great people.
Grounds Maintenance Operatives in Ilkeston employer: Blue Arrow - Derby
Contact Detail:
Blue Arrow - Derby Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Grounds Maintenance Operatives in Ilkeston
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Research Blue Arrow and their values. When you show up for an interview, drop in some knowledge about their work culture or recent projects. It’ll impress them and show you’re genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Before your interview, run through common questions with a mate or in front of the mirror. Focus on how your skills match the job description, especially your experience with grounds maintenance equipment.
✨Tip Number 3
Dress the part! Since these roles are hands-on and outdoors, wear something practical but tidy. You want to look professional while also showing you’re ready to get stuck in.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Grounds Maintenance Operatives in Ilkeston
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience for the Grounds Maintenance Operative roles. We want to see your skills in outdoor work, equipment handling, and any certifications you have that match the job description.
Craft a Strong Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for the role. We love seeing genuine enthusiasm for working outdoors and supporting community spaces.
Showcase Your Experience: When filling out your application, be specific about your past roles. If you've worked with grounds maintenance equipment or have experience in grave digging, let us know! The more detail, the better.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Blue Arrow - Derby
✨Know Your Role
Make sure you thoroughly understand the specific requirements of the Grounds Maintenance Operative position. Familiarise yourself with the responsibilities listed in the job description, such as operating a 360 mini excavator or maintaining sports pitches. This will help you tailor your answers to show how your experience aligns with what they’re looking for.
✨Showcase Your Skills
Prepare to discuss your relevant experience in detail. If you've worked in grave digging, play area maintenance, or sports ground upkeep, be ready to share specific examples. Highlight any certifications you have, like PA1/PA6 or street works tickets, as these can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Demonstrate Your Physical Fitness
Since the roles are physically demanding, it’s important to convey your fitness level. Be prepared to talk about how you stay active and handle outdoor work. You might even mention any previous roles that required physical endurance, which will reassure them of your capability to meet the job's demands.
✨Be Respectful and Sensitive
For roles like the Cemetery Grave Digging Operative, sensitivity is key. Prepare to discuss how you would approach emotionally charged situations with respect and care. Showing that you understand the emotional aspects of the job can make a big difference in how you’re perceived during the interview.