At a Glance
- Tasks: Maintain beautiful outdoor spaces and ensure community areas are safe and tidy.
- Company: Join LiveWest, a company dedicated to creating vibrant communities.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, health perks, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a visible difference in your community while working outdoors.
- Qualifications: Experience in grounds maintenance and a full UK driving licence required.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team with excellent career growth potential.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 36000 £ per year.
About The Role
Are you passionate about outdoor work and making a visible difference in your community? Do you take pride in high standards and enjoy leading by example? If so, we would love to hear from you! As a Grounds Operative, you will play an important role in keeping our neighbourhoods looking their best. You will deliver high-quality grounds maintenance services across our estates, ensuring that our open spaces are safe, tidy, and attractive places for our customers and communities to enjoy. Working as part of our Estates team, you will maintain a variety of outdoor spaces to a professional standard, taking pride in your work and representing LiveWest's values every day. You will help keep our communities looking great while ensuring health and safety standards are upheld at all times.
Key Responsibilities
- Carry out general grounds maintenance, including grass cutting, hedge trimming, weeding, leaf clearance, and shrub bed maintenance to a professional standard.
- Operate and maintain horticultural machinery safely and correctly, including mowers, brushcutters, hedge cutters and blowers.
- Undertake inspections of communal areas, proactively reporting issues such as defects, fly-tipping, vandalism, or health and safety concerns.
- Maintain tools and equipment in safe working order, and report faults or damage promptly.
- Follow LiveWest's health and safety procedures at all times, promoting a safe working culture.
- Engage positively with customers, responding politely to queries and referring issues where appropriate.
- Record completed work accurately, using handheld digital technology.
- Support the wider Estates team with seasonal and emergency tasks, such as gritting or reactive response work.
Why Join LiveWest
At LiveWest, we believe in creating better places to live, work, and grow. As a Grounds Operative, you will be part of a team that makes a real difference to the look and feel of our communities. You will take pride in keeping our outdoor space clean, green, and welcoming for our customers, and you will receive the training, tools, and support you need to do your best work. If you enjoy working outdoors, take pride in high standards, and want to be part of a supportive team that values your contribution, then this is the perfect opportunity for you. This role is offered on a full-time basis working 40 hours per week. It is a mobile role, predominantly in Somerset and North Somerset. You should ideally be based within a 30 minute commute of these areas. A full UK manual driving licence is essential.
DBS Statement
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable groups. Appointment to this role is subject to a satisfactory basic DBS check.
About The Candidate
To be successful in your application for the role of Grounds Operative, you will have the essential skills and experience for a level 1 role and the following role specific skills and experience:
- Previous experience in grounds maintenance or a similar, outdoor, manual role.
- Good physical fitness and ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
- Knowledge of basic horticultural practices such as weeding, planting, and pruning.
- Understanding of health and safety requirements, including COSHH and PUWER.
- Experience of operating and maintaining horticultural equipment safely.
- Ability to plan and prioritise work, using initiative and working independently.
- Good communication skills and a customer-focused approach.
- Good level of literacy and numeracy.
- Full UK manual driving licence (essential).
Desirable Qualifications
- Horticulture qualification at Level 1.
- PA1 and PA6 pesticide certificates.
- LANTRA certified training.
Please note: This role is not eligible for CoS. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the role without requiring a CoS.
About The Company
Our Reward and Benefits:
- Full Kit: Uniform and PPE supplied for your safety and convenience.
- Generous Annual Leave: Start with 26 days, plus bank holidays, increasing to 30 days with length of service – and the option to purchase up to 5 extra days (pro-rated for part-time roles).
- Pension Contributions: Enjoy up to 9% employer contributions with our Defined Contribution scheme.
- Health Benefits and Perks: Access to a health care cash plan (worth up to £1,100 annually), virtual GP services, discounted gym memberships, and retail discounts including access to a Blue Light Card.
- Learning and Development: Invest in your future with ongoing personal and professional growth opportunities.
- Family Support: Policies designed to help you balance work and family life, including a new child payment.
- Wellbeing Matters: Prioritise your health with mental health support, enhanced sick pay, wellness campaigns, and free flu jabs.
- Smarter Travel: Save with our Cycle to Work and Car Benefit schemes.
- Giving Back: Up to four paid volunteering days a year to support our communities.
About Us
At LiveWest, we are united by a shared mission: to create a home for everyone. Each of us takes pride in playing our part in achieving this goal. Our values guide everything we do – from how we work together to how we deliver exceptional services to our customers. Collaboration is at the heart of LiveWest, and we believe that we achieve more when we deliver together. As one of the largest employers in the South West, our team of 1,800 talented colleagues provides a wide range of services to our 80,000 customers. We are passionate about nurturing local talent and creating opportunities for people in the communities we serve. We are committed to supporting our colleagues, giving them the autonomy and encouragement they need to thrive and reach their full potential. Together, we are building brighter futures for everyone.
Inclusion at LiveWest:
LiveWest is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered. We believe that our differences drive innovation, creativity, and excellence, and we strive to create an environment where all colleagues can thrive. As a proud member of Inclusive Employers, a Disability Confident Employer, and a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, we are dedicated to supporting all our colleagues and ensuring that our workplace is welcoming and accessible to all. We welcome individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to join our team. LiveWest is dedicated to equal opportunity and actively works to eliminate discrimination and promote diversity at all levels. Join us in our mission to create vibrant and inclusive communities. Make a difference with LiveWest, where every voice is heard, and every contribution is valued.
Grounds Operative in Bristol employer: LiveWest
Contact Detail:
LiveWest Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Grounds Operative in Bristol
✨Tip Number 1
Get out there and network! Attend local community events or gardening workshops where you can meet people in the industry. You never know who might have a lead on a job or be looking for someone just like you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio of your previous work, bring it along to interviews or networking events. Pictures of well-maintained gardens or outdoor spaces can really make you stand out.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of social media! Follow companies you’re interested in, engage with their posts, and share your own experiences in grounds maintenance. It’s a great way to get noticed and show your passion.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply directly through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining LiveWest. Tailor your application to highlight how your values align with ours, and don’t forget to mention your outdoor experience!
We think you need these skills to ace Grounds Operative in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Outdoors: When writing your application, let us know why you love working outdoors! Share any experiences that highlight your commitment to maintaining beautiful spaces and how you take pride in your work.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Make sure to mention any previous grounds maintenance or outdoor roles you've had. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for, so don’t hold back on those details!
Demonstrate Your Safety Awareness: Since health and safety is a big deal for us, include any knowledge or training you have regarding safety practices. Mentioning your understanding of COSHH and PUWER can really make your application stand out.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role there!
How to prepare for a job interview at LiveWest
✨Know Your Horticulture Basics
Brush up on your knowledge of basic horticultural practices like weeding, planting, and pruning. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you have the practical skills needed for the Grounds Operative role.
✨Demonstrate Your Safety Awareness
Familiarise yourself with health and safety requirements, including COSHH and PUWER regulations. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve upheld safety standards in previous roles, as this is crucial for maintaining a safe working environment.
✨Show Off Your Communication Skills
Since engaging positively with customers is key, think of examples where you've successfully handled customer queries or issues. This will highlight your customer-focused approach and ability to work well within a team.
✨Prepare for Practical Questions
Expect questions about operating and maintaining horticultural machinery. Be ready to share your experience with tools like mowers and hedge cutters, and discuss how you ensure they are kept in safe working order.