At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead outdoor maintenance tasks and ensure community spaces are safe and attractive.
- Company: Join LiveWest, a company dedicated to creating vibrant communities.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous leave, health perks, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Full-time role with excellent career growth and a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a visible difference in your community while working outdoors.
- Qualifications: Experience in grounds maintenance and basic horticultural knowledge required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ 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 Lead 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 to keep our communities looking great, while ensuring that health and safety standards are upheld at all times.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the delivery of grounds maintenance tasks, including grass cutting, hedge trimming, weeding, leaf clearance, and shrub bed care to professional standards.
- Operate and maintain horticultural machinery safely, including mowers, hedge cutters, brush cutters, and leaf blowers.
- Conduct routine inspections of communal areas, reporting defects, fly-tipping, vandalism, and safeguarding concerns.
- Promote and adhere to health and safety procedures, ensuring safe working practices at all times.
- Engage positively with customers, responding to queries and escalating concerns appropriately.
- Record completed work using handheld digital technology (training provided).
- Support seasonal and emergency tasks such as gritting and urgent estate responses.
- Lead higher-risk activities such as weed spraying and operating specialist machinery.
Why Join LiveWest
At LiveWest, we believe in creating better places to live, work and grow. As a Lead 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 being offered on a full-time basis working 40 hours per week. This is a mobile role, working predominantly in the Somerset and North Somerset areas. You will ideally be based within a 30-minute commute of these areas.
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 Lead 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, with basic horticultural knowledge including weeding, planting, and pruning.
- Familiarity with safe operation and maintenance of horticultural tools, machinery, and pesticides.
- Qualified in Horticulture Level 1 and PA1 and PA6 - safe pesticide use.
- Good physical fitness to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
- Understanding of health and safety regulations - COSHH and PUWER.
- Basic digital literacy (training provided).
- Full, UK, manual driving licence.
Desirable Qualifications and Experience
- LANTRA certified training.
- Experience in customer-facing roles.
- Ability to supervise and plan work effectively, using own initiative.
Important Notice
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 within 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
At LiveWest, we are 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.
Lead Grounds Operative employer: LiveWest
Livewest is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and development of its staff, offering a supportive work culture where flexibility and teamwork are at the forefront. Employees benefit from generous annual leave, pension contributions, and health benefits, alongside opportunities for personal and professional growth within the rewarding field of youth support in the beautiful setting of West Cornwall.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Grounds Operative
✨Get Hands-On at Local Events
Hit up local horticulture fairs, plant shows, and farmer’s markets. These gatherings are a goldmine for networking and usually attract employers looking for passionate candidates. Chat with the vendors and fellow enthusiasts; you never know who might know about a full-time opening at a place like LiveWest.
✨Join Gardening Clubs and Online Communities
Become part of local gardening clubs or online forums where like-minded folks share tips and job leads. These communities can often clue you in on upcoming vacancies. Remember, people in these groups often work in the industry and can help us get our foot in the door at places like LiveWest.
✨Show Off Your Green Thumb
Consider creating a public portfolio showcasing your gardening projects, designs, or any unique plants you've cultivated. A well-documented journey through your horticulture experiences can make you stand out when chasing full-time roles. It’s basically your way of shouting, 'Look at what I can do!' to potential employers.
✨Apply Early and Often!
The horticulture field can be competitive, especially for full-time roles. Keep an eye on seasonal hiring trends and don’t hesitate to apply as soon as positions open up. Check out our website regularly for openings at LiveWest; staying ahead of the game can give us the edge we need.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Grounds Operative
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Green Thumb:In horticulture, it's all about showcasing your hands-on experience. Make sure your CV highlights any relevant gardening, landscaping, or plant care roles you've held. Also, don’t forget to mention any specific skills like plant identification or pest management that make you a great fit for the position at LiveWest.
Include Certifications and Training:If you've got any horticulture-related certifications, such as in organic gardening or landscape design, be sure to include them. This will set you apart from other applicants and show that you’re committed to expanding your knowledge in the field, which is crucial for a full-time role like Lead Grounds Operative.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter should reflect not just your passion for plants but also how your experience aligns with what LiveWest is looking for. Share specific examples of projects you've worked on or challenges you've overcome in previous horticultural roles to demonstrate your suitability for the full-time position.
Be Ready to Talk Numbers:When applying for a full-time role in horticulture, it's helpful to quantify your achievements. Did you increase crop yields or reduce waste in a previous job? Highlight these metrics in your CV to give hiring managers at LiveWest a clear picture of your capabilities!
How to prepare for a job interview at LiveWest
✨Get to Know Your Plants
Brush up on your plant knowledge! Be prepared to discuss specific species, their growth requirements, and potential pests. Remember, the role involves practical horticultural skills – so don’t be shy about sharing your hands-on experience with various plants and gardening techniques.
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
If you've worked on garden designs, landscaping projects, or community gardens, bring along a portfolio showcasing your work. Visuals speak a thousand words, and this will help us see your creativity and practical skills in action. Plus, don’t forget to have a few stories about challenges you faced and how you overcame them!
✨Be Ready for a Plant Quiz
Prepare for some technical questions related to horticulture! We may ask you about soil types, plant propagation methods, or pest management strategies. This helps us assess your depth of knowledge and problem-solving skills – so don’t skip the revision!
✨Passion for Sustainability
Horticulture often revolves around sustainability practices, so be ready to discuss any experience you have with eco-friendly gardening methods or sustainable designs. This role at LiveWest might have a focus on environmental impact, so showing your commitment could set you apart from other candidates.
