COMM ENT 4696 G1 - Grounds Operative (Modern Apprentice)

ACTUAL CLOSING DATE: Applications must be received by Tuesday 9 June 2026 at 11:55pm. Please ensure that you read the full advert text and do not submit a CV, as these will be disregarded as they do not form part of SLC application process. If you require to submit additional information to support your application, please upload this under supporting documents.

INTERNAL APPLICANTS MUST APPLY VIA OPPORTUNITY MARKETPLACE.

Location: Various Locations throughout South Lanarkshire

Hours: 37 hours per week

Work Pattern: Monday - Friday

Salary: £26,622 annual salary

Modern Apprentice Recruitment 2026 – Horticultural Engineering Mechanics

Who we are

South Lanarkshire Council delivers a wide range of services that support every community across the area. Grounds Services, which sits within Community and Enterprise Resources, is responsible for the maintenance, management and improvement of the Council’s land‑based assets, including parks, sports facilities, cemeteries, golf courses, open spaces, woodlands and landscaped areas.

Grounds Services consists of several specialist operational areas, including:

• Greenkeeping Teams – responsible for managing and maintaining golf courses and fine turf surfaces.
• Arboriculture Teams – responsible for tree inspection, maintenance, felling, safety operations and woodland management.
• Horticultural & Machinery Services – including the maintenance, servicing and repair of grounds‑maintenance equipment and machinery.

We are now recruiting Modern Apprentices across the Horticultural & Machinery area.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for enthusiastic individuals with a genuine interest in the land‑based sector and a commitment to developing their skills. Successful candidates will receive training that combines:

• On‑the‑job experience, working alongside experienced greenkeepers, arborists and machinery technicians.
• College‑based learning, gaining the technical knowledge and nationally recognised qualifications required for your chosen discipline.
• Development of core and meta‑skills, including communication, problem‑solving, teamwork and professional behaviour.

You do not need experience in your chosen field — just a willingness to learn, a positive attitude and an interest in outdoor, practical work.

The Council is committed to fostering equality, diversity and inclusion in its workforce. Therefore, we welcome applications from all sectors of the community including under-represented groups within our workforce. We are keen to receive applications from candidates who have a disability, who are from a care experienced background, who are from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background and from those who are new Scots.

We are specifically looking for applicants who recently attended a South Lanarkshire Council secondary school and/or live in the South Lanarkshire area. Applicants must be 16 years of age by 26/09/2026 and no older than 19 years of age by 06/08/2026.

South Lanarkshire Council and Skills Development Scotland recognise that disabled people and those who are care-experienced can face challenges on their career journey. So, if you are disabled or care experienced and aged between 20 and 29 years by 06/08/2026, you may be eligible to apply if you meet the essential criteria.

Care experienced means you are or were, formally looked after by a local authority, in the family home (with support from social services or a social worker) or in foster care, residential/secure care, or kinship care (with family friends or relatives).

We welcome applications from individuals who can demonstrate a commitment to their own learning, as the successful candidates will become qualified and time served in their chosen trade. The apprenticeship will be completed through a mixture of on-the-job experience, working alongside qualified/experienced tradespeople; and off-the-job experience at college, gaining the underpinning knowledge and recognised qualifications required for your chosen trade. During your training you will also develop your core skills through the work you carry out.

What we are offering:

Modern Apprenticeship vacancies are available in the following disciplines:

• Horticultural Engineering Mechanics

These are trainee positions, so no prior qualifications or experience are required.

What we require from you

The recruitment process has several stages. You must complete each stage before the specified deadlines. If at any point you experience difficulties, you must contact us immediately at modernapprentice@southlanarkshire.gov.uk. The inbox is monitored Monday–Thursday 8:45am–4:45pm and Friday 8:45am–4:15pm.

Stage 1 – Application

First, check you meet the essential criteria on the Job Profile. Any applicant who does not meet the essential criteria will be withdrawn. If you meet the criteria, complete the online application form and upload a separate document answering the five questions below:

• Why do you want to apply for a Modern Apprenticeship with South Lanarkshire Council?
• Can you please explain in detail why are you interested in a career in Horticultural Engineering Mechanics?
• Why do you consider yourself a suitable candidate?
• Why are good communication skills important in this role?
• Why are good customer‑care skills important for an employee of South Lanarkshire Council?

Important: CVs are not accepted. If the answers document is not uploaded, or if a CV is uploaded instead, your application will be withdrawn.

Stage 2 – Shortlisting

Only applicants who complete all sections of the application form will have their applications reviewed. The recruitment panel will score your form and question responses.

Stage 3 – Interview

Only the highest‑scoring applicants will be invited to interview. Interview numbers will reflect the number of available apprenticeship posts. Interview dates: week commencing 15 June 2026. You must be available during this period. Interviews cannot be rescheduled.

Additional information

All communication will be sent to the email address used on your application — check it regularly. Closing date for applications: 9 June 2026 at 11:55pm. Applications cannot be submitted after this time.

South Lanarkshire Council is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all candidates who meet the essential criteria, and particularly encourage applications from disabled people, care‑experienced young people, ethnic minority communities and New Scots.

Summary

You may apply for only one discipline. Multiple applications will result in all applications being withdrawn. You must upload the answers document — CVs will not be accepted. These posts are fixed‑term 3 & 4 year apprenticeships. Successful candidates will be offered a fixed term appointment in line with the expected timescales to complete their modern apprenticeship. Successful candidates could be placed in any of our localities which includes East Kilbride, Hamilton, Strathaven and Clydesdale. You may be placed in any operational area across South Lanarkshire.

If you require support, or need the information in another format or language, email: ModernApprentice@southlanarkshire.gov.uk.

View the Horticultural Engineering Mechanics job profile. Please Apply online - All correspondence will be via your email address.

Preferred candidates identified after the selection event process will be required to assist the recruitment team, if need be, to ensure timely completion of recruitment checks. If recruitment checks are not completed within a reasonable timescale, you may automatically be withdrawn from this position.

Canvassing of Elected Members or employees of South Lanarkshire's Council directly or indirectly in connection with any appointment within the Council shall disqualify the applicant.

Overseas Criminal Records Check

An Overseas Criminal Records Check is required where applicants born outside the UK (Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or who have lived or worked outside the UK for a continuous period of twelve months in the past 10 years. Applicants are responsible for providing evidence of the Overseas Criminal Record Check. The check must be translated into English and should come from the police, judicial authority, government department or home embassy of the country or countries concerned. The check must include an official statement confirming that the applicant does not have any history of or pending criminal record proceedings. Checks may be carried out to authenticate the documents provided.

Equal Opportunities and Inclusion statement

The Council is committed to fostering equality, diversity and inclusion in its workforce. Therefore, we welcome applications from all sectors of the community, including under-represented groups within our workforce. We are keen to receive applications from candidates who have a disability, who are from a care experienced background, who are from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background, from a military service background and from those who are new Scots.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria as outlined in the job profile for this position. As proud holders of the UK Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award, the Council is also committed to supporting members of the armed forces community, including service leavers, veterans, reservists and their families. In line with this commitment, service leavers, their close family members, veterans and reservists will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential criteria as outlined in the job profile.

As an employee of South Lanarkshire Council, you would also receive a wide range of benefits including:

• Enrolment in award winning local government pension scheme
• To increase the value of their pension pot, Local Government Employees can opt to join the Salary Sacrifice Shared Cost AVC scheme.
• Up to 33 days annual leave
• Public holiday entitlement (up to 10 days)
• Occupational sick pay
• Family friendly policies - flexible working and leave, maternity/paternity leave enhanced leave.
• Employee Discounts – including discounts at the cinema.
• Range of benefits to support you (Cycle to Work Scheme, Physiotherapy, Employee Assistance Program which offers practical and emotional support)