At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead creative gardening projects and maintain vibrant outdoor spaces at Cheltenham Racecourse.
- Company: Join The Jockey Club, the largest commercial group in British racing.
- Benefits: Enjoy free race day tickets, a generous pension scheme, and 25 days annual leave.
- Why this job: Shape beautiful gardens while mentoring an Apprentice Gardener and making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Strong horticultural knowledge and experience in maintaining high-quality gardens.
- Other info: Collaborative team environment with excellent learning and development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 25000 - 30000 £ per year.
We have a fantastic opportunity for a creative and passionate Gardener to join our Cheltenham Racecourse team, taking the lead in maintaining and developing vibrant gardens and flower beds across the site. As a key part of the Operations and Maintenance team, you’ll enjoy hands-on creativity, bring fresh ideas to life through dynamic gardening projects, and play an important role in mentoring and developing an Apprentice Gardener—perfect for someone with a broad knowledge of plants and a genuine excitement for shaping beautiful outdoor spaces.
The Gardener will:
- Plan, instigate and monitor plant and tree care programs including design, landscaping, planting, irrigation, weeding, strimming and general garden maintenance.
- Ensure the conservation, development and practical maintenance of the garden areas.
- Be responsible for the day-to-day care and management of plants, lawn areas, hedges, trees and the overall tidiness and appearance of the site.
- Oversee the day-to-day maintenance of the Gardens Department, including duties such as fertilizer/weed killer applications, weeding, tending to mixed/herbaceous borders, hedges, trees and shrubs.
- Maintain flower beds, baskets, and boxes by watering, trimming, and performing other maintenance.
- Be responsible for the maintenance, upkeep, repair and renovation of shrub beds and hedges with regard to watering, edging, mulching, trimming, fertilising, weed control, pest control, machinery operation/maintenance and general cultivation.
About you:
- Strong horticultural knowledge, including plant care, soil management, pruning and seasonal planting.
- Proven experience maintaining high-quality gardens, beds, borders and public-facing green spaces.
- Confident in the safe use and basic maintenance of horticultural tools and machinery.
- Good understanding of health & safety practices in outdoor environments, including equipment and chemical handling.
- High attention to detail, with pride taken in delivering exceptional presentation standards.
- Reliable and self-motivated, with the ability to prioritise tasks and work independently.
- A collaborative team player with strong communication skills and a willingness to support the wider operation.
- A passion for mentoring and developing others, with the patience to support an Apprentice Gardener.
What we offer in return:
- All colleagues can go along to any of our race day or music events free of charge – along with 3 friends or family with our TeamPass Ticket scheme.
- An award-winning pension scheme provider with a generous employer contribution.
- A healthcare cash-back plan enabling you to claim money back on health & wellbeing services.
- 25 days annual leave.
- Access to a suite of Learning & Development training resources from renowned providers.
- A whole host of other benefits including free eyecare vouchers, a ride-to-work cycle scheme & discounts across varying retailers & services.
If you think you have everything we’re looking for and more, then we’d love to hear from you. Don’t hang around, our closing date for this vacancy is 22nd April but we reserve the right to bring this forward if we have many applications. This role may be subject to a criminal record check, standard or enhanced DBS check or BHA Suitability Check. By applying you confirm that you are happy for these checks to be carried out.
Gardener in Cheltenham employer: The Jockey Club
Contact Detail:
The Jockey Club Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Gardener in Cheltenham
✨Tip Number 1
Get your hands dirty! Visit the gardens you admire and chat with the gardeners. Ask them about their experiences and what they love most about their work. This not only builds your network but also gives you insights that can make your application stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your creativity! Prepare a mini portfolio of your gardening projects, including before-and-after photos. When you get the chance to meet the team, share your ideas on how you could enhance their gardens. We love fresh perspectives!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply—engage! Reach out to the hiring manager or team members on LinkedIn. A friendly message expressing your enthusiasm for the role can make a lasting impression. Remember, we’re all about collaboration and connection!
✨Tip Number 4
Be ready for a hands-on interview! If you get called in, expect to showcase your skills. Brush up on your plant knowledge and be prepared to demonstrate your gardening techniques. Show us your passion and expertise in action!
We think you need these skills to ace Gardener in Cheltenham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Gardening: When writing your application, let your love for gardening shine through! Share specific examples of projects you've worked on or plants you've nurtured. We want to see your creativity and enthusiasm for shaping beautiful outdoor spaces.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Make sure to detail your experience in maintaining high-quality gardens and public green spaces. Mention any specific horticultural knowledge you have, like soil management or pruning techniques. This will help us see how you fit into our team!
Be Yourself: Don’t be afraid to let your personality come through in your application. We value diverse backgrounds and perspectives, so share what makes you unique and how you can contribute to our collaborative team culture.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of being noticed. It’s super easy, and you’ll find all the details you need right there. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Jockey Club
✨Know Your Plants
Brush up on your horticultural knowledge before the interview. Be ready to discuss specific plants, their care, and seasonal planting techniques. Showing that you can talk confidently about plant management will impress the interviewers.
✨Showcase Your Creativity
Prepare to share some of your past gardening projects or ideas for future ones. Think about how you can bring fresh ideas to the role and be ready to discuss how you would approach maintaining and developing vibrant gardens.
✨Demonstrate Team Spirit
Since mentoring an Apprentice Gardener is part of the job, be prepared to talk about your experience in teamwork and mentoring. Share examples of how you've supported others in the past and how you can contribute to a collaborative environment.
✨Safety First
Familiarise yourself with health and safety practices related to gardening. Be ready to discuss safe equipment use and chemical handling, as this shows you take responsibility seriously and understand the importance of safety in outdoor environments.