The FA believes football has the power to unite communities, promote wellbeing, and inspire positive change.

The apprenticeship programme offers an entry into a rewarding career at The FA and an excellent opportunity to develop skills and gain experience within a supportive, inclusive and diverse organisation.

In the exciting role of Wembley Grounds Apprentice you will work proactively with the Grounds Team to provide elite standard playing surfaces to the highest of standards for all events hosted on the iconic Wembley Stadium playing surface, and seasonal Turf Farm works.

You will be employed on a two year fixed term contract, and will study towards a Level 2 Sports Turf  Operative qualification with Myerscough College (tutors will visit you at Wembley).

You will be contractually based at Wembley Stadium full time.

Please note that due to the nature of the role this position does not offer hybrid working.

What will you be doing?

• Ensure the continued daily delivery of the pitch maintenance program in conjunction with the Head Of Grounds and Grounds Team to maintain all playing surfaces year-round to an elite level as laid down by governing bodies such as the FA, UEFA, FIFA, NFL, RFU and RFL.
• Support the playing surface schedule with the Grounds Team to ensure there are adequate facilities for all the multi-use events Wembley host.
• Maintain all pitch equipment (in ground/portable and mechanical) in line with manufactures safety standards to ensure optimum operation at all times.
• In conjunction with the Grounds Team ensure all grounds operational tasks are completed to the highest of standards.
• Contribute to the continued development of the ground team to ensure a continual improvement of their knowledge and professional experience.
• In conjunction with the Grounds Team, support and engage with pitch contractors as required to ensure renovation & maintenance of surfaces are carried out in line with the pitch management strategy & as dictated by the Wembley schedule or Turf Farm.
• Support and maintain a safe working environment for all Wembley Team and users, this includes but is not limited to a H&S program, ongoing equipment maintenance program, regular communications regarding pitch works and treatments
• Executes additional tasks as required to meet the FA’s changing priorities.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure that the highest standards of health, safety, and well-being can be maintained.
• As part of the FA’s commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.

What are we looking for?

To be eligible you must meet the following criteria:

• Live within England and have lived within the UK for the last 3 consecutive years
• Must not be in full time education at the start of your apprenticeship
• Must be at least 16 years of age
• If aged 16-18 you will need to have maths and English at grade 4/C and have the certification for this. If not, you will need to sit Functional Skills Level 2 as part of the programme
• Must not hold a similar or higher qualification in the same area of study

This is a developmental role, so we do not require you to have lots of prior experience, however the following would be beneficial:

• Basic understanding of growing grass and interested in the Grounds Industry.
• Basic understanding of the codes of sport Wembley host.
• Understanding of a multi-use venue.
• A willingness to contribute to your continued development is key.
• An enthusiastic approach to learning.
• Good time keeping
• Happy to work outdoors in all weathers
• A sports fan in general
• Be flexible with working hours
• Basic knowledge of football pitch construction.
• Basic knowledge of pitch operations pre and post match/training.
• Previous experience in sports turf industry. Any Sports surface
• Use of any type of machinery related sports turf maintenance

What’s in it for you?

We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles, to achieve this we have unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, which is the home of English Football. We are also delighted to offer a world-class, Elite Performance Centre, St. George’s Park in Staffordshire which is an exceptional setting to develop and inspire high-performing England teams and leaders.

We pride ourselves in offering a competitive salary as well as great opportunities to develop and grow in your role. But that is not all; we also have a range of exciting benefits, some of which can be found below:

• Access to event day tickets at Wembley Stadium, alongside a host of regular internal events throughout the season, encouraging you to connect and learn with your colleagues and look after your mental health and well-being.
• Free, nutritious lunches at Wembley Stadium and St. George’s Park.
• Free private medical cover.
• A contributory pension scheme.
• An additional ‘Thank You’ days leave, volunteering days as well as 25 days annual leave (based on a full-time, permanent contract.)

For more information on what it is like to work at The FA, please visit our FA Careers page, https://www.thefa.com/about-football-association/careers

We are a diverse workplace, aspiring to represent football across the country. The Football Association actively promotes inclusion and diversity, encouraging you to be the best version of yourself at work.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application.

As part of the FA’s commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.