Gardener and Grounds Staff

As a Gardener and Grounds Staff member, you will help create safe, welcoming and well-maintained outdoor spaces across health and care settings.

You'll look after gardens, pathways and green spaces, helping to provide pleasant environments that support the wellbeing of patients, visitors and staff.

Gardener and Grounds Staff is also known as Horticulture.

Role Characteristics

Maintain gardens, lawns and outdoor spaces
Plant flowers, shrubs and trees
Keep pathways and grounds safe and tidy
Use gardening tools and equipment safely
Support a welcoming environment for patients and visitors
Help care for outdoor areas throughout the year

Skills

Attention to detail
Creative thinking
Operating equipment
Planning
Team work
Organisation

Day in the life

Watch this video to find out about the role of a Gardener

Routes into this role

Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.

Volunteering or work experience

Apply directly

GCSEs

BTEC, T-Level or A-Levels

Pre-employment Programmes

How to become

There are several ways to start a career as a Gardener and Grounds Staff member, whether you're leaving education, looking for your first job or changing careers.

Here are some ideas, and you can explore current opportunities in the section below.

Study a course or qualification - useful qualifications include GCSEs in English and Maths, horticulture, environmental studies, land-based studies, T Levels and BTECs. These can all help you to develop knowledge, skills and prepare for work.
Build workplace experience - this could be paid work, volunteering, or work experience online or in-person in parks, community projects, healthcare sites, schools, estates teams or environmental organisations, helping you to develop skills in teamwork, reliability, communication, problem-solving and practical working.
Complete a pre-employment programme - a short course which supports you to gain confidence, skills and experience helping you prepare for work.
Apprenticeships - you can gain experience in the workplace whilst also studying a qualification in Horticulture, Landscape Construction or Grounds Maintenance.
Applying directly - employers will want you to have good English, maths and practical skills. This doesn't always mean you need a qualification, but you may need to demonstrate your interest and experience.
Moving from another role - think about how you'll be able to transfer your skills in gardening, landscaping, construction, facilities, maintenance, environmental work or outdoor volunteering into a Gardener and Grounds Staff role. Reliability, practical skills and attention to detail are particularly valuable.

Where can this role lead

As a Gardener and Grounds Staff member, there are lots of opportunities to develop your career across health and care estates and facilities services. With experience, you could progress into a Team Leader or Manager role, overseeing the work of other gardeners and grounds staff. You could also move sideways into roles such as Activities Worker or Facilities Manager, using your skills in planning, teamwork and creating welcoming environments.