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Do you enjoy working outdoors and within green open spaces? If you prefer fresh air, teamwork, and making a visible difference to your surroundings this could be the role for you.

Grounds Maintenance Operative

| Forward Trust

Location: Denham (covering sites across London)

Salary: £24,242.40

Full Time: 6 month contract, subject to extension 

Closing Date: 14/11/2025

Job Description

The Forward Trust is a leading charity supporting people to achieve recovery, rehabilitation, and employment. We own and operate Blue Sky Services, a social enterprise within our Employment Services Division.

Blue Sky Services delivers grounds maintenance, horticultural, facilities management, and environmental services to local authorities, social landlords, and other partners while providing real job opportunities to people with lived experience, including ex-offenders, people in recovery, and those unemployed or NEET.

All staff are employed on Forward Trust terms and conditions.

The Role

As a Grounds Maintenance Operative, you’ll work outdoors across a variety of sites, supporting your team to:

  • Carry out grounds maintenance, landscaping, waste management, house clearance, pest control and other environmental services.
  • Safely operate machinery such as strimmers, mowers, and hedge cutters (training and supervision provided).
  • Maintain high standards of health and safety, equality, and professionalism on every site.
  • Report any incidents, safeguarding concerns, or maintenance issues to your supervisor or manager.

You’ll also help ensure vehicles and equipment are kept clean, safe, and ready for use, and that all documentation is completed accurately.

About You

We’re looking for people who:

  • Enjoy working outdoors and as part of a team.
  • Are reliable, punctual, and willing to start early (7:30am).
  • Are happy to work in all weather conditions and take pride in practical, hands-on work.
  • Have an interest in the environment, gardening, or horticulture.

We especially welcome applications from individuals with lived experience , including ex-offenders, those in recovery, or those who have been unemployed , and encourage applicants who live in the Hillingdon area.

Essential Skills & Qualities

  • Able to carry out manual work (training and equipment provided).
  • Team player with a positive and adaptable attitude.
  • Awareness of health and safety practices and willingness to follow procedures.
  • Able to complete basic paperwork, e.g. risk assessments or safety forms.
  • Flexible to work additional or unsociable hours if required.

Desirable:

  • Full UK driving licence (including up to 3.5 tonne vehicles).
  • Previous experience in grounds maintenance, landscaping, or horticulture.
Benefits:
We are committed to our cause and the work we carry out as a charity. Equally the wellbeing and the employees who work for us are also important. Joining us an employee, we will offer you the following benefits –
  • Flexible working
  • Training and development opportunities
  • Simply Health Cashback Scheme (optional)
  • Season Ticket Loan Scheme
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Crisis Loan Scheme
  • Electric Car Scheme
  • 3 x Wellbeing Days (pro rata’d for part time employees)
  • Access to Blue Light Card
  • 25 days (rising to 30 with length of service) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
  • Contributory Pension Scheme – Employer matched contributions of up to 6% in the first two years’ service and up to 9% thereafter
  • Death in Service Payment (2x annual salary)
  • Critical Illness Insurance (subject to qualifying criteria)
Diversity at Forward Trust
The Forward Trust commits to providing opportunities to everyone. We want to ensure we have a diverse team with a range of lived and professional experiences. This includes those with ‘Lived Experience’ of addiction, offending, or homelessness.

When we recruit, we welcome applications from everyone. This is inclusive of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and/or belief, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity and socio-economic background. Where operationally possible, we will consider flexible working requests and make reasonable adjustments for all roles.
To find out more about Forward’s commitment to being an inclusive employer and our current EDI strategy click here.  

How To Apply

To apply, please follow the link below. Good luck!

 

To apply for this job please visit careers.forwardtrust.org.uk.