Hiring and Sponsoring Groundsmen and greenkeepers (SOC Code 5114)

Groundsmen and Greenkeepers, classified under SOC Code 5114, are vital professionals in the field of landscape and turf management. Their responsibilities include:

• Leveling ground and installing drainage systems as required to ensure proper water management.
• Cutting and laying turf using both hand tools and machinery, while also repairing damaged turf areas.
• Moving soil to alter the surface contour of land through mechanical equipment, ensuring optimal landscape design.
• Constructing and maintaining landscaping features, including flower beds, hedges, and other green elements to enhance outdoor spaces.
• Monitoring and maintaining the quality and condition of turf, ensuring it remains healthy and visually appealing.
• Rolling, mowing, and watering grass, which are essential tasks for maintaining sports pitches and recreational areas.
• Marking out pitches for various sporting activities, ensuring they meet standards for playability.

As the demand for well-maintained green spaces continues to rise, many organizations, sports clubs, and public institutions actively seek skilled groundsmen and greenkeepers. This guide will assist HR professionals in navigating the process of hiring and sponsoring groundsmen and greenkeepers under the UK’s immigration system.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Groundsmen and greenkeepers?

SOC Code 5114 refers to groundsmen and greenkeepers who are responsible for maintaining and enhancing outdoor spaces, particularly sports fields and landscaped areas. Their responsibilities can include:

• Leveling ground and installing drainage: Ensuring proper contour and water management to promote healthy turf growth.
• Cutting and laying turf: Using both hand tools and machinery to install and repair grass areas.
• Moving soil: Altering surface contours using mechanical equipment to create desirable landscaping features.
• Constructing and maintaining landscaping features: Building and upholding structures like flower beds, paths, and other enhancements in outdoor spaces.
• Monitoring and maintaining turf quality: Regularly checking the health and condition of grass to ensure optimal playability and appearance.
• Rolling, mowing, and watering grass: Ensuring that grass is appropriately cared for and maintained to meet specific standards, including marking out pitches for sports activities.

Groundsmen and greenkeepers play a vital role in the upkeep of outdoor environments, contributing to both aesthetics and functionality in recreational and sporting facilities.

Eligibility to Hire Groundsmen and greenkeepers (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Groundsmen and greenkeepers must exhibit a solid understanding of landscape management and meet specific qualifications or experience criteria. These may include:

• Technical Skills: Proficiency in operating hand and machine tools for turf installation, drainage system work, and surface contour alterations.
• Experience: Demonstrated experience in grounds maintenance, including turf cutting, laying, and repairing, as well as knowledge of landscape construction and maintenance.
• Physical Fitness: Ability to engage in physical labor and perform tasks requiring lifting, moving, and operating machinery.
• Knowledge of Turf Management: Understanding the principles of lawn care, including mowing, watering, rolling, and monitoring turf health and quality.
• Attention to Detail: Skills in marking out pitches and ensuring landscaped features are maintained to a high standard.
• Certifications: While not always required, certifications or training in horticulture, landscaping, or turf management can be advantageous.

Ensure that the job requirements align with SOC Code 5114 and that the candidate's experience and work meet the expectations for the role.

1. Salary Thresholds
2. Use the Minimum Salary Calculator to ensure your salary offer meets immigration requirements.

Sponsoring Groundsmen and greenkeepers: A Step-by-Step Guide for HR Professionals

Once you’ve confirmed that the role and candidate meet the eligibility requirements, follow this step-by-step guide to sponsoring Groundsmen and greenkeepers under SOC Code 5114.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

Before hiring non-UK Groundsmen and greenkeepers, your company or institution must obtain a sponsor licence. This licence enables you to legally sponsor overseas Groundsmen and greenkeepers under the Skilled Worker Visa program.

• Sponsor Licence Application: Submit documentation proving that your business is legitimate and has a genuine vacancy. Visit the sponsor licence application guide for more information. 
• Sponsor Licence Fees: Small businesses typically pay £574, while larger institutions pay £1,579. For more information, visit the sponsor licence fees guide. 
• Processing Time: Applications typically take up to 8 weeks, but using the Sponsor Licence Priority Service can reduce the processing time to 10 working days.

Once your sponsor licence is approved, you will receive a sponsor licence number, which allows you to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

Step 2: Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Once you have your sponsor licence, the next step is to assign a CoS to the Groundsmen and greenkeepers. This document provides key details about the job and the individual being sponsored.

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Groundsmen and greenkeepers applying from outside the UK, and an Undefined CoS for those already in the UK. Learn more in the Defined & Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship guide. 
• Required Documents: Provide details such as the Groundsmen and greenkeepers’s portfolio, passport and job offer. Refer to Documents Required for Certificate of Sponsorship for a full list of necessary documents.

Step 3: Apply for the Skilled Worker Visa

Once the CoS is issued, the Groundsmen and greenkeepers can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa.

• Visa Fees: Fees vary depending on the role and visa length—use the visa fees calculator to estimate the costs. 
• Immigration Skills Charge: Employers are required to pay this charge as part of sponsoring non-UK workers. This is separate from visa fees.

Conducting a Right to Work Check for Groundsmen and greenkeepers

Before the Groundsmen and greenkeepers begins working, you must conduct a right to work check to ensure they are legally allowed to work in the UK.

• Manual Right to Work Check: Verify original documents such as the Groundsmen and greenkeepers’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Groundsmen and greenkeepers holds an eVisa, you can use the UK government’s online system to verify their right-to-work status.

For more details on how to perform these checks, see the right to work check guide.

Post-Hiring Responsibilities and Compliance

1. Record-Keeping and Reporting  
2. • Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of the Groundsmen and greenkeepers’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Groundsmen and greenkeepers’s role—such as promotions or salary increases—via the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
3. Sponsor Licence Duties and Compliance
4. Failure to comply with your sponsor licence duties can result in penalties or sponsor licence revocation, impacting your ability to sponsor future Groundsmen and greenkeeperss.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Groundsmen and greenkeepers

Sponsoring Groundsmen and greenkeepers under SOC Code 5114 can be a complex process, but Borderless can simplify it for you. We offer comprehensive support to help you manage the entire sponsorship process.

End-to-End Sponsorship Support

At Borderless, we assist with:

• Sponsor Licence Application: Guiding you through the application process and ensuring all required documents are submitted correctly. 
• Certificate of Sponsorship Assignment: Streamlining the CoS process to make hiring easier. 
• Compliance Management: Helping you stay compliant with immigration laws to avoid penalties.

If you need assistance with hiring or sponsoring Groundsmen and greenkeepers, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Groundsmen and greenkeepers under SOC Code 5114 can be a rewarding way to enrich the cultural landscape of your organisation. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully navigate the sponsorship process while ensuring compliance with UK immigration laws.

For further guidance, Borderless is ready to assist you with all your sponsorship needs. Contact us for expert advice.