We spoke to Beth Gibbs, an apprentice at Wellington School about her entry into the industry
I’m 21 years old. I have a Jack Russell called Patch and a Cocker Spaniel called Milo, I like going for long walks. I got into the grounds industry by accident really, I was looking on the Government website for an apprenticeship and I came across a apprentice grounds person role at Wellington School and thought it sounded interesting so I applied for it and got the job and haven’t look back.
Have you ever faced any challenges being a female in the industry?
My experience in the industry has been positive. The team I work with are great.
What needs to be done to get more people into the industry?
I think we need to talk more about the industry and the benefits working in the industry. Having better salaries across the industry would also help.
You recently took part in the ALL-female ground’steams at Arsenal women’s football game…. Tell me a bit about this and how important it is for attracting young girls and women into the industry?
So I was involved in preparing the pitch for a North London Derby for a WSL (Women’s Super League) game, which included mowing the pitch, putting up portable goals, ball-stop netting and divoting the pitch. I think this all women team is really important for attracting young girls and women in the industry because it shows them that they can do it and show a glimpse of what they could be doing as a job.
What advice would you give to other women aspiring to pursue a career in the grounds industry?
The advice I would give is just give it a go and see if you like it, if you like being outdoors and being hands on, then this industry could be for you.