Find me a job! - Peter Harsum

Find me a job! - Peter Harsum

Position sought - Greenkeeper or Sports Turf Groundsman

Location - West Sussex area

Being made redundant is an extremely stressful time whenever it happens, but even worse when your partner's about to give birth to your first child.

That's the position that Peter Harsum found himself in last spring. He was Head Greenkeeper at a golf club near Horsham when the owners decided to reduce the head count and Peter was informed of his redundancy.

Since May 2010 he has been working on a temporary contract basis for his local council as an Assistant Groundsman. His current contract ends in early May and he's desperate to find work in the sports turf industry.

Peter has 14 years' experience of working in the horticultural industry from working on various different golf courses; heathland, woodland and parkland. He also has experience of renovating and maintaining public sports fields for football, bowls and cricket. He's also carried out some work at Crawley Town F.C.

He has an NVQ Level 2 in Amenity Horticulture, PA1 and PA6 spraying certificates, a Level 3 Diploma in Work-based Horticulture and is a qualified first aider. He also holds a full, clean UK driving licence.

Peter has good working knowledge of most machinery, tractor driving, three point linkage and implements, ride-on mowers and power tools, tee construction, USGA spec greens construction, soft landscaping, irrigation installation and repairs, bunker renovation, drainage installation and pathway construction.

Peter told Pitchcare that his redundancy has been 'life-changing'. "To work hard to become a course manager, then to have it taken away was hard enough, but to face such financial uncertainty when you've just become a parent has been very difficult. My wife is working harder to increase her earnings, which is tough when you're a new mum, and we've had to change our lifestyle radically."

"I've applied for jobs only to be told I'm over-qualified. I simply want the opportunity to do the job I enjoy and to earn a fair wage so I can support my family."

If you can help Peter, please contact Ellie Tait at ellie@pitchcare.com and we'll put you in touch! Thank you.