Name of Organisation: University of Exeter Grounds Team
Description of Organisation:
The Grounds Team are responsible for maintaining the Streatham Campus to the standard of botanical garden and both campuses are accredited annually for the Green Flag award. A team of 37 staff, including apprentices work on the grounds, nursery and outdoor sports facilities throughout the year. The work of the Grounds staff includes:
- the care of specialist plant collections
- botanical specimen propagation
- tree and arboricultural works
- pot and bedding plant production
- football, hockey, rugby, lacrosse, cricket and tennis playing surface maintenance
- preparing, planting and maintaining plant beds across campus
- indoor plants maintenance service
- litter management across campus
- ensuring roads and major pedestrian areas are gritted when necessary over the winter months.
We are responsible for the upkeep of all of the grounds various outdoor environments – ponds and watercourses, a cherry orchard, wildflower meadows and the wooded areas of the Taddiforde/Hoopern Valley. We take care to protect the biodiversity of the campus.
Name of Employer: Jess Evans
Job Title: Nursery and Assistant Horticultural Manager
Internship Scheme used: Access to Internships
How did your interns make a positive contribution?
“Joseph picked up what I asked of him quickly and worked using initiative whilst being willing to learn and ask questions. He worked well with the other intern we had on the project and also with other members of the wider team.”
“Gina picked up tasks quickly that I set for her and was open to learning and using her initiative. She worked well with the other intern we had working with us at the time and also with members of the wider grounds team.”
Feedback:
“I had really brilliant experience and I was well supported throughout by the A2i team.”
Would you have been able to offer this internship without funding?
“We would not have been able to offer this opportunity.”
If you would like to find out more about the A2i scheme, you can contact the team via a2i@exeter.ac.uk. You can also visit the student and employer facing webpages here.