Thomas Hawksworth

The role involves inspecting headstones and memorials against BRAMM/BS 8415 standards, reporting on them, and if required, our team will work together to make the memorials safe. We work throughout the region to undertake this statutory obligation on behalf of the council. I transferred to this position from my previous role within the council to develop further skills and experience.

Maintenance and up keep of the region’s green spaces. The role involves working in small teams around the whole county; the safe operation and general maintenance of machinery such as strimmers, ride on mowers, hedge cutters etc, the safe application of pesticides and planting. We are also involved in wide variety of other roles including making areas safe during winter, basic building task such as fencing and concreting. I have undertake further roles within other departments in the Council, including working as a Refuse Collection Operator and with the Bereavement Services, working with the burial teams in the care and preparation of cemeteries, as well as assisting with funeral services.

I am currently serving as a private in the Army Reserves. Our day to day responsibilities include, maintaining operational readiness, looking after equipment and keeping fit. We take part in numerous training exercise, at home and abroad. We also attend public events to promote the armed forces in addition to a recruitment role for the Army Reserve. As private I have experience in leading a group of other privates on field exercises, involving tasks such as ammo counts, receiving information from the senior chain of command and ensuring it was communicated to, and understood by, privates in my group. During my time in the army reserves I have had the opportunity to take part in many leadership courses, such mountaineering and battlefield first aid.

Maintenance and up keep of the region's green spaces. The role involves working in small teams around the whole county; the safe operation and general maintenance of machinery such as strimmers, ride on mowers, hedge cutters etc. The safe application of pesticides. We are also involved in wide variety of other roles including making areas safe during winter, basic building task such as fencing and concreting, environmental services and working with the burial teams in the care and preparation of cemeteries as well as assisting with funeral services.

During my time working as seasonal greenkeeper I gained valuable experience of working within a large team, and what it takes to maintain three championship golf courses. I had the opportunity to use a variety of machinery and learn new skills such as repairing divots, mowing greens and the upkeep of bunkers. I also had the privilege to to assist with major golfing events such as the Senior Open Championship.

Day to day work, and on the job training with various departments within Perth and Kinross Council, primarily the Grounds Maintenance and Burials teams. This was tied into block release to attend Elmwood College to undertake both practical and academic study in Horticulture. On completion of the apprenticeship I transferred to the council as a qualified Ground Maintenance staff member.

I volunteered as a leader at my local Scouting Association. The role involved supervising, supporting, encouraging and leading children in a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. I have helped to plan events, taken part in fund raising and enjoyed my leader’s role on the numerous camps that the Scouts take part in. I previously was a Scout and progressed up to The Explorers. It has been a great place to meet new people and work together as a closely knit team, while often taking part in challenging activities. By volunteering as a leader I feel I have been able to contribute and give something back to the Association

Assisting the Head Gardener, palace gardeners and other volunteers with general work within the palace grounds, which included jobs such as weeding, tidying, repair and maintenance of fences, assisting with new garden projects, sowing and planting. I enjoyed speaking to visitors and answering their questions about the palace and gardens.

Every Saturday I assisted at the airport with general operational duties, ranging from aircraft refuelling and cleaning to airside/engineering hangar care and maintenance. There was also a small customer facing role, where I had the opportunity to assist flying school customers and visiting pilots. The role involved being very aware of standard operating procedures and safety, in a potentially dangerous environment. For this role I had to take part in the company’s Health and Safety training.