Apprentice Groundworker

ALUN GRIFFITHS (CONTRACTORS) LTD; England; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 15,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional civil engineering contractor is seeking an Apprentice Groundworker to assist with various tasks such as excavation, drainage installation, and site preparation. You will receive on-the-job training and work towards a Level 2 Groundworker Apprenticeship Standard. Candidates must have or be willing to achieve GCSEs in English and Maths at grade 4/C, possess strong team working skills, and demonstrate a positive attitude. The company offers a supportive working environment focused on health and safety.

Benefits

Competitive apprentice wage

Company-provided PPE

Supportive working environment

Qualifications

• Completion of GCSE in English and Maths at grade 4/C.
• Strong communication skills and physical fitness.
• Reliable, punctual and a willingness to learn.

Responsibilities

• Follow health & safety policies on site.
• Excavate and prepare work areas safely.
• Install drainage and ducting systems.
• Support teammates with excavation and reinstatement tasks.

Skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving skills

Team working

Physical fitness

Willingness to learn

Education

GCSE in English (grade 4/C)

GCSE in Maths (grade 4/C)

Tools

Power tools

Excavation equipment

Measuring tools

Job description

Apprentice Groundworker

As an Apprentice Groundworker, you will play an important role in the safe, sustainable delivery of our projects across the West of England. You'll work safely and efficiently, carrying out key tasks such as excavation, highway/pavement construction, drainage installation, ducting, concreting, reinstatement and basic setting‑out.

Responsibilities

• Follow site health & safety policies and procedures at all times.
• Prepare work areas, erecting and dismantling temporary access, barriers, safety lighting and ground protection.
• Interpret and follow drawings, risk assessments, method statements and work instructions under supervision.
• Safely select, handle, store and move resources, materials, tools and equipment (hand and power tools).
• Support shallow excavations (up to 1.2 m depth) and assist with temporary excavation supports.
• Locate and expose buried services safely using appropriate tools and techniques.
• Assist in installing basic drainage and ducting systems, reinstating surfaces (paths, slabs, kerbs, driveways, ironwork).
• Mix, place, compact and finish concrete or mortar by hand or mixer.
• Learn to guide the movement of vehicles, plant and machinery on site.
• Work productively and collaboratively with others, communicating effectively and following instructions.
• Manage your time effectively, be punctual, and adapt to changing work environments and tasks.
• Contribute to maintaining a clean, safe and environmentally responsible site.

Knowledge You Will Develop

• Health, safety, welfare and environmental best practice in construction.
• Site hazards and safe systems of work (including asbestos, contaminated ground, confined spaces).
• Reading and interpreting drawings, specifications and method statements.
• Modern and traditional groundworks methods, materials, and equipment.
• Safe manual handling, mechanical lifting and storage of materials.
• Excavation, setting‑out, installing drainage and ducting, reinstatement and concrete works.
• Work safely and securely in compliance with given information, organisational policies and procedures, and current health, safety and welfare legislation including procedures for working in contaminated ground.
• Conform with productive working practices and completing the work in accordance with the programme of work.
• Interpret and follow verbal and written work instructions from supervisors and site managers.
• Access, interpret and use drawings and specifications.
• Select the required resources including tools and fixtures.
• Move, handle and store resources complying with relevant legislation & guidance.
• Use and maintain power tools and equipment (including compactor plates, boning rods, portable power tools, levels, straight edges, lines, pins and laser equipment).
• Gauge and mix mortars and concrete by hand and by mixer.
• Select and use basic setting‑out equipment including tape measures, levels, straight edges, lines and pins, boning rods and laser equipment under guidance of the supervisor.
• Install, maintain and remove temporary protection and safety arrangements for the work area relating to barriers and temporary structures, including protection, safety notices and safety lighting.
• Install and test basic drainage and ducting.
• Measure, mark, cut and install geo‑membranes to stabilise soil for re‑instatement and excavations.
• Transport and place, then compact and finish concrete to slabs/bases, footing oversights, paths, form slab edgings including positioning reinforcement and kerbs.
• Set out and lay flags, pavours and edging to paths, driveways and other areas.
• Install ironworks relating to access covers and frames, and gully grates and frames including preparatory brickwork.
• Locate and excavate to expose buried utility services using electronic location instruments.
• Provide and remove temporary works including shallow excavation support (up to 1.2 metres).
• Form and reinstate excavations and surfaces to sub‑grades, sub‑bases and road bases.
• Prepare to, then direct and guide the movement of vehicles, plant or machinery.

Training Schedule

You will combine on‑site, hands‑on learning with dedicated college training delivered by Weston College, working toward the Level 2 Groundworker Apprenticeship Standard. Your structured on‑the‑job training will include shadowing experienced team members, mentoring, and support from a designated buddy. You will be assigned to a specific team (gang) and guided by an experienced Works Manager as you develop your skills, ultimately becoming a qualified groundworks operative upon completion. If you have not achieved a 4/C in Maths and/or English GCSE, you will be required to study these subjects at a Functional Skill's level, alongside your apprenticeship.

GCSE Requirements

• English (grade 4/C)
• Maths (grade 4/C)

Additional Qualifications & Competencies

• Communication skills
• Problem‑solving skills
• Team working
• Physical fitness
• Strong work ethic
• Practical ability
• Reliable and punctual
• Willingness to learn
• Positive attitude
• Driving licence desirable to travel to the college campus and project locations across Weston and Bristol.

About the Company

We are a sustainable civil engineering contractor that helps connect communities through road, rail, water, and utilities. We pride ourselves on delivering the highest quality projects in a healthy, safe, and sustainable manner to improve people's everyday lives. As a regional company, we have an inherent interest in the social, economic, and environmental well‑being of the areas within which we live and work. We invest in these local communities through every project we undertake.

We directly employ a well‑trained, dedicated and highly competent workforce of over 1,000. Our strong customer base includes Welsh Government, Network Rail, National Highways, TfW, local authorities, utility companies and selected private sector organisations.

Benefits

• Competitive apprentice wage in line with the national rate.
• Company‑provided PPE and necessary equipment.
• Supportive and inclusive working environment that values safety, sustainability and diversity.