Construction Operative

Gateshead Council; Gateshead; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government council in Gateshead seeks a Construction Operative to undertake general building duties, including repairs and refurbishments. The ideal candidate will have a CSCS card and a valid UK driving license, with knowledge of health and safety legislation. The role offers a competitive salary, a variety of benefits, and the opportunity to work in a supportive and inclusive team environment.

Benefits

Competitive Salary

Outstanding Pension Scheme

Generous Annual Leave

Learning & Development opportunities

Health & Wellbeing Support

Cycle to Work Scheme

Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme

Exclusive Discounts

Qualifications

• Knowledge of health and safety legislation.
• Experience in manual labor including lifting and climbing.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other trades.

Responsibilities

• Support skilled trades with materials and manual tasks.
• Engage with customers and deliver a responsive service.
• Perform essential groundwork including drainage and excavations.

Skills

Knowledge of the construction industry

Ability to work at height

Experience in groundworks

Tools

CSCS card

UK driving license

Job description

Help Us Build for a Better Tomorrow

Who We Are & What We Stand For

Do you want to help make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives? If that sounds like you, keep reading - we might be the perfect match.

We’re delighted that you’re interested in working with us. You’d be joining us at a very exciting time.

We pride ourselves on our ambitious and forward-thinking approach to taking care of Gateshead and its people, and we passionately believe that our employees reflect that spirit in truly enabling Gateshead to thrive.

At Gateshead Council you’d be a highly valued member of a team that recognises and respects the skills that you bring to your role, encourages creativity and passionately advocates a great work / life balance. Our actions speak louder than words, and with flexi-time and hybrid working available across many of our roles, as well as a full suite of outstanding employee benefits, we’re confident that it isn’t just the salary that attracts our staff.

Good People, Great Projects

Our construction colleagues have significant responsibility for the ongoing maintenance of one of the region’s largest property portfolios. With work spanning responsive and planned repairs, cyclical maintenance and emergency out of hours repairs, fire and building safety, disabled adaptations, asset improvement, stores, purchasing and waste, call handling and customer support, this is a high-performing team operating on the front line with a truly vital role to play in ensuring safe living and working conditions for residents and employees of Gateshead.

Looking for a Fresh Start? Let’s Build It Together.

You will be working as a Construction Operative undertaking general building duties covering repairs, refurbishment and upgrades to all property types within the Council’s property portfolio and as required in line with business need. You will undertake minor cross trade work to support the service ‘one front door approach’, be proactive in all aspects of health and safety, and work collaboratively with the team to deliver positive outcomes for our customers.

The service operates from 8am to 8pm to meet customer need, therefore, there may be a requirement for some later working. We also operate an out of hours arrangement and employees will asked to participate.

What You'll Get To Do

• Support skilled trades by handling materials, assisting with manual tasks, and contributing to general building activities.
• Engage with customers and subcontractors to deliver a responsive, professional, and customer-focused service.
• Carry out essential groundwork including drainage, excavations, and concreting to support project progress.
• Keep the site safe and tidy, maintaining high standards of cleanliness and safety at all times.
• Work collaboratively with subcontractors under the direction of Gateshead Council supervisors to ensure smooth operations.
• Actively assess risks and contribute to a safe working environment by following health and safety protocols, including CDM regulations.
• Demonstrate positive conduct and teamwork, promoting cross-service collaboration to achieve excellent outcomes for customers.

What You'll Bring

• A current CSCS card
• A full valid UK driving license or access to mobility support
• Knowledge of the construction industry including up to date understanding and application of health and safety legislation
• Experience of and ability to work at height, on scaffold and in confined spaces
• A confidence to working with and alongside other trades undertaking labouring duties on groundworks projects
• An ability to undertake manual activities, walking, lifting, carrying, bending, and climbing

What’s In It For You

• Competitive Salary: We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
• Outstanding Pension Scheme: We don’t just offer a great salary we invest in your future too. Find out what benefits a Local Government Pension provides:
• Generous Annual Leave: Enjoy 28 days of annual leave, rising to 32 days after 5 years, plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
• Rota day off: Benefit from another day off. The standard working pattern for this role comprises 3 weeks at 39 hours and 1 week at 32 hours on a 4 - weekly cycle, resulting in a rota day off (RDO).
• Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development, and progression opportunities to help you grow your career.
• Health & Wellbeing Support: From discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL to mental health resources, we care about your wellbeing.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active with our tax-efficient cycle to work programme.
• Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme: Get behind the wheel of a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle through our salary sacrifice car scheme in partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions a cost-effective, environmentally friendly way to drive.
• Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice: Through our VIVUP employee benefits platform, enjoy discounts on shopping, travel, and services plus salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics, and more, helping you spread the cost of essential purchases.

Our commitment to you

We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. At Gateshead Council we are an employer who embraces, and welcomes diversity, who\'s truly inclusive and who demonstrates equality for all. We\'ll go the extra mile so that our approach is representative of the communities we serve and each other. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

How To Apply

You can apply online using the link below. Within the form, you’ll be asked for details about you, your career history, skills, experiences and qualifications.

We advise you to be as detailed and specific as possible, paying particular attention to any of the above which are relevant to the role to which you are applying.

If you have any questions about your application, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our recruitment team via

Please note: As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. However, in high-volume recruitment situations, it may not always be practicable to interview every eligible candidate. In such cases, we may need to prioritise those who best meet the essential criteria, based on the information provided in the application.

Additionally, the Council reserves the right to close this vacancy early or adjust the shortlisting criteria, including the pass mark for interview selection, to ensure a fair and manageable recruitment process. We encourage early applications.