Driver/Sweeper (Start 5.30am)

Reading Borough Council; Reading; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday entitlement

On-site day nursery

Season Ticket Loan

Lease car salary sacrifice

Flexible working opportunities

Job summary

Reading Borough Council seeks a reliable Driver/Sweeper to join the Street Cleansing Service within the Streetscene Team, driving electric vehicles and operating street cleansing equipment to keep Reading's town centre clean and safe. Shifts start at 5.30am and include some weekends/holidays.

You will hold a Cat B or C1UK licence and perform outdoor duties, with duties including sweeping, bin emptying, and debris removal, across varied sites.

Qualifications

• Cat:B or C1UK driving licence is essential and must be stated on CV or application
• Experience with street cleansing equipment is desirable

Responsibilities

• Drive electric vehicles and street cleaning machines to clean and maintain readings town centre areas
• Carry out street cleansing duties and empty litter bins
• Maintain equipment using checklists and ensure areas are cleaned to high standards
• Follow health and safety regulations and complete daily logs/reports
• Support wider street cleansing team and assist with manual sweeping as needed

Skills

Driving

Cleansing duties

Health & safety

Record keeping

Teamwork

Tools

Electric vehicle

Sweeping machines

Job description

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Salary £25,949 to £26,403 + additional 10% shift allowance = £28,543 to £29,043 Per year

We’re looking for a reliable and hardworking Driver/Sweeper to join our comprehensive Street Cleansing Service within the Streetscene Team to help keep our streets clean, safe, and welcoming for residents and visitors alike. Our team keep the town’s pavements, roads and other public areas clean and safe, and we’re looking for new team members to join us!

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About the Role:

Shift work - starting at 5.30am and will include working some weekends and bank holidays.

ACat:B or C1UK driving licence is essential part of this role and forms part of the shortlisting criteria;thereforeyou muststateyou have this on your CV or application form if it is not mentioned you will not be shortlisted.

As a Driver/Sweeper, you'll operate a range of vehicles and street cleansing equipment to maintain high standards of cleanliness across the borough. This includes sweeping streets, emptying litter bins, removing debris, and responding to environmental emergencies.

This job is working within the Reading Town Centre and includes driving and manual cleansing duties, so this would suit someone who enjoys varied outdoor work.

Duties will include:

• Driving the electric vehicle and pedestrian mechanical sweeping machines
• Carrying out street cleansing duties using a range of equipment.
• Maintaining equipment in accordance with checklists
• Ensure assigned areas are cleaned to a high standard
• Follow all health and safety regulations
• Complete daily logs and reports as required
• Supporting the wider street cleansing team as needed
• Manually sweeping and clearing litter from public areas

Ideally the successful candidates will have a proven track record of outside working in a demanding environment, driving tippers and other mechanical sweeping machinery along with an understanding of general vehicle maintenance.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do.

Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.

Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way.

Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed

Our offer:

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the 19 Bennet Road depot
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

Interview Date: Monday 31st August2026

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Interview Setup: In person interview at 19 Bennet Road, Reading