General Operative

Tarmac Trading Limited; Cold Ash; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus scheme

Enhanced holiday entitlement

Contributory pension

Employee assistance

Training & development

Employee communities

Job summary

Tarmac Trading Limited is seeking a Multi Skilled Operative - Road Planing to support highways planing operations. You’ll report to the Planing Foreman and work across sites in Berkshire, Hampshire, Gloucestershire and Wales, with a 40-hour week and variable shifts, including nights when required.

You’ll operate road planers and heavy plant, ensure PPE and safety compliance, complete site documentation and participate in inductions. Overtime and weekend work are paid at a premium.

Qualifications

• Experience operating a road planer or transfer experience operating heavy plant machinery.
• Full UK manual driving licence with minimal points.
• CSCS qualification is required.

Responsibilities

• Operate machinery, vehicles and tools safely and report defects.
• Ensure PPE and safety compliance; complete site inductions and briefings.
• Complete site documentation and promote a strong safety culture.

Skills

Road planing

Heavy plant machinery

Driving licence

CSCS

Safety awareness

Teamwork

Job description

We are currently recruiting for a Multi Skilled Operative - Road Planing to join our National Road Planing (NRP) team. Although you will be based in Thatcham, Berkshire, this role requires flexibility as you will need to go where the work is, staying overnight if and when necessary. This could include travel and work based at our other sites in Berkshire, or Hampshire, Gloucester and Wales to name a few of which a van is provided. You will be contracted to 40-hours per week, but your work pattern may vary. Some weeks you may be working days, other times evenings and sometimes nights and we need any prospective candidates to be accommodating to these types of working hours and be flexible; sometimes at short notice. Prospective candidates are eligible for overtime, as and when it is available, which is paid at a premium and any weekend & bank holiday working also comes at a higher rate when available. At Tarmac, we are committed to creating a dynamic, inclusive environment and welcome applications from individuals with a variety of backgrounds. What You’ll Be Doing As a Multi Skilled Operative - Road Planing, you’ll report directly to the Planing Foreman and play a key role in supporting highways planing operations. In this hands‑on role, your responsibilities will include:

• Operating machinery, vehicles and tools, ensuring all equipment is safe and fit for use, and reporting any defects promptly
• Ensuring you are fully trained, authorised and always wearing the correct PPE
• Complying with all safety requirements, company standards and procedures for both employees and subcontractors
• Completing site‑specific documentation and attending necessary site inductions and briefings
• Actively promoting a strong safety culture by identifying and reporting hazards through Safety Observation and Near Miss processes
• Supporting environmental best practice and ensuring processes are followed across all work activities

What We Are Looking For

We’re looking for a motivated and safety‑focused individual with a strong team ethic and a willingness to learn and develop. To be successful in this role, you should have:

Essential:

• Experience operating a road planer, or transferable experience operating heavy plant machinery (with training provided)
• A full UK manual driving licence with no more than 6 penalty points At Tarmac, who you are matters. We want to get to know you. If you share our values, take pride in a job well done, enjoy working collaboratively, and are ambitious to make things better, we’d love to hear from you., Knowledge of surfacing methods and planing machine capabilities
• A valid CSCS qualification

We’re also looking for someone who demonstrates:

• Strong communication and teamwork skills, able to contribute to a positive team environment
• Flexibility and openness to change, with a commitment to continuous improvement
• Problem‑solving ability, taking ownership and identifying root causes to resolve issues effectively

If you’re looking to build a career in road planing and want to join a team where safety, collaboration and development are at the heart of everything we do, this could be the opportunity for you.

Why Tarmac

We don’t just offer a job, we offer a career. Alongside this role, you’ll have access to industry‑leading rewards, development opportunities, and a culture that puts people first, including:

• Bonus scheme
• Enhanced holiday entitlement
• Contributory pension scheme
• Access to the Tarmac Reward website with discounts on retailers, holidays, etc.
• Access to the Employee Assistance helpline for free and confidential advice
• Access to join our Employee Communities (employee networks) we currently have nine communities inc. (REACH) Religious, Ethnic, Cultural Heritage, LGBTQ+, Parents & carers, Ability, Wellbeing, Female voice and menopause
• Training and development opportunities

Tarmac is committed to being a Forces‑friendly employer. If you’re coming from a military background, we’ll support your transition and help you build a successful career with us. We’re proud to be part of CRH, and even prouder to be an equal opportunity employer.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. If you need any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, just let us know, we’re here to support you.