Ground Worker

Fortel; Upper Poppleton; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Fortel is seeking an experienced Groundworker to join our civils team. You will deliver essential groundworks, civils, and enabling infrastructure to prepare this flagship site for structural builds.

The role operates in a highly regulated, high-speed rail environment, requiring safe working practices, CSCS card, and competence in drainage, concreting, and plant operation. Fortel offers stable work on major projects and a strong safety culture.

Qualifications

• CSCS Card: Valid Green Skilled Worker CSCS Card preferred; Green Labourer considered.
• Manual Handling: Valid accredited certificate for safe lifting and handling on site.
• Plant Tickets (Desirable): CPCS/NPORS tickets for Forward Tipping Dumper, Ride-on Roller.

Responsibilities

• Site Preparation & Groundworks: excavation support, trenching, and ground prep for foundations and slabs.
• Underground Services & Drainage: lay drainage pipework and install attenuation tanks and ductwork.
• Concreting & Formwork: assist with setting out, pouring, levelling and finishing concrete and basic shuttering.
• Levelling & Compaction: read site plans and operate rollers/rammers to achieve densities.
• External Works & Finishing: lay kerbs, edgings, paving and block paving for access routes.
• Safety & Tool Management: operate small plant tools and follow permits to protect utilities.

Skills

CSCS Card

Manual Handling

Plant Tickets

Job description

Job Description

Check out the role overview below If you are confident you have got the right skills and experience, apply today.

Fortel is the largest Midlands based supplier of agency labour to the UK construction industry, providing contractors with pre-briefed, compliant teams formed of trusted and skilled workers for construction and key infrastructure projects.

We are seeking an experienced Groundworker to join our civils team. You will deliver essential groundworks, civils, and enabling infrastructure to prepare this massive flagship site for structural builds. This role requires executing high-quality work in site preparation, drainage installation, reinforced concrete foundations, and final surface finishes, all within a highly regulated, high-speed rail environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Site Preparation & Groundworks: Execute deep excavation support, trenching, and ground preparation for foundations, retaining structures, and structural slabs.
• Underground Services & Drainage: Lay vitrified clay, concrete, and plastic drainage pipework. Install deep drainage runs, attenuation tanks, ductwork for utilities, and access manholes.
• Concreting & Formwork: Assist with setting out, pouring, levelling, and finishing concrete for foundations, ground slabs, and thrust blocks. Help build basic timber shuttering and place steel reinforcement mesh.
• Levelling & Compaction: Read site plans to ensure correct gradients and falls. Operate vibrating rollers, rammers, and compaction plates to achieve specified engineering densities.
• External Works & Finishing: Lay precast concrete kerbs, edgings, flag pavements, and block paving for station access routes, temporary pathways, and hard landscaping zones.
• Safety & Tool Management: Safely operate a variety of small plant tools (disc cutters, laser levels, pumps, and mixers). Follow strict permits to dig to protect live underground utilities.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• CSCS Card: Valid Green Skilled Worker CSCS Card is highly preferred. Green Labourer cards with proven experience will be considered.
• Manual Handling: Valid, accredited training certificate in Manual Handling to demonstrate safe lifting, moving, and handling techniques on site.
• Plant Tickets (Desirable): CPCS/NPORS tickets for Forward Tipping Dumper, Ride-on Roller