Highways Maintenance Apprentice

LEEDS CITY COUNCIL; Leeds; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Leeds City Council is offering a Highways Maintenance Apprentice position at depots across the city. The role combines on-the-job training with college study to build skills in repairing and maintaining highways and footpaths while working in small outdoor teams.

You will complete a Level 2 qualification as a Highways Maintenance Operative, attend block learning weeks, and be supervised as you gain practical experience.

Qualifications

• GCSEs including English and Maths.
• Interest in highways maintenance / civil engineering.
• Ability to carry out heavy manual work.
• Willingness to attend block learning weeks.
• Ability to work in all weathers.

Responsibilities

• Undertake general road maintenance and repair under supervision.
• Assist with setting up traffic management and safe work practices.
• Learn to repair potholes, lay kerbing and flags, and use relevant machinery.
• Work in a small on-site team with experienced colleagues.
• Ensure work meets required safety standards and quality.

Skills

Teamwork

Manual labour

Willingness to learn

Communication

Safety awareness

Education

GCSE English & Maths

Job description

Highways Maintenance Apprentice

Salary: A1-3 £24,796

Hours: 37

Contract: 2-year Fixed-term

Location: Highways Maintenance Depots

As a Highways Maintenance Apprentice you will be interested in working with small teams outdoors to repair and maintain the Highway network, keeping colleagues and members of the public safe. You will be committed to undertaking the apprenticeship programme, developing the knowledge and skills to build, maintain and repair public highways and footpaths, gaining a Level 2 Qualification as a Highways Maintenance Operative.

The role requires you to learn and demonstrate practical skills under close supervision while carrying out a variety of works to the local authority-maintained highway network. You will have block learning weeks at Askham Bryan college before bringing the knowledge and skills back to your team to practice. You will be supervised by experienced colleagues during your apprenticeship. You will be committed to complete the final assessment to gain your qualification.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions .

About you

As a Highways Maintenance Apprentice, you will bring to the role:

• A willingness to undertake the apprenticeship, attending college for block learning weeks and
• Interest in highways maintenance / civil engineering
• Ability to carry out heavy manual work
• Ability to work in a team and communicate politely and effectively
• Willingness to work in all weathers
• Possess good hearing and vision due to the nature of the work on the highway.
• A commitment to safety, quality, and public service, ensuring that all work meets legal standards and supports the Best City Ambition.

About the role

As a Highways Apprentice, you'll be keen to learn how to repair and maintain the city's urban and rural roads. You will be develop skills in repairing potholes, laying kerbing and flags, using machinery, installing temporary traffic management and applying relevant health and safety practices to keep yourself and others safe.

You’ll work in a small team when out on site containing experienced colleagues who will be responsible for supervising you on a daily basis. They will support you to put your college learning into practice, developing the skills required to complete the apprenticeship.

What we offer you

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people; This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose:

To undertake the apprenticeship programme of college study and on-the-job training to develop the skills and knowledge to build, maintain and repair public highways and footpaths.

Working as part of a team, in operations associated with the highway maintenance and construction on urban and rural roads, including excavation of the highway and reinstatement by laying tarmac, installing kerbs, and paving flags, preparing and working within traffic management and supporting with winter maintenance activities.

Responsibilities:

• Under close supervision, undertake general road maintenance and repair activities in accordance with method statements and safe systems of work.
• The basic setting out and measurement of work on the highways as directed.
• Receive and carry out instructions from Group Leader/Supervising Officer or higher graded Roadworker.
• Assist in the planning and undertaking of work in liaison with Group Leader.
• Under close supervision, set up warning signs and cones as well as managing traffic close to the work site.
• Under close supervision assist with excavation operations both by hand and supervision of hired plant, including operators.
• Read, interpret and work to engineering drawings.
• Assist in ensuring work undertaken is to the required specification and standard.
• To maintain a suitable professional appearance appropriate to the work environment including the wearing of personal protective equipment.
• Complete prime documents including timesheets, plant returns, defect sheets, HAVS records etc. in accordance with deadlines.
• Provide measurements to assist with the ordering of materials and plant.
• To respond to customers and colleagues in a courteous and helpful manner.
• Assist with all aspects of general maintenance and construction methods associated with highways.
• To promote LCC health and safety culture and be responsible for undertaking works in a Safe and compliant manner, and to comply with all local and statutory Health & Safety procedures
• To travel to and have full attendance at college to gain an appropriate qualification.
• To be willing and prepared to work outside in all weathers. The work can be dirty, noisy and physically demanding.
• This is an Apprenticeship role and as such the job holder will be learning on the job. They will have some limited responsibility for tasks that they complete but will do so under the close supervision of a qualified person.
• When carrying out the duties of the post, and as an employee of the Council, they will consider the implications of the Council's:

• Core Values
• Equal Opportunities Policy
• Environmental Policy

• Comply with Standing Orders, Financial Procedures, Quality Assurance procedures, and Health and Safety Regulations.
• Consider the implications of the Council's Green Strategy Objectives in carrying out the duties of the post as an employee of the Council.

Essential Qualifications

3 GCSEs Grade 3 or above (A* to D) which should include English and Maths or their equivalent (College want English and Maths above Grade 2)

Personal Specification Requirements

Essential

• An interest in Highways Maintenance/ Civil Engineering.
• Able to carry out heavy manual work.
• Able to assist with laying kerbs, flags and block paving.
• Able to work as part of a team.
• Experience of working/ or willing to work in adverse weather conditions.
• Able to communicate verbally in a polite manner.
• Possession of good vision and hearing is essential as some of the work will be on the highway and an employee could be at risk without these senses.

Desirable

• Practical Skill /hand eye coordination/ mechanical skill
• Current Driving Licence
• Part time work experience
• A qualification in a practical subject

Behaviour & other Characteristics

Essential

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of Healthy, Growing, Thriving and Resilient.
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council's equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee's responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters