Plant Operative

Holcim; Darwen; Hybrid; GBP 21,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Health & Safety focus

Enhanced family benefits (maternity/pfi

Women Empowered mentor program

Free 24/7 remote GP service

Job summary

Holcim UK is seeking a Plant Operative to join our Darwen team in a hybrid role. You’ll balance customer-facing duties with hands-on plant operation, including asphalt batching and site logistics. Training provided, with a focus on safety and teamwork.

You’ll work early shifts Monday to Friday and Saturdays, contributing to reliable service and qualified workmanship across our operations.

Qualifications

• Experience in customer service or operating plant is a plus, but training is provided.
• Strong communication and organisational skills are valued.
• Good safety practices and responsibility are essential.

Responsibilities

• Answer customer queries by phone, email, or in person with excellent service.
• Process customer orders accurately and efficiently.
• Identify service improvements and share feedback from customers.
• Escalate unresolved issues to team leaders or service managers.
• Operate heavy machinery safely on site (excavators, loaders, etc.).
• Conduct daily safety checks and support plant operations and logistics.
• Keep work area and site clean, safe, and well-organised.
• Monitor asphalt batching and mixing plants to meet job specs.
• Perform routine maintenance and minor repairs on plant equipment.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Safety awareness

Teamwork

Heavy machinery operation

Education

No formal education requirements stated

Tools

Heavy plant equipment

Job description

About Holcim

We are leaders in supplying innovative, sustainable building solutions to the UK construction industry; building progress for people and the planet.

Since 1858, we've helped shape the UK; powering the construction of homes and hospitals, roads and railways, schools and cities alike.

Our mission is to make sustainable construction a reality, through purposeful action that tackles real carbon and climate challenges. We are dedicated to helping Britain grow and thrive - by doing the right thing, doing it together, and making a difference.

Holcim UK Company Benefits

• Competitive Salary, plus bonus, 25 days holiday + your local bank holidays (with options to increase) and other benefits and other benefits- all recognising the contribution you bring
• Be valued and supported, working as part of a highly respected team in a business that has a huge focus on Health & Safety
• We care about you and your family. That's why we offer enhanced family benefits, including maternity, paternity, and adoption leave. We understand that your personal life and family well-being are just as important as your career, so we're committed to supporting you every step of the way.
• Be part of something bigger with our "Women Empowered - Stronger Together Mentor Program," designed to support, inspire, and uplift women across the business.
• Free 24/7 remote GP service for you and your household, offering medical advice, prescriptions, referrals, and same-day appointments.
• Opportunities for career progression both at home and abroad
• Join our affinity groups selected by and populated by our employees which bring together employees with similar backgrounds and interests to have powerful influence on the workplace
• Staff discounts including special rates for garden landscaping products

The Opportunity

Are you ready to take on a role that is all about People, Purpose and Performance? We're looking for a Plant Operative to join our team in Darwen and help keep everything moving, on the ground and over the phone. If you enjoy working with customers just as much as operating big machines, this hybrid role gives you the best of both worlds, working on mobile plant, mixing material and working on the weighbridge. You'll work Monday to Friday 06:00 - 15:00 and Saturday 06:00 - 10:00.

You'll be part of a tight-knit, fast-paced team that plays a vital role in delivering quality service and materials to our customers, whether that's through taking orders, solving problems, or operating heavy machinery to get product out the door. It's a job with variety, purpose, and plenty of room to grow.

What Makes This Role Stand Out?

Hands-on machine time - Operate heavy plant like loading shovels (we'll train you!).

End-to-end impact - From placing an order to loading it up for delivery, you're involved every step of the way.

Room to grow - With training, support, and development opportunities, you're in control of your career.

What You’ll Be Doing

Answering customer queries by phone, email, or in person, always delivering great service.

Handling and processing customer orders accurately and efficiently.

Identifying service improvements and sharing feedback from customers.

Escalating any unresolved issues to team leaders or service managers.

Operating heavy machinery safely and efficiently on site (excavators, loaders, etc.).

Conducting daily safety checks and supporting plant operations and logistics.

Keeping your work area, and the whole site clean, safe, and well-organised.

Operating and monitoring asphalt batching and mixing plants to produce asphalt according to required job mix formulas and quality specifications.

Conducting routine and preventative maintenance, inspections, and minor repairs on asphalt plant equipment, machinery, and production tools.

What You’ll Bring

A positive, proactive attitude, you enjoy helping people and solving problems.

Excellent communication and organisation skills.

A passion for teamwork, whether it's in the office or out in the yard.

Some experience in customer service or operating plant is a plus—but we'll train the right person.

A good grasp of safety practices and a strong sense of responsibility.

A flexible approach, you're comfortable switching gears between phones and plant machinery.