Rural Groundworker

Wessex Internet; Fordingbridge; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career progression

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Private medical insurance

Life assurance & income protection

Cycle to Work & Tech purchase

Enhanced family leave

75% staff broadband discount

High street discounts

Team socials

Job summary

Wessex Internet, an award-winning broadband provider expanding across the South West, is seeking experienced Rural Groundworkers to join our in-house team. You'll operate plant and machinery, support trenchless fibre installations, and help maintain safety on diverse rural sites.

You should have civils/utilities groundwork experience, a UK manual licence, and a proactive, team-first mindset. We offer a £30,000 - £36,000 starting salary, 25 days holiday, private medical insurance, and

Qualifications

• Experience in civils, utilities, groundwork or rural infrastructure.
• Full UK manual driving licence.
• Strong work ethic and ability to work outdoors in any weather.
• Experience operating plant and machinery; tickets beneficial.
• Experience with excavation, ducting or pipe/cable laying.
• Understanding of working on agricultural land or remote environments.
• Proactive, solutions-focused, team-first approach.

Responsibilities

• Operate plant and machinery (including trenchless fibre installs) for fibre works.
• Support mole plough and directional drilling teams to deliver fibre installations.
• Carry out daily plant checks and basic maintenance.
• Flag site challenges and help Team Leader keep projects moving.
• Promote safe working practices and report H&S concerns.
• Mentor junior team members on site.

Skills

Civils experience

Utilities groundwork

Rural infrastructure

UK driving licence

Outdoor work

Plant operation

Excavation/ducting

Team player

Tools

Kubota digger

Mole plough

Directional drilling

Job description

Build more than infrastructure - build the future of rural connectivity.

Wessex Internet is an award-winning broadband provider transforming how rural communities stay connected across the South West. As we continue expanding into the New Forest, Wiltshire, and South & West Dorset, we're looking for experienced Groundworkers to join our fast-growing in-house team.

In this role, you'll get hands-on with our trenchless technology (Mole Plough and Directional Drilling), operating plant and machinery across varied and often beautiful landscapes. If you love physical outdoor work, want long-term stability, and thrive in a supportive, tight-knit team, this could be the opportunity you've been waiting for.

What we offer our Rural Groundworkers:

• A £30,000 - £36,000 starting salary (depending on experience)
• Real career progression, including supervisory and team leader pathways
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays, with the option to buy/sell up to 5 days
• Private medical insurance, life assurance & income protection
• Cycle to Work & Tech purchase schemes
• Enhanced family leave policies
• 75% staff broadband discount
• High street discounts across 100+ major brands
• Summer & Christmas team socials
• A chance to be part of a company with a strong, long-term vision

What you'll be doing as a Rural Groundworker:

• Operating plant and machinery (including 2.7-ton Kubota diggers) for fibre installs, manholes, and telecoms cabinets
• Supporting mole plough and directional drilling teams to deliver fast, trenchless fibre installations
• Carrying out daily plant checks and basic maintenance
• Flagging site challenges and helping your Team Leader keep projects moving
• Always promoting and following safe working practices, reporting any H&S concerns
• Supporting and mentoring junior team members on site

We're looking for someone with:

• Experience in civils, utilities, groundwork, or rural infrastructure
• A full UK manual driving licence
• A strong work ethic and comfort working outdoors in any weather
• Confidence operating plant and machinery (tickets beneficial but not essential)
• Experience with excavation, ducting, and/or pipe or cable laying
• Understanding of working on agricultural land or in remote environments
• A proactive, solutions-focused, team-first approach

Desirable (but not essential):

• B+E trailer licence
• CSCS
• Street Works / Cable Avoidance (CAT & Genny)
• 10-ton excavator ticket

If you're ready to put your civils experience to work in a growing company with a clear vision for the future, and help us build the fibre network powering rural communities for generations to come.