Summary
We are offering an exciting opportunity for mature, hardworking individuals to join our production teams across the country as a groundwork apprentice. This is a great chance to build your knowledge and experience in a sought-after trade, learning fundamental practical skills whilst gaining valuable work experience and life lessons.
Wage
Competitive
Competitive wage offered
Training course
Groundworker (level 2)
Hours
You will be working on a construction site Monday to Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm with two half hour breaks.
40 hours a week
Start date
Monday 22 September 2025
Duration
1 year 6 months
Positions available
2
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you’ll do at work
Groundworkers are the first contractors to begin work on a construction site. They work closely with all construction trades, such as bricklayers, and plant operatives, to prepare the site ready for building works to begin.
You will receive a site safety briefing and a schedule of work for the day and be expected to work as part of a team to complete tasks set for that project.
You will undertake a variety of tasks such as:
* Foundations, hard landscaping and earth works
* Concreting
* Traditional drainage and pipe laying
* Benching, channelling manholes and gullies
* Road works, laying kerbs, paving
* Surfacing and tarmac laying
* Utility ducting and laying
* Use of plant/machinery
* Steel fixing and piling
In order to work on site you will be required to sit a Health and Safety Operative test to gain your CSCS card.
Where you’ll work
MARK HANDFORD HOUSE
960-962 YARDLEY WOOD ROAD
BIRMINGHAM
B14 4BT
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
SALUTEM LIMITED
Your training course
Groundworker (level 2)
Equal to GCSE
Course contents
* Work safely and securely in compliance with given information, organisational policies and procedures, and current health, safety and welfare legislation including following the procedures for working in contaminated ground
* Conform with productive working practices and completing the work in accordance with the programme of work
* Interpret and follow verbal and written work instructions from supervisors and site managers
* Access, interpret and use drawings and specifications
* Select the required resources including tools and fixtures
* Move, handle and store resources complying with relevant legislation & guidance
* Use and maintain power tools and equipment (including;. compactor plates, boning rods, portable power tools, levels, straight edges, lines, pins and laser equipment)
* Gauge and mix mortars and concrete by hand and by mixer
* Select and use basic setting out equipment including tape measures, levels, straight edges, lines and pins, boning rods and laser equipment under guidance of the supervisor
* Install, maintain and remove temporary protection and safety arrangements for the work area relating to barriers and temporary structures, including protection, safety notices and safety lighting
* Install and test basic drainage and ducting
* Measure, mark, cut and install geo-membranes to stabilise soil for re-instatement and excavations
* Transport and place, then compact and finish concrete to slabs/bases, footing oversights, paths, form slab edgings including positioning reinforcement and kerbs
* Set out and lay flags, paviours and edging to paths, driveways and other areas
* Install ironworks relating to access covers and frames, and gully grates and frames including preparatory brickwork
* Locate and excavate to expose buried utility services using electronic location instruments
* Provide and remove temporary works including shallow excavation support (up to 1.2 metres)
* Form and reinstate excavations and surfaces to sub-grades, sub-bases and road bases
* Prepare to, then direct and guide the movement of vehicles, plant or machinery
Your training plan
The apprenticeship lasts for a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 18 months. You will be trained onsite by our staff and also attend 10 weeks of training at Salutem in Aston, B6 5RS which takes place throughout the year in block release to study the following:
* Health and safety
* Environmental and health hazards
* Basic principles of building information modelling
* The differences between modern and traditional construction methods
* Principles and methods of working in confined spaces
* Locating and excavating to expose buried utility services
* Basic principles of drainage
The training you receive onsite from experienced workers will help you produce a portfolio of evidence for your end point assessment.
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
* English (grade 4)
* Maths (grade 4)
Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.
Skills
* Communication skills
* Customer care skills
* Problem solving skills
* Number skills
* Analytical skills
* Logical
* Team working
* Initiative
* Physical fitness
Other requirements
This apprenticeship will be based outdoors and will require you to be physically fit. You must be able to get to a site for 8.00am every morning. We are looking for individuals with an excellent work ethic, motivated and willing to learn, flexibility and resilience with a positive attitude.