Summary
If you like outdoors and practical work, see details. As part of a small team, carry out routine repairs and maintenance to the highway network: roads, footways, drains, signs, walls, fences, barriers, street furniture, grass verges, etc. Assist with response to emergencies, incidents on the network, flooding, storms and other weather events.
Wage
£15,704 to £25,396.80, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
We pay National Minimum Wage for 40 hours per week. If you are 18-20 year old your hourly rate is £10.85 If you are 21 or over your hourly rate is £12.71
Training course
Groundworker (level 2)
Hours
Monday to Friday, between 8:00am and 6:00pm (times may vary).
40 hours a week
Start date
Tuesday 1 September 2026
Duration
1 year 6 months
Positions available
1
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
* Highways Maintenance (e.g. pothole repairs, grass cutting, winter gritting services)
* Providing traffic management for a diversity of projects
* Regenerating busy high streets
* Installing new bridges
* Working as part of our multi-disciplined teams to deliver innovative solutions to highways maintenance
Where you'll work
Bleak Hall
Milton Keynes
MK6 1LY
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE
Training course
Groundworker (level 2)
What you'll learn
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
Training schedule
* At the end of your apprenticeship, you will be awarded a Level 2 Groundwork Apprenticeship
* Level 1 maths and English and if not obtained yet
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
Other in:
Working towards Level 1 Maths and English (grade working towards Level 1)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
* Communication skills
* Customer care skills
* Problem solving skills
* Team working
Other requirements
You will learn all of the skills necessary for this Highways Maintenance apprenticeship through a combination of formal training and practical experience. You will work in a team alongside our highly experienced colleagues, and you will benefit from their knowledge and their support on a daily basis. You will be given your PPE.