Highways Maintenance Apprentice

Summary

Are you passionate about making a real difference in your community? We're offering an amazing opportunity for 3 Highways Maintenance Apprentices to join our team! This is your chance to gain practical experience, work alongside skilled professionals, and build a solid foundation for your future career.

Wage

£15,311.40 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Hourly Pay Rate is dependent on your age: 16-17: £7.55 hourly - £15,311.40 annually, 18-20: £10.00- £20,280 annually, 21+ : £12.21 hourly- £24,761 annually

Training course

Groundworker (level 2)

Hours

You’ll be working fixed hours, with the following shift pattern: 7.45am to 4.30pm, Monday to Thursday. 7.45am to 3.30pm, Friday.

39 hours a week

Start date

Monday 8 September 2025

Duration

1 year 9 months

Positions available

3

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

How you’ll make a difference

Our StreetCare Design and Operations team play a key role in the delivery of quality highways related maintenance and construction works. They’re commencing an ambitious programme to deliver over £100m worth of investment through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) programme.

As a Groundworker Apprentice, you will join our frontline team, supporting them by contributing to the highways work throughout the delivery phase. Your role is vital in keeping our roads safe and meeting the needs of the South Gloucestershire community.

Groundworkers are the first trade onto a construction and civil engineering site. They work closely with supervisors and engineers in interpreting design specifications and will prepare the site ready for the structural building works to take place.

Your duties will include:

Working alongside our experienced staff, you will support and contribute towards the physical construction of a wide variety of features including, site clearance, fencing, drainage, earthworks, pavements, kerbing, footways, block paving, traffic signs, road markings and retaining walls
You will have the opportunity to learn how to operate small mechanical plant and machinery used in the maintenance of highways and the safety methods involved around operation of plant and equipment
You will be taught how to undertake general manual labouring work, assisting in excavations, reinstatements and specialist practices such as asphalt mixes, landscaping, structures and temporary traffic management
You will be responsible for your own safety on site as well as your fellow workers and the public, this will be done by adhering to directed safe methods of work at all times

You’ll be completing a Level 2 Groundworker apprenticeship which will provide you with a highly transferable set of knowledge and skills, which you gain by working for us. These are the units you’ll get to learn;

Health and safety
Accessing and interpreting drawings and specifications
Using and maintaining power tools and equipment
Gauging and mixing mortars and concrete by hand and by mixer
Installing and testing basic drainage and ducting
Forming and reinstating excavations and surfaces to sub-grades, sub-bases and roads

To successfully complete the apprenticeship, you will be required you to complete an end point assessment that consists of a knowledge test, skills test and a professional discussion.

Where you’ll work

Broad Lane Depot Engine Common Lane
Yate
Bristol
BS37 7PN

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

GLOUCESTERSHIRE COLLEGE

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

Groundworker Apprenticeship Standard Level 2. Apprentices will attend college on block release. Theory lessons will be reinforced in the workplace and practical skills will be practiced and enhanced in college and the workplace. This can be supported by some remote delivery if required.

More training information

The apprenticeship is programmed to be delivered on a weekly day release learning during term time only over the 24 months of training. This requires attendance to Gloucestershire College, Cheltenham Campus, Princess Elizabeth Way, Cheltenham, GL51 7SJ. The council will cover your travel expenses.

We will allocate you a workplace mentor to give you guidance and support throughout the completion of your apprenticeship.

When you aren’t learning with Gloucestershire College, the rest of your time will be spent with us learning on the job at our Broad Lane offices, Engine Common Lane, Yate, Bristol, BS37 7PN.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 1)
Maths (grade 1)

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
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Team working
Initiative

About this company

The StreetCare Design and Operations Team has an exciting forward programme of future highway schemes. We have a £125m package of schemes to deliver as part of the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement. This involves delivering the reopening of Charfield Railway Station and two active multimodal travel corridors along the A432 and A38 corridors.

https://www.southglos.gov.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

You will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and access to staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping & leisure activities.  Our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work.

After this apprenticeship

Potential position upon completion of the apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

GLOUCESTERSHIRE COLLEGE

GC Employer Training and Apprenticeships

Apprenticeshipvcancies@gloscol.ac.uk

0345 155 2020

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000317153.

Apply now

Closes in 13 days (Sunday 11 May 2025)

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After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

If you are interested in this vacancy position, please apply directly to South Gloucestershire Council through this link.

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