Apprentice Operative
BREEDON GROUP SERVICES LIMITED
Rotherham (S66 7RD)
Closes in 18 days (Sunday 22 February 2026)
Posted on 3 February 2026
Contents
Summary
Have you always had that knack for practical, hands-on tasks? Are you often curious about how things are made and why things work? If so, perhaps working as an operative in a quarry, cement or asphalt site is your career call. You will be loading trucks and driving some of the large yellow machinery, such as a loading shovel.
- Wage
-
£21,257.60 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
• Pension • 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays on top • Share Saver Scheme • Life Assurance • Broad learning opportunities and career progression pathways.
- Training course
- Material processing plant operator (level 2)
- Hours
-
Working days and start and finish times to be confirmed.
40 hours a week
- Start date
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Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
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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
- Must be over 18 for this role, due to insurance purposes
- As an apprentice operative, you’ll support the vital need to uphold quarry and cement site production
- You’ll be loading trucks with rocks, stone, sand, and gravel and driving some of the large yellow machinery, such as a loading shovel
- You will be maintaining machinery such as the loading shovel by ensuring it is well greased, dust free and reporting any defects
- You will get involved in maintaining a tidy site to keep everyone safe and ensuring machinery doesn’t get damaged
If you’re one to tiptoe around puddles with trepidation, maybe this role isn’t for you. You won’t be spending every day in a clean, corporate office swivelling on an office chair! If you have a natural affinity with the great outdoors, in all weathers, then now we’re talking!
Where you'll work
Holme Hall Quarry
Stainton
Rotherham
S66 7RD
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
TARMAC TRADING LIMITED
Training course
Material processing plant operator (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Conduct pre-start checks of plant equipment.
- Conduct post operation checks of plant equipment.
- Identify and report environmental issues of work undertaken.
- Conduct maintenance activities such as planned, preventative, predictive or reactive.
- Use materials, fluids or lubricants required for operation and maintenance.
- Monitor stock levels.
- Monitor end product quality and report issues.
- Carry out and record learning and development activities.
- Comply with health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations and standards. Comply with safe systems of work.
- Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance.
- Lock off and isolate equipment or systems using Lockout, Tag out, Try out (LOTOTO) procedures.
- Follow equality, diversity and inclusion procedures.
- Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
- Communicate with others verbally for example colleagues and stakeholders.
- Record or enter information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, risk assessments, equipment service records, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, checklists, pre-start and post operation check records, waste records.
- Identify and take action when observing unsafe practice.
- Carry out risk assessments.
- Applies team working principles.
- Follow handover procedures.
- Use mobile plant equipment to transport materials identified for production.
- Operate mobile plant.
- Select and checks mobile equipment or attachment.
- Identify and report issues with raw materials such as contamination.
- Process products.
- Operate static plant to produce a manufactured product.
- Complete inspection of raw materials.
- Monitor static plant processing and adjust tolerances.
- Follow emergency stop procedures.
- Calibrate equipment prior to use.
- Check and confirm raw materials into the correct location.
- Conduct pre-start checks of plant equipment.
- Conduct post operation checks of plant equipment.
- Identify and report environmental issues of work undertaken.
- Conduct maintenance activities such as planned, preventative, predictive or reactive.
- Use materials, fluids or lubricants required for operation and maintenance.
- Monitor stock levels.
- Monitor end product quality and report issues.
- Carry out and record learning and development activities.
- Comply with health and safety procedures in compliance with regulations and standards. Comply with safe systems of work.
- Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance.
- Lock off and isolate equipment or systems using Lockout, Tag out, Try out (LOTOTO) procedures.
- Follow equality, diversity and inclusion procedures.
- Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
- Communicate with others verbally for example colleagues and stakeholders.
- Record or enter information - paper based or electronic. For example, energy usage, risk assessments, equipment service records, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, checklists, pre-start and post operation check records, waste records.
- Identify and take action when observing unsafe practice.
- Carry out risk assessments.
- Applies team working principles.
- Follow handover procedures.
Training schedule
You will complete a Level 2 Material Processing Plant Operative apprenticeship qualification, over a period of 18 months
More training information
- You will attend the training centre in Mansfield 2 days every other month
- The cost of travel, accommodation and meals will be covered by Breedon
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade Minimum D/E or 3)
- Maths (grade Minimum D/E or 3)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Patience
About this employer
Breedon is a leading construction materials group in Great Britain and Ireland. Our GB division comprises fully-integrated aggregates and downstream products businesses throughout the UK . We supply aggregates, asphalt, ready-mixed concrete & mortar and concrete blocks, together with a range of specialist building products including clay bricks and tiles, other clay products, decorative aggregates and Welsh slate, which are sold throughout the UK and Ireland.
After this apprenticeship
- There are opportunities to learn to drive and use lots of types of plant equipment, such as diggers and loading shovels
- Other opportunities in the future could be supervisory and team leading roles
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
TARMAC TRADING LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000012693.
Apply now
Closes in 18 days (Sunday 22 February 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.