Groundworker Apprenticeship
R & C WILLIAMS LTD
BIRMINGHAM (B24 8NP)
Closes on Sunday 8 June 2025
Posted on 1 May 2025
Contents
Summary
Groundworkers are the first trade onto a construction and civil engineering site and they work closely with supervisors and engineers in interpreting design specifications to prepare the site ready for the structural building works to take place.
- Wage
-
£18,278 a year
- Training course
- Groundworker (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday- Friday
Shifts to be confirmed
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Wednesday 18 June 2025
- 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
Groundworkers have the knowledge and understanding of:
- The principles of health, safety, welfare and environmentally responsible work practices and how they must be applied in relation to the work, self and to others including understanding the principles of risk assessments
- Basic awareness of environmental and health hazards e.g. Japanese knotweed, asbestos. How to identify contaminated ground conditions and technology including key factors and systems of work appropriate to different work environments and industry sectors (e.g. civil engineering, private residential, commercial)
- The differences between modern and traditional construction methods and the physical and environmental factors when undertaking construction work and their potential impacts
- The techniques to handle and move loads manually and with mechanical aids including guiding the movement of articulated vehicles, plant and machinery using hand signals, hand signalling equipment and verbal/electronic communication equipment and storing resources safely and securely
- Why, when and how health and safety control equipment should be used when undertaking groundworks (e.g. personal protective equipment (PPE)
- The principles and methods of working within confined space work
- Erecting and dismantling access/working platforms
- Establishing work area protection
- Locating and excavating to expose buried utility services
- Providing temporary works including excavation support
- The basic principles of internal/external drainage and ducting systems
- Measuring, marking, cutting and installing geo membranes to stabilise soil
- Gauging, mixing, placing, compacting and finishing mortars and concrete by hand and by mixer
- Reinstating excavations and ground surface finishes including installing street ironworks
Where you'll work
SALFORD BRIDGE WHARF
TYBURN ROAD
BIRMINGHAM
B24 8NP
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
WALSALL COLLEGE
Your training course
Groundworker (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
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
Your training plan
- An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation
- At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying
More training information
- At the end of an 18 month period you will gain a Level 2 qualification in Ground Work
- Functional Skills will be provided if necessary
- This is delivered from our Construction college midlands site, delivered in two week block release every two to three months
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
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Initiative
Other requirements
Candidate Must be 18+ for site insurance purposes
About this company
R&C WILLIAMS LTD Established in 1957 by Ron & Charles Williams, R&C Williams have adopted their passion for quality, to grow into one of the Midlands Leading Public & Civil Engineering companies. Centrally located in the heart of Spaghetti Junction, R&C Williams service the entire central region with unrivalled response rates coupled with expert local knowledge and experience to become the favoured choice for large and small civil engineering projects. R&C Williams undertake a variety of different building and maintenance projects including: • General Groundworks • Concrete Repairs • Fencing • Drainage • Kerbing • Brickwork • Prepare & Lay Concrete • Plus much more...
After this apprenticeship
- Continued progression with R&C Williams LTD
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
WALSALL COLLEGE
Sam Williams
samanthawilliams@walsallcollege.ac.uk
01922 688898
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000318259.
Apply now
Closes on Sunday 8 June 2025
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