Groundworker Apprentice

Summary

D&P Reinforcements are offering an exciting opportunity to join their team as a Groundworker Apprentice. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain an insight into the industry and develop new skills.

Wage

£11,778 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

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The successful applicant will be on an hourly rate with a minimum 30 hours - annual salary of £11,778 (based on £7.55 per hour) with regular weekly overtime increasing to 40-45 hour per week on an average week.

Training course

Groundworker (level 2)

Hours

Monday to Friday 7:30am to 4:30pm with an hour break split into 15 minutes in the morning, 30 minutes for lunch and 15 minutes in the afternoon. 30 minutes of lunch break is paid.

30 hours a week

Start date

Monday 6 October 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

Excavation and Digging: Assist in digging trenches, foundations and other excavations as required for various construction projects
Site Preparation: Help prepare and clear construction sites by removing debris, vegetation, or any obstructions that may hinder the building process
Laying Foundations: Assist with the installation of foundations, concrete slabs and other structural groundwork components
Drainage Installation: Support the installation of drainage systems, including trenches for pipes and other related tasks
Concrete Work: Assist in mixing, pouring and finishing concrete for footings, floors and other construction elements
Paving and Roadwork: Help lay paving stones, flags, or other materials for driveways, paths, roads and other external surfaces
Levelling and Surface Preparation: Use levelling tools and other equipment to ensure surfaces are even and properly prepared for construction
Site Safety: Follow all health and safety guidelines on-site, ensuring a safe working environment for yourself and the team. Advocating our company's 5 of 5 H&S Core Values
Material Handling: Help load, unload and transport materials such as bricks, stones and sand to and from the worksite
Tool Operation and Maintenance: Learn to operate and maintain various construction tools and equipment, such as diggers, mixers and compactors
Team Collaboration: Work closely with senior groundworkers and construction teams, taking instruction and assisting with tasks as required
Cleaning and Tidying: Ensure the work area is kept clean and organised, removing waste materials and ensuring tools are properly stored
Observing and learning how to tie and install steel reinforcing
Observing and learning how to install formwork pans
Observing and learning how to pour concrete inside the installed framework
Observing and learning how to set out for foundations
Learning how to set out for drainage
Learning how to read site drawings

Where you'll work

Noss On Dart Marina
Bridge Road, Kingswear
Dartmouth
TQ6 0EA

Training

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

College or training organisation

CORNWALL 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

You will be working towards a Level 2 Groundworker Apprenticeship standard.

You will receive support from an assessor and an apprenticeship advisor.

You will be required to attend Bicton College on a block release basis.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 3/D)
Maths (grade 3/D)

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
IT skills
Attention to detail
Problem solving skills
Number skills
Team working
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience

Other requirements

Driving licence is desirable but not essential. Work experience in a similar role is desirable but not essential. If the applicant does not have transport they can be collected in a works van, provided they do not live too far outside of the area. The successful applicant may be required to get themselves to a particular pick-up point in order to be taken onto site if they do not drive. The applicant will need to consider weather conditions when applying for a construction-based apprenticeship as well as early morning starts if pick- ups are required.

About this company

Reinforced structure specialists also carrying out civil engineering and groundworks projects. This can include large projects such as hotels and apartments or smaller projects such as reinforced concrete bases, reinforced concrete retaining walls, installation of footings, drainage and kerbs. Operating plant (dumpers, rollers, 360 excavators) as needed. The company has been in business for nearly 30 years and have progressively grown over the years taking on larger and larger projects. It is a family run business with a large emphasis on wanting to take on and nurture people that want to learn and grow with the business. The company works predominantly within the South West of England. D&P is an expanding family run business, which will offer the successful applicant vast opportunities to learn a wide variety of skills in all aspects of the business, feel part of a motivated and supportive family business with opportunities to progress quickly due to the size of the business.

https://dandpr.co.uk (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

A qualified Groundworker could expect to be able to progress to a Supervisory, Foreman or Site Management role with the right progressive training and experience, project dependant.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CORNWALL COLLEGE

Recruitment Team

0330 123 2523

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000329984.

Apply now

Closes in 28 days (Friday 1 August 2025 at 11:59pm)

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