Ground Worker Apprentice
MJL Contractors Ltd
Falmouth, Helston, Lifton, Liskeard, Newquay, Redruth, Wadebridge
Closes in 26 days (Monday 25 August 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 29 July 2025
Contents
Summary
MJL Group are offering exciting opportunities to join their team as a Groundworker Apprentice. Their sites are based around Cornwall and Devon, with current vacancies in: Helston, Falmouth, Newquay, Liskeard, Wadebridge & Lifton (Devon). This is a fantastic opportunity to gain an insight into the industry and develop new skills.
- Wage
-
£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Groundworker (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 8.00am - 4.00pm (some flexibility is required on start and finish times as will depend on site).
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 8 September 2025
- Duration
-
1 year 6 months
- Positions available
-
13
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
Duties to include, but are not limited to:
- 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.
- Adhering to H&S
- Material Handling: Help load and unload materials
- 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 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
You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.
This apprenticeship is available in these locations:
- Falmouth, Falmouth, TR11 4QJ
- Helston, Helston, TR13 8BN
- Lifton, Lifton, PL16 0BX
- Liskeard, Liskeard, PL14 3PS
- Newquay, Newquay, TR8 4GA
- M J L House, Cornwall Business Park West, Scorrier, Redruth, TR16 5FG
- Wadebridge, Wadebridge, PL27 6HB
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
CORNWALL COLLEGE
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
Training schedule
- You will be working towards a Level 2 Groundworker Apprenticeship standard. If your English and maths aren't at GCSE grade C/4 or equivalent, you may also need to undertake Level 2 Functional Skills.
- You will receive support from an assessor and an apprenticeship advisor
- You will be required to attend Cornwall College Camborne on a weekly basis
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade D/3)
- Maths (grade D/3)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Team working
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
Work sites are based across Cornwall & Devon, therefore some flexibility will be required in terms of travel to and from work, your site location is likely to change throughout course of your apprenticeship which will be discussed at interview. Please also consider you will be based at Cornwall College Camborne for in person attendance on a weekly basis (during term times).
About this employer
MJL Group Ltd consists of three major branches: MJL Plant Hire (which focuses on machines like excavators and dumper trucks), MJL Homes (which focuses on building luxury homes in Cornwall), and MJL Contractors Ltd (The largest part of our industry, focuses on groundworks and civil infrastructure. Founded in 2001, the company has grown extremely in the past ten years to cover the entire southwest from Dorset to Cornwall and everywhere in between. With over 500+ employees, two offices in Scorrier and in Exeter, it has become one of the largest contractors in the region. We have a huge focus on internal growth, and training our own team to grow within the company. We are different from our competitors in our investment to employees and equipment. Recently, we have made a huge push to digitalise our company and update it to the modern world and modern construction. We are constantly investing in new H&S techniques making our sites extremely safe, and always hiring and buying state-of-the-art equipment for our teams to use. A job with MJL is a way to safeguard your career path for the future.
After this apprenticeship
- Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship there might be opportunity to progress within the company
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CORNWALL COLLEGE
Ceri
01209 616 103
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000334438.
Apply now
Closes in 26 days (Monday 25 August 2025 at 11:59pm)
Sign in with your GOV.UK One Login to apply.