Apprentice Drainage Operative

City of York Council

York (YO10 3DS)

Closes in 18 days (Sunday 19 October 2025)

Posted on 30 September 2025

---

Summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual to join our Drainage Team who carry out drainage maintenance and safety related work. This team are based at our Hazel Court site at James Street, York.

• Wage:

  £19,292.84 a year

  Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  Your salary will be reviewed in line with the National Minimum Age

• Training course: Groundworker (level 2)
• Hours: Monday - Friday, Shifts to be confirmed.

  37 hours a week

• Start date:

  Friday 2 January 2026

• Duration:

  1 year 9 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

In this role you will assist with:

• Tasks such as digging trenches, lifting and relaying flagstones, levelling surfaces and laying hardcore tarmac, concrete, blocks
• Operating a CAT scanner and GENNY to detect and identify underground pipes and services
• Drainage investigations for blockages/repairs and gulley cleaning
• The assessment of the job plan or repair notification
• Setting up the site appropriately with barriers, cones, notices, tool security, welfare facilities and where necessary, temporary traffic lights
• Carrying out of site-specific risk assessments
• The operation of plant and power tools, when appropriately trained

Where you'll work

The Ecodepot
Hazel Court
James Strees
York
YO10 3DS

Training

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

Training provider

CONSTRUCTION AND PLANT ASSESSMENTS LTD

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 also undertake the Groundworker level 2 Apprenticeship including functional skills in English and maths, if required
• The training will be delivered by Construction and Plant at their facilities at Doncaster on a block release basis

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 4)
• Maths (grade 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Team working
• Initiative
• Patience
• Physical fitness

Other requirements

Please be aware that you will be working outdoors in all weathers, assisting with groundwork activities which include heavy lifting and heavy-duty manual work

About this employer

We are a modern council, with high standards in all we do, living up to our values and making it a great place to work. We have a supportive culture that enables our employees to make the most of their skills and enjoy a healthy work/life balance, offering you an exciting place in which to develop your career. You will be able to make a real difference to people’s lives in a cosmopolitan city that boasts a strong local economy and a growing number of prominent companies.

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

Company benefits

Annual leave - 25 days' holiday in addition to 8 public holidays per annum (for full time employees) Pension - You will be automatically enrolled in the Local Government Pension Scheme - a contributory scheme. You can choose to opt out of this.

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

• There may be opportunity to apply for a role within the Council, but this is not guaranteed
• We believe that the experience you will gain throughout your apprenticeship will significantly enhance your ability to find employment inside or outside our organisation

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

City of York Council

Derek Grant

derek.grant@york.gov.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000344451.

Apply now

Closes in 18 days (Sunday 19 October 2025)

Sign in with your GOV.UK One Login to apply.

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