Apprentice Operative - Contracting (Highways Maintenance) - tarmac/TP/67621/7437

TARMAC TRADING LIMITED

Widnes (WA8 8YZ)

Closes on Friday 27 February 2026

Posted on 12 January 2026

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Summary

As an Apprentice Operative, you’ll work on both rural and urban roads, helping to maintain and improve the infrastructure that keeps the country moving. You’ll gain hands-on experience using hand tools, power tools, and pedestrian-operated plant machinery while working towards a nationally recognised qualification. 

Wage

£18,293 a year

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Training course
Highways maintenance skilled operative (level 2)
Hours
Monday - Friday, shifts to be confirmed.

40 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

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

  • Repairing potholes and damaged road surfaces
  • Reinstating and replacing pavements, kerbs, and street ironworks
  • Laying new road surfaces using appropriate tools and materials
  • Attending daily briefings and toolbox talks with a proactive approach to health and safety
  • Following instructions from team leaders to ensure safe and efficient working practices
  • Representing Tarmac professionally when interacting with clients and the public
  • Participating in training courses and developing your skills in machinery and plant use (e.g. steel saws, rollers, dumpers)
  • Receiving full manual handling training and support to obtain your NRSWA accreditation
  • Minimising environmental impact during operations

Where you'll work

Foundry Lane
Widnes
WA8 8YZ

Training

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

Training provider

TELFORD COLLEGE

Training course

Highways maintenance skilled operative (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Apply appropriate health, safety and environment procedures when working on the road
  • Plan and undertake work practice productively when carrying out repairs to potholes, pavements and kerbs, and laying new surfaces on rural and urban roads
  • Read, interpret and work to drawings, specifications and highways information Highways information will include details on the use of safety barriers, cones, traffic flow and safety zones to work within, whilst employed on the highway
  • Use underground cable locators to identify buried water, gas, sewer lines or other utility services, and once identified excavate by hand around the line to stop any damage and disruption to services
  • Apply safe working practise for moving, storing, lifting and handling of resources
  • Excavation and reinstatement of the highway by carrying out maintenance and repairs, including removal of material within the road or road side using hand or power tools and reinstatement of the area using concrete, screeds, sub-base, aggregates or bituminous materials
  • Install Street Ironworks (drain access covers and frames and gully gates situated on the road) to given work instructions
  • Prepare and operate powered tools or pedestrian plant, machinery or equipment for use on roads. This will include machinery for generator™s, pumps, pedestrian operated plant (e.g. pushed roller), mixers, compressors and self“powered tools (pneumatic drill)
  • Prepare, set up and work within temporary traffic management (using cones and barriers to section off elements of the road from vehicles and pedestrians) on urban and rural roads, whilst excavating and re-instating the highway
  • Work with other sub-contractors on larger schemes (e.g. traffic management)

Training schedule

Your learning will be delivered through dedicated block release sessions, with all accommodation and travel expenses covered.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths and English (grade 4)

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

Skills

Team working

About this employer

As the UK’s leading sustainable construction materials, road contracting and building products business, we’re a unique place to work in that we influence the future of the UK. It's something we’re extremely proud of and enjoy sharing that passion with colleagues who decide to join us, whatever your background. Our hugely diverse areas of work require a broad range of skillsets, learning styles and approaches to work. We really do have a role for anyone, whether you’re practically minded and suited to hands-on roles, or better placed leading on business strategy with a keen eye for data and trends. We’re looking for good people who share our values and want to make a difference, welcoming diversity of thought, experience and skillsets.

After this apprenticeship

  • Operative role

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

TELFORD COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000005359.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 27 February 2026

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