Level 2 Groundworks Apprenticeship

McDermotts Building and Civil Engineering

Birmingham (B6 5RS)

Closes on Friday 7 August 2026

Posted on 1 May 2026

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Summary

We are offering an exciting opportunity for sensible, hardworking individuals to join our site in Derby as a Groundwork Apprentice. We are looking for applicants who are aged 18 or over, and are able to drive. For successful candidates, there is strong potential for a long-term position on our Derby site.

Wage

£20,800 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

You will begin your apprenticeship on £10 per hour, with regular pay reviews and increases based on your progress and performance throughout your portfolio.

Training course
Groundworker (level 2)
Hours
You will be working on a construction site, Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 4:30pm.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 21 September 2026

Duration

1 year 2 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

Groundworkers are the first contractors to begin work on a construction site. They work closely with all construction trades, such as bricklayers, and plant operatives, to prepare the site ready for building works to begin.

You will receive a site safety briefing and a schedule of work for the day and be expected to work as part of a team to complete tasks set for that project.

You will undertake a variety of tasks such as:

  • Foundations, hard landscaping and earth works
  • Concreting
  • Traditional drainage and pipe laying
  • Benching, channelling manholes and gullies
  • Road works, laying kerbs, paving
  • Surfacing and tarmac laying
  • Utility ducting and laying
  • Use of plant/machinery
  • Steel fixing and piling

In order to work on site you will be required to sit a Health and Safety Operative test to gain your CSCS card. This will be organised by McDermotts.

Where you'll work

Catherine Street Aston
Birmingham
B6 5RS

Training

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

Training provider

SALUTEM LIMITED

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 trained on site by our staff and also attend up to 12 block weeks of training at Salutem in Aston, B6 5RS to gain a Level 2 Groundworker Apprenticeship standard.

More training information

The training takes place throughout the year in block release, and you will study the following: 

  • Health and safety
  • Environmental health hazards
  • Basic principles of Building Information Modelling
  • The differences between traditional and modern methods of construction
  • Principles of working in confined spaces
  • Locating and excavating to expose buried utility services
  • Basic principles of drainage

The training you receive on site from experienced workers will help you produce a portfolio of evidence for your end point assessment.

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
  • Number skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Physical fitness

Other requirements

  • Over 18
  • Must be able to drive
  • Preferably has maths and English
  • The apprenticeship will be based outdoors and will require you to be physically fit.
  • You must be able to get to site for 7:30am every morning.
  • We are looking for individuals with an excellent work ethic, motivated and willing to learn, flexibility and resilience with a positive attitude.

About this employer

Established in 1994, our business has grown and developed to include a range of groundworks and civil engineering activities which provide continuity of service and assurance for our customers throughout their project.

Although you may never get to see a lot of what we do, we’re proud that many of the places you visit and roads you drive on, have our name underneath them.

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

After this apprenticeship

After successful completion of the apprenticeship, we would hope to employ you within our business permanently on our Derby site as a groundworker with the potential to progress to team leader, site supervisor and beyond. 

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SALUTEM LIMITED

Megan Whitson

megan.whitson@salutem.co.uk

0121 326 1450

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000029497.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 7 August 2026