Groundworker Apprentice

W L STRAUGHAN & SON LTD

Bedlington Lane Farm (NE22 6AA)

Closes in 17 days (Friday 5 September 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 18 August 2025

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Summary

WL Straughan & Son Ltd are looking to welcome to their team a keen, willing to learn, groundworker apprentice to learn all aspects of the trade.

Wage

£15,311.40 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Groundworker (level 2)
Hours
Monday - Friday, 7.30am - 4.00pm, with 30 min lunch.

39 hours a week

Start date

Monday 15 September 2025

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

  • Ground working - learning to mark out and dig trenches for foundations and drains
  • Installing drainage and manholes
  • Form working - assisting in erecting and/or dismantling shuttering holding setting concrete
  • Concreting - mixing using various equipment
  • Minor road work - concreting, laying kerbs, paving and re-surfacing
  • Understanding why and using correct PPE for all tasks
  • Adhering to risk and COSHH assessments and following instructions provided in tool box talks
  • Recognising, then learning to implement, the organisation of materials, tools and equipment
  • Monitoring the work environment at all times to ensure as far as possible all clear and tidy
  • Support in maintain site locations as required
  • Any other duties reasonably requested by the Supervisors and/or managers
  • Understanding and following Health and Safety Guidance

Where you'll work

Bedlington Lane Farm
NE22 6AA

Training

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

Training provider

CITY OF SUNDERLAND 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

Groundworker Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

  • English (grade 1-9)
  • Maths (grade 1-9)

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
  • Communication skills
  • Creative
  • Customer care skills
  • IT skills
  • Logical
  • Non judgemental
  • Number skills
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Team working

Other requirements

Construction work will be carried out in all weathers and will be physically demanding.

About this employer

WL Straughan and Son Ltd is an established family business based in south east Northumberland, providing an array of civil and environmental services across northern England and the Scottish borders. Our services and projects are delivered to a range of organisations including local government, civil engineering companies, charities and public bodies such as Forestry England, the National Trust and National Parks.

After this apprenticeship

  • Full time employment Promotion Varied career path Learning additional skills

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CITY OF SUNDERLAND COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000337684.

Apply now

Closes in 17 days (Friday 5 September 2025 at 11:59pm)

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