Groundworker Apprentice

Summary

MJL Group are offering exciting opportunities to join their team as a Groundworker Apprentice. Their sites are based around Cornwall. Gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours to kickstart your career with an apprenticeship. 

Wage

£16,640 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 - 5:00pm. Breaks - 10:00am - 10:30am and 1:00pm - 1:30pm

40 hours a week

Start date

Thursday 1 October 2026

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

10

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:

• Following all health and safety procedures
• Clearing a construction site
• Digging trenches for foundations
• Setting up a site, putting up barriers, safety signs, huts, etc.
• Laying pavements, kerbs and driveways
• Concreting sites
• Redirecting waterways and connecting pipes
• Removing drainage and pipework systems
• Operating plant machinery, such as excavators and dumper trucks
• Preparing the ground/foundations
• Providing excavation support to other construction professionals
• Interpreting the use of drawings and specifications

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:

• Chudleigh, Chudleigh, TQ13 0LL
• Helston, Cornwall, TR13 8FZ
• Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 5PB
• Nansledan, Cornwall, TR8 4FX
• Alphington Parcel, Exeter, EX2 8XQ
• Helston, Helston, TR13 8BN
• Newquay, Newquay, TR8 4GA
• Goonhavern, Truro, EX20 1XP
• Trispen, Truro, TR4 9BW
• Northam, Westward Ho, EX39 1BJ

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)

What you'll learn

• 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 or Bicton College on a block release basis, depending on your location

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 3)
• Maths (grade 3)

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

Skills

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Number skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Timekeeping

Other requirements

Enjoying the outdoors is naturally helpful as you'll be required to work in most weather conditions.

Applicants will be happy to be working with their hands and involved in a range of different tasks.