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Apprentice Groundworker

BARNSLEY
£16.6k/yr
Posted 1 day ago
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Start your career with Palmer Construction!

Gain hands-on experience, earn while you learn, and develop industry-recognised skills. We offer structured career paths, ongoing training, a supportive team, rewards, social activities, equal opportunities, and a safe workplace where you can build a successful future.

Wage

£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab) There are occasions when travel time or lodging allowance is paid if the site is a distance from Head Office. This is in addition to the basic salary.

Training course

Groundworker (level 2)

Hours

Monday - Friday 7.30am - 4.00pm (however travelling to and from site will be before and after these hours). 40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 9 November 2026

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

2

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 employed on construction sites that involve ground preparation such as, foundations or footing for new buildings. Your day-to-day tasks may include:

  • Ground working - marking out and digging shallow trenches for foundations and drains
  • Form working - putting up or dismantling the shuttering that holds setting concrete in place
  • Installing drainage and manholes
  • Concreting
  • Minor road working - laying kerbs, paving and re-surfacing
  • Using hand tools and small plant machinery

Where you'll work

SYNERGY HOUSE
124 PONTEFRACT ROAD
BARNSLEY
S71 1JA

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

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I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?

Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.

Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.

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Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme

PwC·London, UK
£35,000/yr

Why you're a good match

Strong

Your economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.

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You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.

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Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.

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Training schedule

You will achieve the Level 2 Groundworker Apprenticeship Standard by attending CP Assessments Training Centre in Denaby Main, Doncaster to undertake 7 block-release training sessions (4 days), every 10 - 12 weeks.

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You will work towards achieving Functional Skills Level 2 in both Maths and English if they have not achieved this prior or have an equivalent.

Apprentices will also get an Apprentice CSCS card which can be upgraded on completion of the apprenticeship.

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade C / 4)
  • Maths (grade C / 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
  • Problem solving skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Physical fitness

Established in 1994, Palmer provides civil engineering and construction support across a wide range of sectors. Our vision is to be recognised as the civil engineering partner of choice for utilities infrastructure projects. We aim to achieve our vision through our reputation, client satisfaction levels, experience and professional capabilities, along with the high regard in which our clients, as well as our company, holds our staff. https://www.palmerconstruction.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab). This is a fantastic opportunity for the successful candidate to start their career with a highly reputable and well-established company. Progression within the organisation with more responsibility is expected on successful completion of the apprenticeship. In time, you may wish to undertake further qualifications such as Occupational Work Supervision which can be studied at Level 3. With experience you could progress to Site Supervisor, Estimator, or Construction Manager.

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CONSTRUCTION AND PLANT ASSESSMENTS LTD
Tracey Rowley
tracey.rowley@cpassessments.co.uk
01709 868181

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000054559.

Closes in 20 days (Monday 12 October 2026 at 11:59pm)
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Skills

communication
solve problems
teamwork principles
show initiative
maintain physical fitness
use hand tools
feed raw material into plant machinery
pour concrete
fill out forms
perform ground maintenance activities
use power tools
teach mathematics
interact verbally in English
compaction techniques
work trains
mechanical tools
road traffic laws
dredging consoles
rail infrastructure
excavation techniques

Location

Pontefract Rd, Hoyle Mill, Barnsley S71 1JA, UK

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