Highway Maintenance Apprenticeship

Summary

SQS is a family run company that has grown into a leading reinstatement and surfacing solutions provider in London, the Home Counties and the South East. As a company we promote from within and we are looking for our next cohort of Apprentices ready to begin work with us, learn, gain qualifications and progress their career in our industry

Wage

£26,000 a year

Staged pay rises are in place dependent on progression and commitment to the job The starting salary in under review and may increase

Training course

Highways maintenance skilled operative (level 2)

Hours

Monday to Friday.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 6 October 2025

Duration

1 year 2 months

Positions available

12

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

• Highway maintenance Skilled Operative Level 2
• Functional Skills Maths and English if you do not have GCSEs in them (under age 19)
• Abrasive Wheels
• Level 3 First Aid at Work
• Manual Handling
• Reversing Banksman
• Streetworks (NRSWA)
• You will train in a 4-day block once a month
• If you are successful, you will first have a full 2-3 week induction to get you ready to safely work on site with the gangs
• Work will include excavation, engineering, replacement and civil works as well as first-time reinstatement and highways maintenance services - you will be trained for the relevant contracts you are working on

Where you'll work

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

• Codham Hall Farm, Great Warley, Brentwood, Essex, CM13 3JT
• Platt Industrial Estate, St Mary's Platt, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 8JL
• Broyle Place Farm, Ringmer, Lewes, BN8 5PW
• London Gateway Service Area, M 1 Motorway, London, NW7 3HU
• 25 Factory Lane, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 3RL

Training

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

College or training organisation

TENDEAN LIMITED

Your training course

Highways maintenance skilled operative (level 2)

What you'll learn

• 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)

Your training plan

• Highway maintenance Skilled Operative Level 2
• Your training will take place at our main depot in the north of London
• It will be 4 consecutive days a month and will be a combination of practical and portfolio building
• If you do not already have GCSEs in Maths and English, we will support you on a one-to-one basis to gain these (under age 19)
• You will also complete other qualifications, courses and cards depending on which contracts you are working on

Requirements

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Team working
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Physical fitness
• Full manual driving licence
• Vehicle to get to work
• Relevant experience
• Good timekeeping

Other requirements

You must enjoy working outside in different weather. Being a team player is essential, and you will need to be physically fit.