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Apprentice Groundworkers start one-year course

Working in partnership with ARC Academy, we have recruited nine apprentice groundworkers who will undertake a brand-new one-year apprenticeship course from today (18 March).
Over the last few months, Y Prentis and ARC Academy have been working closely with local contractors to deliver a groundworks apprenticeship course. This one-year course will provide nine apprentices with the opportunity to gain the necessary work experience while spending one-day a week at ARC Academy’s training centre in Treforest studying towards a Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Construction Operations and Civil Engineering Services and a BTEC Level 2 Diplomas in Construction Occupations. The course will cover a range of subjects, ensuring students learn the construction skills and working knowledge they need to work as a groundworker. They will also learn about health, safety and welfare within the construction industry and gain an understanding of different construction technologies.
- Over the last two weeks, the apprentices have been participating in a pre-employment programme which taught them the essential skills that they require to be an Apprentice Groundworker. It included:
- CSCS apprentice tests to give participants the opportunity to gain their trainee CSCS card
- Small tools training, which includes how to use a whacker plate, a mixer and a disc cutter
- Common hand tools training
- Industry tools training
- Learning how to construct a walkway using three different methods - slabs, concrete and block pavers
- Training on how to install kerbs and path edges
- Excavating and reinstating drainage trenches
Last Thursday (14 March), the successful apprentice groundworkers got together at ARC Academy’s training centre to participate in a two-hour long group induction. The session provided them with all the essential information they need to prepare them for their first day on site. They also received brand new toolkits worth over £200 and all the essential PPE that their host employers require.
Dafydd Langley-Noel, Assistant Progamme Manager at Y Prentis, said: “We’re pleased to be working with ARC Academy to deliver this qualification. Y Prentis was created to provide apprenticeships which meet both the industry’s need and deliver quality job opportunities for young people, so it’s fantastic to see so many people taking up these apprenticeships to start building their careers in construction.”
Apprenticeships will be carried out across the south-east Wales region with local contractors such as Bouygues, DT Civil Engineering, Horizon Civil Engineering Darlow Lloyd, Morgan Sindall and ASD Build.
On successful completion of the one-year course, there will be the possibility of progressing onto an NVQ Level 2 in Plant Operations.
For more information about our groundworks apprenticeships please email enquiries@yprentis.co.uk or contact us via our website.