Level 2 Highways Maintenance Skilled Operative Apprenticeship

The Course in Detail

Highways Maintenance Skilled Operatives work for a variety of companies within the private sector (Utilities Companies, such as Electric, Gas and Water firms) and the public sector (Local Authorities, County Councils and Highways England).

As a Highways Maintenance Skilled Operative, you will work as part of a team on rural and urban roads (not including motorways) to repair damaged surfaces, using hand and power tools and pedestrian plant machinery. You would be required to interpret and work to drawings and specifications when carrying out repairs to the highway.

This work could include repairs to potholes, replacement and reinstatement of pavements and kerbs, installing street ironworks and laying new surfaces, to ensure roads and pathways are suitable for driving of vehicles or pedestrians to walk safely on.

You will also use equipment to locate buried water, gas or sewer lines, and once identified excavate by hand around the line to stop any damage and disruption to services.

You will also prepare, set up and work within Temporary Traffic Management on rural and urban roads, which allows for the movement and flow of traffic and pedestrian restrictions.

This apprenticeship standard covers the core skills, knowledge and behaviours to demonstrate competency of a Highways Maintenance Skilled Operative and covers key requirements to include:

• 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

• 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

• Prepare and operate powered tools or pedestrian plant, machinery or equipment for use on roads.

You will develop your skills, knowledge and behaviours through on and off-the-job training and are expected to attend College on a block release basis.

Entry Requirements & Progression

What You'll Need

You will need to have relevant employment, and entry is subject to interview and assessment.

GCSE English and maths grade 4/C or above (or Level 2 functional skills) are preferred.

This Could Lead to

On successful completion of this apprenticeship, you will have the skills to work as a Highways Maintenance Skilled Operative and progress to further career opportunities in the civil engineering and groundworks sectors. This could include further training to specialise in complex operations or advancing to a site supervisor role.

Assessment

Your progress will be continuously monitored and supported by a Professional Trainer.

Depending on the standard, we assess your competence through various methods, such as practical exams, assignments, interviews, project work, presentations or observations and we will also evaluate your portfolio of evidence, which documents your learning and progress throughout your apprenticeship with us.

The apprenticeship end-point assessment is the final evaluation stage of your apprenticeship programme. It's designed to determine whether you have achieved the knowledge, skills, and behaviours required to meet the apprenticeship standard and perform the job role independently.

Successful completion of the end-point assessment is required to receive certification.