Level 2 Ground Workers Apprenticeship
What is this course?
Groundworkers are the first trade onto a construction or civil engineering site, working closely with supervisors and engineers to interpret design specifications and prepare the site for structural building work. They continue their work throughout the construction phase, alongside all on-site trades, up to final completion. Their work includes setting out and preparing sub-surfaces, installing drainage systems, concreting, constructing roads and pathways, and carrying out finished hard landscaping. Groundworkers can transfer between heavy construction, civil engineering, house building, commercial building, and general building sites, and work for companies of all sizes, from small subcontractors to large main contractors.
Quick Facts
- Level: 2
- Standard reference: ST0513
- Duration: 18-month practical period, dependent on prior knowledge, skills, and experience
- EPA period: 3 months
- Delivery: Work-based, delivered primarily at the apprentice's own workplace, with regular AJ's Training site visits (roughly every 6 weeks) and a structured programme of off-the-job training
- Level 1 Award in Health and Safety
- Manual Handling
- Abrasive wheels, including safe use of petrol cut-off saws
- Safe use of handheld power tools
- Safe use of pedestrian-operated compaction equipment
- Correct use of PPE and safe storage
- Safe digging practices (HSG47), and safe working in civils
- NRSWA: locating and identifying underground services (HSG47), excavation in a highway, signing/lighting/guarding, and reinstatement of backfill, base/sub-base, cold-lay bituminous, and modular/concrete pathway materials
- EUSR Category 1 + 2
- Principles of groundworks
The End Point Assessment (EPA) is made up of:
- Knowledge test — multiple-choice questions
- Professional discussion — the assessor questions and probes the apprentice to clarify their knowledge, skills, and behaviours
- Practical skills assessment — 24 hours in total (3 x 8-hour days)
New entrants into construction/groundwork (trainees), or current employees such as construction/groundwork labourers who want to develop their career and upskill.
Course Content
- Level 1 Award in Health and Safety
- Manual Handling
- Abrasive wheels, including safe use of petrol cut-off saws
- Safe use of handheld power tools
- Safe use of pedestrian-operated compaction equipment
- Correct use of PPE and safe storage
- Safe digging practices (HSG47), and safe working in civils
- NRSWA: locating and identifying underground services (HSG47), excavation in a highway, signing/lighting/guarding, and reinstatement of backfill, base/sub-base, cold-lay bituminous, and modular/concrete pathway materials
- EUSR Category 1 + 2
- Principles of groundworks
Assessment
The End Point Assessment (EPA) is made up of:
- Knowledge test — multiple-choice questions
- Professional discussion — the assessor questions and probes the apprentice to clarify their knowledge, skills, and behaviours
- Practical skills assessment — 24 hours in total (3 x 8-hour days)
Suitable For
New entrants into construction/groundwork (trainees), or current employees such as construction/groundwork labourers who want to develop their career and upskill.
- • Apprentices aged 16–18 must achieve Level 1 Maths and English (Functional Skills); this requirement is removed for apprentices aged 19 and above
- • Apprentices must achieve Level 1 Maths and English before progressing to End Point Assessment, and must work towards Level 2 (GCSE grade A–C/4 equivalent) if not already achieved
- • Non-levy paying employers: £450 per learner. If the apprentice is 16–21 at the start of the apprenticeship, this is fully funded, free for employers with under 50 employees
- • Levy paying employers: £0 per learner — the full £9,000 + VAT cost is funded from the employer's levy pot via the Apprenticeship Service
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FAQs
How do we register an employee for this apprenticeship?
You'll need to set up an Apprenticeship Service account at the gov.uk apprenticeship service, add "AJ's Training" as your training provider, and set permissions to "Yes" for both options. You'll need your PAYE details and Government Gateway ID.
What is 20% off-the-job training?
A minimum of 6 hours a week of training time dedicated to achieving new knowledge, skills, and behaviours, completed during normal working hours — built up through shadowing, mentoring, toolbox talks, site inductions, training from AJ's, and self-study. Apprentices log this weekly in a logbook, signed off by the employer and provider at each visit.
What is an End Point Assessment?
After the practical period, an independent EPA company assesses the apprentice against the standard through a knowledge test and practical skills assessment, using a portfolio of work and learning that AJ's Training helps the apprentice build throughout. Apprentices must achieve Level 1 Maths and English before progressing to EPA.
Do apprentices need to complete functional skills?
Apprentices aged 16–18 must achieve Level 1 Maths and English; this is removed for those 19 and over. AJ's checks prior learning via the government database, or requests certificates for older qualifications, and provides an online programme with training videos and mock exams for those working towards Level 2 ahead of EPA. Time spent on functional skills doesn't count towards off-the-job training hours.
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