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More info
- Build and repair roads and motorways
- You'll need practical skills to operate power tools and machinery
- You could become a road works team supervisor
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Building, widening and resurfacing roads
- Repairing cracks and potholes
- Laying pavements
- Maintaining roadside verges and central reservations
- Painting road markings
- Putting up crash barriers, road signs, traffic lights and street lamps
- Digging trenches for cables and pipes
- Gritting roads
- Clearing snow in winter
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You'll usually start work early morning. You may have to work overtime during evenings, nights and weekends. You'll work in all weathers and the work can be noisy, dirty and physically demanding. You'll wear ear protectors, a hard hat and safety boots. You may have to travel to different sites, and stay overnight.
You'll need
This role would be ideal for someone with good practical skills to operate power tools and machinery, and the ability to read technical drawings and plans.
There are no set requirements but you'll need to be over 18 years of age and have a full UK or EU driving licence, held for at least 12 months.
You may need to join the Street Works Qualifications Register and get a safety card, depending on your job.
Experience in other areas of construction work, like labouring will be helpful for this role.
You could take a college course like a Level 1 Certificate in Construction Skills or Level 2 Diploma in Construction and Civil Engineering Operations (Construction). This would teach you some of the skills needed for the role. You could then try to find a job as a trainee.
Alternatively, you could take a intermediate apprenticeship as a road surfacing operative, or in highways maintenance.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience, you could become a road works team supervisor, known as a 'ganger'.