Overview
Groundworkers and plant operators ensure sites are prepared prior and during the house building process. Every plot and dwelling on the development needs to have adequate foundations, drainage, water and electrical connections and it is a groundworkers role to ensure the infrastructure to a building site is complete. Driveways, paths and roads are also the responsibility of the groundworkers.
For more information on the minimum units of training you will need to become a groundworker or groundworker supervisor click here.
To access and download a pdf of the groundworker framework click here.
Mandatory for Groundworkers and Groundworker Supervisors
Unit of training |
CITB training standard | Optional Provider | Accreditor | Average course cost | CITB grant value |
Hazards & Controls | Hazards and controls associated with the home building sector (GET2090) | Hamilton Deed | CITB | £150 | £30 |
Confined Spaces | Confined spaces in construction introduction (GET0003) | Various | CITB | £170 | £30 |
Street works operative | Various | CITB | £650 | £120 | |
Abrasive wheels | Abrasive wheels storage, transport, dressing and mounting (GET0007) | Various | CITB | £80 | £30 |
Excavation support - timber (optional) | In development | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC |
Excavation support - hydraulic (optional) | In development | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC |
Health and safety awareness for operatives | Introduction to health and safety in construction (GET0025) | Various | CITB | £130 | £30 |
Asbestos Awareness | Asbestos awareness (GET0096) | Various | CITB | £80 | £30 |
Mandatory for Groundworker Supervisors
Unit of Training | CITB training standard | Optional Provider | Accreditor | Average course cost | CITB grant value |
Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS)/ IOSH or equivalent | Health & Safety in construction site supervision | Various | CITB | £300 | £70 (automatic grant) |
First Aid | First aid (CITB-registered levy-exempt employers only) (GET0026) | Various | CITB | £130 | £70 |
Temporary works coordinator | Temporary works coordinator (GET0015) | Various | CITB | £350 | £70 |
SEATS/IEMA | Introduction to environmental awareness in construction training (GET0701) | Various | CITB | £150 | £30 |
Mandatory for Groundworkers and Groundworker Supervisors
Unit of training | CITB training standard | Optional provider | Accreditor | Average course cost | CITB grant value |
Dimensional positioning & site levelling | In development | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC |
Groundworks & foundations awareness | In development | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC |
Defects Prevention Introduction | Defects prevention introduction (GET2089) | Various | CITB | £150 | £70 |
Mandatory for Groundworkers
Unit of training | CITB training standard | Optional provider | Accreditor | Average course cost | CITB grant value |
L2 NVQ Dip in Groundwork | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
VQ Level 2 or Level 3 in Groundworks Apprenticeship in Groundworks |
Mandatory for Groundworker Supervisors
Unit of training | CITB training standard | Optional provider | Accreditor | Average course cost | CITB grant value |
Software & hardware skills | N/A | Various | N/A | £150 | N/A |
Compiling site programmes | Develop and maintain a home build programme (GET1871) | Hamilton Deed | CITB | £150 | £30 |
Costings & Finance | In development | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC |
Awareness (Optional) | Building Information Modelling (BIM) Introduction (GET2101) | Various | CITB | £150 | £30 |
Mandatory for Groundworkers and Groundworker Supervisors
Unit of training | CITB training standard | Optional Provider | Accreditor | Average course cost | CITB grant value |
Understanding drawings & specs | Interpreting plans and drawings (GET1873) | NHBC | CITB | £150 | £30 |
Mandatory for Groundwork Supervisors
Unit of training | CITB training standard | Optional provider | Accreditor | Average course cost | CITB grant value |
Managing Teams Managing Meetings Assertiveness Handover Sales Customer Service Managing Performance |
Home build site management (GET1869) or Develop and maintain a home build programme (GET1871) |
Hamilton Deed | CITB | £130 per training standard | £30 per training standard |
Mandatory for Groundwork Supervisors
Unit of Training | CITB training standard | Course trainer | Accreditor | Average course cost | CITB grant value |
Roles & responsibilities Conflict resolutions Motivating Others |
Home build site management (GET1869) | Hamilton Deed | CITB | £130 | £30 |
The Supply Chain Sustainability School also has a number of free CPD accredited e-learning modules and toolbox talks available that cover key topics highly relevant to groundworkers, including a Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) Toolkit that aligns closely with the Skills Frameworks.
The School supports home builders and their supply chains to meet the challenging targets set out by UK government, and is backed by leading home builders including Barratt Developments, Bovis Homes, Kier, Linden Homes, Redrow, Taylor Wimpey, Telford Homes and Willmott Dixon.