Apprentice Highways Operative

Cheshire East Highways is seeking a motivated Apprentice Highways Operative to join our dedicated maintenance team based at our Brunswick Wharf depot in Congleton. This is an excellent opportunity to build a solid foundation for a long-term career in the highways industry while gaining hands‑on experience in a real working environment. Throughout this two‑year apprenticeship, you’ll work alongside experienced professionals, developing practical skills, industry knowledge, and a clear understanding of how highway maintenance supports local communities by keeping roads safe and operational.

On successful completion of the apprenticeship, you will progress into a Highways Maintenance Operative role, opening the door to further career development and progression within Ringway Jacobs.

• Assist in the repair and maintenance of carriageways and footways, ensuring all work is accurately recorded using hand‑held devices.
• Understand and follow health and safety procedures to ensure your own safety and the safety of others.
• Learn how to operate equipment and tools safely.
• Collaborate with colleagues to ensure works are completed on time and to standard.
• Undertake highways specific training courses as appropriate to ensure understanding and compliance.

• Formal qualifications are not required to be enrolled onto the apprenticeship, however you must achieve level 1 in Maths and English before the end point assessment and take the test for level 2, or provide a certificate of equivalent prior achievement such as GCSEs.
• Basic understanding of health and safety requirements.
• Regular travel to college.

• Sick Pay
• Competitive salary
• Opportunity to purchase up to 5 days extra leave
• A variety of discounts through our “RJ Rewards” app, including restaurants, holidays, days out etc
• Life Assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Pension scheme

Ringway Jacobs recognises the importance of helping our employees balance their work and home life by offering flexible working arrangements across many of our roles. We therefore welcome applications from people looking for an alternative working pattern e.g. part‑time hours, job share, etc. Please let us know on your CV or cover letter if this is what you are looking for.

We are Ringway Jacobs, a leading highways service provider working with local authorities across the UK. Formed in 2005, specifically to provide road network management solutions to local government, our unique blend of engineering capability, innovation and customer care make us the best in class. We support over 10 000 miles of highways, 10 000 miles of footway, almost 7 800 miles of public rights of way and 242 000 street lights.

We excel in delivering safe, sustainable service excellence, through our passion, integrity and collaborative culture.

Ringway Jacobs is an equal opportunities employer. We wish to ensure equality of opportunity in employment and the fair treatment of all our employees.

If you require further details, please contact our Recruitment Team on 0330 311 2502 or e‑mail them on  If you would like to apply, please click on the “Apply Now” button which will take you to a login page. Once you have created an account you will be able to see where your application is up to and apply for other opportunities within Ringway Jacobs.

Should you require any reasonable adjustments to be made as part of the application process, please contact us directly. We have a dedicated recruitment team and politely request that agencies refrain from contacting anyone across our businesses with regards to speculative CVs or offering to assist with our vacancies. Thank you.