Highways Apprentice

Coventry is a city that is changing fast, and we’re looking for skilled people to join our team and help us take on a bright new future. We are a city that is going places, with an inspiring, world-famous history and exciting times ahead.

We have 887km of carriageways, including 89km of A roads, 69km of B roads, 64km of C roads, and 655km of Unclassified roads.

• 2161km of footways, footpaths and cycleways.
• 300 structures, including subways, retaining walls, culverts, gantries and rights of way structures.
• 33,000 street lighting columns, 4,000 lit traffic signs and beacons and 1,500 lit traffic bollards.
• 44,000 drainage gullies.
• 127 signal-controlled junctions, 98 pedestrian crossings, and 115 school patrol flashing lights.

We know how hard our people work in our Highways, Traffic and Transportation Teams, and what it means to have a great manager who makes the time to say 'thank you'. So, with us, your work will always be appreciated and recognised.

We also know that to recruit passionate, dedicated staff in Highways, Traffic and Transportation, where there’s simply more demand than available resources, we show our appreciation in other, more tangible ways, too - to make Coventry City Council an attractive place to work in terms of the benefits.

Our Values

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

Our Values are:

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

What is the job role?

Have you got an interest in Highway Maintenance and Construction?

You will be working for the Highways Operations & Development Department within Coventry City Council. We are a direct labour organisation (DLO) working directly for Coventry City Council. You will be working as part of a successful team responsible for the construction and maintenance of footways, carriageways and drainage throughout the City.

As a Highways Apprentice, you will be able to develop your skills and work alongside experienced teams, helping to improve roads and footways across the City. Under the direction of Highways Site Supervisors and skilled operatives, you will learn how to pave, lay kerbs, rake tarmac, install drainage systems, plus a lot more as part of your apprenticeship. You will be supported to undertake a Level 2 Highways Maintenance Skilled Operative apprenticeship standard.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for 2 Highway Apprentices who have an interest in Highway Construction and Maintenance, who are committed to achieving a Level 2 Highways Maintenance Skilled Operative apprenticeship standard.

You must be willing to work outside in all weathers, be reliable, punctual, and have good communication skills. Be able to work using your own initiative as well as work in a team environment.

You will be required to travel to college on a week-long block release, where you will be required to stay in a hotel provided by the Council.

You will undertake the Level 2 Highways Maintenance Skilled Operative apprenticeship standard. Further information for this apprenticeship can be found on: Highways maintenance skilled operative / Skills England

This apprenticeship role is a fixed-term contract for 18 months in line with the length of the apprenticeship training.

If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the following criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.

• Assessments take place 24th September 2026
• Role interviews TBC
• Apprentices start November 2026

Did you know that there is support available to help you with your application?

If you would like support in completing your application or have any questions about our recruitment and selection processes, help is available at The Job Shop.

We would recommend that all applicants take advantage of this service in order to maximise the chances of being shortlisted.

Email: jobshop@coventry.gov.uk

Website: http://www.coventry.gov.uk/jobshop

About Coventry

Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.

We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.

At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.

To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.

If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards & benefits package which includes:

• Flexible working arrangements
• An outstanding local government pension scheme
• Great opportunities to develop with access to accredited courses.
• Access to an award-winning Occupational Health Service
• Salary Sacrifice Scheme