Apprenticeships help Alliance Groundworks build a strong pipeline of skilled talent

Background: 

We spoke with Ellie Pursglove, Health and Safety Manager at Alliance Groundworks & Civils Ltd about construction, apprenticeships and the company’s proactive approach to recruiting and retaining talent within the organisation.  

 About Alliance Groundworks & Civils Ltd: 

Alliance Groundworks & Civils Ltd is a residential groundworks contractor specialising in the construction of residential roads, sewers, infrastructure works, bulk earthworks and plot groundworks. The company is based in the West Midlands. 

 NHBC apprenticeships and training hubs: 

Groundworkers play a vital role in preparing sites for construction. Our Groundworker Apprenticeship has been developed specifically for the home-building industry and is delivered through purpose-built training hubs. 

Alliance Groundworks & Civils Ltd first placed apprentices with NHBC in 2023. Since then apprentices have joined several cohorts at the NHBC Training Hub in Lichfield. Currently there are ten Alliance apprentices on the Level 2 Groundworker Apprenticeship at Lichfield, with a further seven joining a cohort there later in 2026. 

We asked Ellie about her experience of the training hub at Lichfield and how she felt it benefitted apprentices. She said “I think the way the training hub mirrors an actual site is brilliant. It allows the apprentices to get used to the environment and learn what it’s really like. All the seemingly obvious aspects, like signing in and signing out, the rules on wearing PPE, the way the training hub hours reflect a full day on site and even the way the classrooms are in cabins like a site office, it all means the apprentices know what to expect and what is expected of them. In this way the training hub [at Lichfield] also reinforces our own professional standards.”  

Laying the foundations for careers in construction:  

Alliance Groundworks & Civils Ltd was established in 2021 and has been offering apprenticeships for over three years. 

Ellie explained “Although we are a young company, we have been offering apprenticeships from almost the start because we see the benefits they offer to both the apprentice and the company. We also recognise the value of the skills of people who have established roles in construction being able to pass on their skills and knowledge to people coming in, but if we don’t have new people in the industry and, of course, in our organisation specifically, we will lose that mentoring opportunity. That’s partly why we’re keen to get the younger generation into groundworks. We want to help them grow and progress in construction so we have a strong pipeline of talented people.” 

We also asked Ellie if she felt there were any challenges with apprenticeships. She said “When it comes to apprenticeships, I think the single biggest challenge is logistical. With younger apprentices that cannot drive yet transport is a big issue, especially in the wider Midlands area, particularly the East Midlands. There are lots of young people who want to get into construction but getting there can be a real problem, better infrastructure and transport links would certainly improve this and help younger people make the most of the opportunities that are out there and get into the industry sooner.” 

Working in partnership:  

The delivery of the Level 2 Groundworker Apprenticeship takes place as an initial two-week intensive skills delivery at an NHBC Training Hub, after which apprentices will be ready to go on site. Following this, the apprentices then return to the training hub every five to six weeks throughout the rest of their apprenticeship. 

Ellie added “All the tutors at the training hub in Lichfield are helpful and supportive, not only of the apprentices, but also of the people dealing with them on a day-to-day basis. I really appreciate the regular communication I get, not just through reviews, but so I generally know what’s going on, if there are any issues and, just as importantly, when the apprentices are doing well. I see it as a partnership, the apprentices learn at the hubs and they learn on site as well. That’s why we offer support back where we can, for example a couple of our apprentices helped at NHBC’s BEYOND ’25 LIVE event, which was a good experience for them but also allowed us to show how far they’ve come.” 

Creating opportunities: 

Apprenticeships offer an excellent way to get into construction and begin what can be a long and rewarding career in the sector. The Level 2 Groundworker Apprenticeship is ideal for new entrants looking to start a career in groundworking and helps employers by providing a cost-effective way to train new groundworkers and help close the skills gap.