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⚡ Source: ReedRef: 56933167

Highways Operative

4Recruitment Services·South Ribble, Lancashire·Posted 5 days ago
💰 £15/hour
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Job description

Original text imported from Reed

We are currently looking for a Highways Operative. You will be working in Preston.

Monday - Friday

07:00am - 17:00pm

Term Contract - Ongoing

Pay rate - £14.82ph paye

Job Purpose

Supply of skilled roadworker operatives, Operative to be skilled in: -

• Laying of kerb and tactile materials

• Laying of drainage pipes and pots

• Installing chambers and ducts in footway

• Laying by hand of bituminous on footways and carriageway

• Operating and using small tools and mechanical equipment, e.g. ride-on roller, floor saw, Stihl saw, petrol breaker, vibrating plate compactor, various hand tools used in footway construction


Recruitment is done in line with safe recruitment practices. 4Recruitment Services is an equal opportunities employer.

To discuss this vacancy, please apply to the job with your updated CV

SpeedCV AI

Key skills

AI-extracted from the job advert

Must-have skills
Kerb and tactile materials layingDrainage pipes installationBituminous layingRide-on roller operationFloor saw operationPetrol breaker operation
Nice-to-have
CSCS cardPlant operator certificationFirst aid training
Soft skills
Manual dexterityPhysical staminaSafety awarenessAttention to detail
SpeedCV AI

Application advice

5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.

1

⭐ Highlight your kerb laying and tactile materials experience prominently as these are core requirements

2

🔧 List specific equipment you've operated: ride-on roller, Stihl saw, petrol breaker, vibrating plate compactor

3

🛣️ Emphasise any drainage installation experience with pipes, pots, chambers and ducts

4

📋 Include any relevant certifications like CSCS card or plant operator tickets

5

💪 Mention your ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions and physical demands

NEW
AI SpeedCV

Suggested CV bullets

3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.

How to tailor your CV

Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:

  • Laid 2,400 metres of kerb stones and tactile paving across 15 footway projects, completing installations 2 days ahead of schedule
  • Operated ride-on roller and vibrating plate compactor to achieve 98% compaction rates on bituminous surfaces across 8 carriageway sections
  • Installed 180 drainage chambers and 500 metres of ducting in footways, maintaining zero safety incidents over 12-month period

Free to copy — tailoring requires a 30-sec CV upload.

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AI cover letter

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Letter preview — tailored to 4Recruitment Services

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to apply for the Highways Operative position with 4Recruitment Services in Preston. My hands-on experience with kerb laying, drainage installation, and operating equipment like ride-on rollers and Stihl saws makes me well-suited for this role.

My background in highways construction has equipped me with expertise in bituminous laying, chamber installation, and operating various mechanical equipment safely and efficiently. I understand the physical demands and safety requirements of roadwork operations.

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SpeedCV AI

Interview questions

10 questions generated from this advert.

Technical

  • How do you ensure proper gradient when laying kerb stones?
  • What safety checks do you perform before operating a petrol breaker?
  • Describe the process for laying bituminous material by hand
  • How do you maintain vibrating plate compactors?
  • What's the correct procedure for installing drainage chambers?

Behavioural

  • Tell me about a time you had to work in challenging weather conditions
  • Describe a situation where you identified a safety hazard on site
  • How do you handle working to tight deadlines on road projects?
  • Give an example of when you had to learn to use new equipment
  • Tell me about a time you worked effectively as part of a highways team
SpeedCV AINEW

STAR answer examples

Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.

1Question

Tell me about a time you had to work in challenging weather conditions

During a footway reconstruction project in February, we faced heavy rain and 2°C temperatures that threatened to delay kerb installation by 3 days. I suggested we erect temporary sheltering and use quick-setting mortar to maintain the schedule. I coordinated with 4 team members to work in 2-hour rotations, keeping equipment dry and maintaining quality standards. We completed the 200-metre kerb run on time, achieving 100% alignment tolerance despite the conditions. The client praised our adaptability and awarded us the follow-on contract worth £45,000.
2Question

Describe a situation where you identified a safety hazard on site

While operating a petrol breaker near a busy junction, I noticed the temporary barrier had shifted 30cm into the live traffic lane, creating a collision risk. I immediately stopped work and signalled to my colleague to halt traffic flow. I repositioned the barrier and added extra weighted feet to secure it properly. I then reported the incident to the site supervisor and suggested we implement hourly barrier checks. This prevented potential accidents and the procedure was adopted across all 8 sites in our contract. The safety manager commended our proactive approach at the monthly review.

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