Ground Worker

Experienced Groundworker / General Builder – High-End Residential

TMC Construction
Job Type: Full-time / Self-employed
Location: Horsham, West Sussex and surrounding areas
Pay: Competitive day rate or price work, depending on experience and ability

Essential Requirements

Applicants MUST be able to accurately set out works independently from architectural and structural drawings.

This includes interpreting dimensions, establishing levels and setting out foundations, drainage and external works without supervision.

Please do not apply if you cannot confidently and accurately set out from drawings. This is an essential requirement, not something we are looking to train someone to do.

Applicants must also have their own tools, a full UK driving licence and reliable transport.

The Role

TMC Construction is looking for an experienced, highly capable Groundworker / General Builder to join our growing team, working on high-quality residential renovations, extensions and new-build homes across Sussex.

We're not looking for someone who simply follows instructions. We want an experienced tradesman who can read drawings, accurately set out, plan ahead and take responsibility for completing work independently to an excellent standard.

Our ambition is straightforward: build exceptional houses locally, with a small team of genuinely talented tradespeople who take pride in what they produce.

We're looking for people who share that ambition.

The Work

Our projects are varied and the role will include:

• Site preparation and clearance
• Accurate setting out from architectural and structural drawings
• Establishing and transferring levels
• Excavation and earthworks
• Foundations and reinforced concrete works
• Drainage installation, including foul and surface water systems
• Underground services and ducting
• Oversites, sub-bases and concrete slabs
• Retaining walls and associated construction
• External works and hard landscaping
• Patios, paving, edging and kerbing
• Driveways and access roads
• Operating excavators, dumpers and other site machinery
• General building and construction works

You don't need to specialise in every aspect of construction, but you must have extensive groundwork experience and be confident managing your own work from start to finish.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who knows their trade inside out.

Someone who can arrive on site, understand what's required, organise the work and get on with it without needing constant supervision.

Quality is non-negotiable.

We work on high-end residential properties where attention to detail matters at every stage, including the work that eventually gets buried underground.

We want people who take ownership of their work, think ahead, solve problems and don't accept half-arsed workmanship.

Being productive is important, but never at the expense of doing the job properly.

You MUST:

• Have substantial experience in groundworks and general construction
• Be fully competent accurately setting out independently from drawings
• Understand dimensions, levels, datums and tolerances
• Be experienced in drainage and foundation construction
• Be confident operating excavators and site machinery
• Have your own appropriate hand and power tools
• Hold a full UK driving licence
• Have your own reliable transport
• Be able to work independently and use your initiative
• Be organised, efficient and productive
• Take genuine pride in your workmanship
• Keep a clean, safe and organised working area
• Communicate effectively with site foremen and other trades
• Be punctual, dependable and professional

Experience in landscaping, brickwork and broader building works would be a significant advantage.

Applicants who cannot independently set out from drawings or who do not have their own tools, driving licence and transport will not be considered.

Pay & Working Arrangements

We're happy to discuss either a competitive day rate or price-work arrangement, depending on experience, productivity and preference.

We believe excellent tradespeople deserve to earn good money.

For those who prefer price work, there is strong earning potential. Equally, we're happy to agree a good day rate with someone who consistently delivers quality work.

What We Offer

• Consistent, long-term work on quality residential projects
• Projects predominantly local to Horsham and across Sussex
• Competitive rates reflecting experience and ability
• Day-rate or price-work opportunities
• Well-managed projects with experienced site teams
• Modern plant and equipment
• An organised working environment where quality comes first
• Opportunity to take responsibility for complete packages of work
• Genuine progression as the business grows

For an exceptional candidate, we would also consider providing a company van or truck as part of an agreed package.

Our aim is to take care of the organisation, administration and pipeline of work so that our tradespeople can concentrate on what they do best: producing exceptional work.

Long-Term Opportunity

We're building TMC Construction around a small team of A players.

We don't want to be the biggest building company. We want to be one of the best at what we do.

Our focus is on delivering exceptional homes, working on interesting local projects and building a team that enjoys taking pride in the finished product.

For the right person, this is an opportunity to become a key member of that team, with the potential to take responsibility for larger groundwork packages and eventually lead others.

Applying

Please apply with your CV or a short introduction confirming:

• Your groundwork and construction experience
• Your experience independently setting out foundations and drainage from drawings
• The types of work you can complete independently
• Your experience operating excavators and other plant
• Any relevant qualifications or tickets
• That you have your own tools, driving licence and transport
• Your current or expected day rate
• Your availability to start

We're interested in quality tradespeople, not simply filling a vacancy.

Pay: £15.83-£25.00 per hour

Work Location: In person