Meet Mark Ellis: Mackoy Groundworker extraordinaire

His interests include football and he's worked for Mackoy for two (and a half) of the seven years we've been in business. Proving himself to be a dependable and hard working member of our on site team. Meet Mark Ellis, one of our Mackoy groundworkers based in Hampshire. When it comes to all things sub-soil, Mark's a man in the know. And he's undertaken successful tenures on builds in both Upton, Poole and Eastleigh, Hampshire during his time with us to prove it.

His work might take place solely beneath the surface but that doesn't make it any less meaningful. In fact, it's down to groundworkers like Mark, tunnelling away day by day, that UK homes have electricity, Internet, gas and running water. So in actual fact we have a lot to thank him for.

Mark predominantly spends his working days down in the trenches (literally). But we pulled him up for air to scratch a little beneath the surface of the man whose work is the foundation for Britain's homes, streets and sewers.

Mark, describe to someone (who doesn't already know) what a groundworker actually does.

My job involves all aspects of work under finished floor level. This includes drainage, foundations and tunnels for utilities, including phone lines, water, gas and electricity. Basically anything that needs to happen prior to the floor being finished off. Which I guess is why it's called groundworks, because that's what you're essentially doing; laying the groundwork for everything that comes after. Which means I also need to be able to read and understand drawings, and levels, too.

What's the biggest challenge a groundworker faces on site?

On a development drawings are constantly reviewed and can often change several times, even after work has started. So you have to keep up to date with the latest information, sometimes even moving things like pipe trenches, manhole covers, and so on, to fit with the revised drawings. And make sure whenever you're working that the drawings you're referring to are the most recent ones.

What are the 3 most important things you need to be a groundworker?

Number 1 - you have to be able to produce work to a very high standard. Number 2 - you need to be competent in reading drawings and levels. Number 3 - you need to make sure you work at a pace that keeps the build to deadline.

Name 1 thing in your personal life you couldn't live without…

My family.

How is groundworks different from civil engineering?

Groundworks is more to do with the building of houses and all the infrastructure that's needed to make a house, and the surrounding areas, roads, green spaces, pavements, driveways etc, ready for occupancy. Whereas Civil engineering is more associated with larger infrastructure on an industrial scale. Such as highways for example.

What's the most rewarding part of your job and why?

For me the most rewarding part is teaching other people the ropes of how to do the job. Particularly to the quality control and Health & Safety standards we expect at Mackoy. It's great to help someone new get to grips with ways of working, and watch them develop as they start to undertake the work themselves. I like to be able to pass on the knowledge I have to new blood coming into the industry.

Speaking of passing things on… what's the best present someone could buy you at this very moment in time?

Actually, I'd have to say nothing! I don't need anything, as I'm 100% happy with my life just the way it is.

Our Mackoy groundworks and civil engineering team is built on hard workers with a positive attitude just like Mark. If you think you'd fit in well with our crew, you have a valid CSCS card, and experience working in groundworks infrastructure in the UK, take a look at the positions we're currently recruiting for on our Careers, News and Facebook pages.

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