Job Description:
Drilling Assistant
Reports To: - Drilling Operations Manager and Drilling Manager
About Nicholls Boreholes: Nicholls Boreholes & Ground source (www.nichollsboreholes.co.uk) is a multi-award winning business established in 2007, designing and installing industry leading water and renewable heating / cooling systems across the South of England. Starting life as a family-run speacalist drilling company but over the last 17 years has successfully expanded the fields it operates in providing drilling, water, heat, consultancy and licensing solutions for individuals, businesses and developers.
Nicholls has installed hundreds of Water Borehole systems and Grond Source Heat Pump (GSHP) systems since 2007. Our in-house team of highly exp[erienced technical designers, skilled drillers and professional installers and with our stste of the art equipment have completed over 1,500 projects with over 4,000 boreholes drilled to date for residential and commercial projects. We also offer further support and maintenance from ur experienced, qualified, professional Service Department.
About this Role
As a Drilling Assistant, you will play a key role in supporting the drilling team by assisting the Second Man and Lead Driller in various tasks related to borehole installation and maintenance. This hands-on position requires a strong commitment to safety, a willingness to learn, and the ability to work effectively in a team.
Key Purpose of the Role
To represent our company to the highest standard while delivering a quality final product and overall experience to the client/customer while working as part of a team.
Drilling Assistant Responsibilities and Objectives
As a Drilling Assistant your responsibilities will include but not be limited to:
- Assist the Second Man and Lead Driller in the setup, operation, and monitoring of drilling equipment.
- Support daily drilling operations by preparing tools and materials, ensuring equipment is in optimal working condition.
- Help with site preparation tasks, including clearing and levelling land to facilitate drilling activities.
- Participate in the transportation and organization of drilling materials and equipment on-site.
- Adhere to health and safety regulations, assisting the team in maintaining a safe working environment.
- Perform physically demanding tasks, including lifting, digging, and assisting in the assembly of ground source heat pump systems and water well infrastructure.
- Communicate effectively with the Lead Driller and Second Man to follow instructions and ensure smooth workflow.
- Stay proactive in learning best practices and techniques related to drilling and installation processes.
- Assist in general labour, cleaning, and maintenance tasks around the rig, project site and yard, including clearing debris from walkways, removing spoil to the correct location, cleaning tools, and keeping the rig, equipment, and site tidy.
- Assist the Lead Driller and Logistics Team when required with moving plant, equipment, and materials from the yard to site, from site to site, and site to yard during mobilisations and demobilisations.
- Assist with plant and machinery maintenance, including, but not limited to, grease points, fluid levels, daily checks, and weekly inspections on site and in the yard.
- Support and assist the Lead Driller and Second Man with site setup, equipment, and maintenance tasks.
- Be present in a Take 5 briefing with your team before starting work each day and understand from the Lead Driller or Second Man if there are any changes affecting the original brief or RAMS. Sign onto the Dynamic Risk Assessment if required.
- With the Lead Driller and Second Man, review, understand, and follow all safety and site procedures, including signing and adhering to the method statements and understanding risk assessments applicable to the project/job or site you are working on, being aware of end objectives and risks to help achieve project objectives while mitigating risk as far as reasonably practicable.
- Be safety conscious in any and all working environments for the safety and benefit of, but not limited to, yourself, coworkers, other third-party workers, and the public.
- Ensure at all times you are wearing the relevant PPE for the work environment you are working in. Site, yard and task-specific PPE must be worn when required, these will be outlined in the RAMS or during site induction.
· Responsible for looking after and maintaining company standards by wearing the issued company uniform at all times.
- Operate within the company’s documented policies and procedures.
- Ensure the health and safety and manual handling of rods, casing and all other materials and equipment are done adhering to the correct procedures.
- Be familiar with all relevant work and safety procedures issued by the company. Apply and ensure the correct application of prescribed safety standards and regulations and take part in emergency drills, toolbox talks and briefings.
- Assist in the preparation of materials and equipment required for project objectives at the yard and on site.
- Assist with monitoring the water level in the water bowsers and tanks, ensuring, when possible, they are consistently at the correct level for the drilling operation.
- Prepare drilling equipment for use on-site, readying and sorting equipment and materials. Load and unload equipment if authorised to do so by way of training or in-house assessment, ensuring equipment is loaded carefully and neatly into vans onto lorries/trailers, and unloading and storing equipment appropriately on-site and back at the yard.
- If appropriately trained or assessed for operating plant machinery, assist by using this method.
- Take responsibility for ensuring Nicholls Boreholes company equipment is kept clean, in workable order, and housed safely and in the appropriate location when not in use. Report breakages, faults and damage to Drilling Manager or Drilling Operations Manager.
- Ensure company vehicles are kept clean and report any vehicle defects to the Vehicles Coordinator.
- Maintain the highest standards of interpersonal skills with clients, colleagues, and other professionals.
- Contribute to maintaining a safe and healthy working environment.
- Contribute to maintaining and improving procedures.
- Undertake other reasonable duties as required.
- Maintain the highest standards of interpersonal skills with clients, colleagues, and other professionals.
- To operate within the Company’s documented Policies and Procedures.
- Contribute to maintaining a safe and healthy working environment.
- Ensuring compliance with the company’s Equality and Diversity policy.
- Contribute to maintaining and improving procedures.
- Contribute positively at all times to the continuous improvement and profitable development of the department and the company, attend department and other meetings as required.
- Undertake other reasonable duties related to the job purpose when asked.
- Support the department and Company’s marking initiatives
Competencies:
- Excellent interpersonal skills with clients, colleagues, and other professionals.
- Strong communication skills, with good active listening, good timekeeping, pride in work, and a positive work ethic essential.
- Mechanical knowledge/public safety and security knowledge desirable but not essential.
- Ability to work collaboratively with all members of the company – great team-working skills.
- Be forward-thinking, organised, and innovative.
- Operational and control – being able to multitask, identify priorities, and pay attention to detail.
- Operation monitoring – able to troubleshoot situations and have analytical thinking skills.
- Doesn’t back down from a challenge.
Qualifications:
- Previous experience in construction or a labour-intensive role is preferable but not mandatory.
- Ability to perform physically demanding tasks in varying weather conditions.
- Strong focus on safety protocols and practices.
- Excellent teamwork and communication skills.
- Willingness to learn and take on new challenges.
- Valid driver’s license (preferred) and reliable transportation to job sites.
Our Most Important Goals:
- Live the Nicholls values—Excellence, teamwork, professionalism, pride, commitment, and fun.
- Communication with teams and clients.
- Organisation of resources and materials/parts.
- Be proactive and plan ahead.
Job Type: Full-time
Work Location: In person
Work Location: In person
