How do I choose a trustworthy groundworker / excavation?

Compare the public evidence on each profile: how many independent reviews they have and across how many named sources, the rating and how recent it is, any credential evidence, and the company status. A groundworker / excavation backed by several named sources is harder to fake than one found in only one place.

Does MyTrustedTraders rank or recommend groundworkers / excavation for payment?

No. There are no ads and no paid placement. Groundworkers / excavation are ranked only by the strength of independent public evidence. No one can pay to rank higher, add a badge, or change their reviews.

Where do the reviews come from?

They're imported from named public review sources and always shown with the source named. They aren't reviews written on MyTrustedTraders. We cross-check the same business across sources rather than creating new reviews.

What should I check before hiring a groundworker / excavation?

Confirm credentials and insurance directly with the groundworker / excavation, get a written quote, and run the Cowboy Checker on the business first. MyTrustedTraders helps you shortlist on the evidence. It doesn't replace your own checks before you hire.

Groundworkers / excavation in the United Kingdom

217 groundworkers / excavation across the United Kingdom, each compared on their reviews, credential evidence and evidence from named public sources. Independent evidence, no ads and no paid placement. Add your area below to see who's near you.

No ads · No paid placement · Ranked on evidence only

Showing the top 12 of 217 groundworkers / excavation

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What to check when hiring groundworkers / excavation in the United Kingdom

MyTrustedTraders ranks on independent public evidence. No ads, no paid placement. Use these checks alongside the evidence on each profile before you decide who to contact.

Look for consistent reviews across several named sources, not one polished profile.
Check any credential evidence, and that the business details independently check out.
Get a written quote and keep guarantee, insurance and payment terms in writing.
Run the Cowboy Checker before you commit to anyone.

Which credentials should a groundworker / excavation have? See the guide →

How to judge a groundworker / excavation

Independent, no-ads guidance. The trade-specific checks that matter most, the warning signs, and what to ask before you hire. Use it alongside each trader’s public evidence above.

Verify before you hire

Check the EA Waste Carriers Register (environment.data.gov.uk) to confirm they hold a valid upper-tier licence: without it, fly-tipped spoil is legally your problem.
Ask to see their CPCS or NPORS plant operator card for the machine they're bringing (excavator, dumper): each machine type is a separate card.
Confirm they carry public liability insurance that explicitly covers excavation work, and ask for the certificate, not just their word.
For any dig within 3 metres of a neighbour's building, check they know a Party Wall notice must be served first (England and Wales).

Warning signs of a cowboy

No waste carrier licence: they will need to remove significant spoil and an unlicensed carrier can legally dump it on your land or fly-tip it.
Quote is given without a site visit or any mention of what happens if ground conditions change once they dig.
Pressure to pay a large cash deposit before any work starts, with no written contract or staged-payment schedule.
Cannot show a valid CPCS or NPORS card for their plant: operating an excavator without one will void their insurance if anything goes wrong on your site.

Questions to ask before you hire

Can you show me your Environment Agency waste carrier licence number so I can check it before you start?
What is your day-rate or how do you price for unexpected ground conditions: rock, running sand, or unmarked services?
Will building control sign off the foundation and drainage work, and will you manage that process?
Have you worked on this type of ground before (London Clay, made ground, high water table) and can I speak to a recent customer with a similar job?

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose a trustworthy groundworker / excavation?: Compare the public evidence on each profile: how many independent reviews they have and across how many named sources, the rating and how recent it is, any credential evidence, and the company status. A groundworker / excavation backed by several named sources is harder to fake than one found in only one place.
Does MyTrustedTraders rank or recommend groundworkers / excavation for payment?: No. There are no ads and no paid placement. Groundworkers / excavation are ranked only by the strength of independent public evidence. No one can pay to rank higher, add a badge, or change their reviews.
Where do the reviews come from?: They're imported from named public review sources and always shown with the source named. They aren't reviews written on MyTrustedTraders. We cross-check the same business across sources rather than creating new reviews.
What should I check before hiring a groundworker / excavation?: Confirm credentials and insurance directly with the groundworker / excavation, get a written quote, and run the Cowboy Checker on the business first. MyTrustedTraders helps you shortlist on the evidence. It doesn't replace your own checks before you hire.

More ways to check who to trust

Free, independent checks. No ads, no paid placement.

Cowboy Checker
Spot the warning signs of a dishonest business before you hire.
Company Health Check
Check whether the company behind a business is active, dissolved, or in liquidation.
Licence Check
A licence number from a van or quote, checked against every public register included here in one search.

Or browse traders by trade All checks and tools