Construction apprenticeships

Honing your skills and knowledge in a traditional or specialist area - ranging from bricklaying, carpentry and plumbing to architecture and quantity surveying - construction apprenticeships provide the perfect route into this growing industry

What property and construction apprenticeships are available?

Apprenticeships are widely available in property and construction. As with all types of apprenticeship, they're offered at four levels:

• Intermediate - Level 2, equivalent to GCSE.
• Advanced - Level 3, equivalent to A-level.
• Higher - Levels 4-7, equivalent to a foundation degree or above.
• Degree - Levels 6 and 7, equivalent to a Bachelors and Masters respectively.

Construction apprenticeships can be found in both traditional trades and specialist occupations, such as:

• architecture
• bricklaying
• building
• carpentry
• construction management
• lifting
• plastering
• plumbing
• quantity surveying
• roofing
• site supervision
• steel work
• town planning
• welding.

In the property sector, you can start your career with building, construction management and property management apprenticeships, as well as in commercial and IT functions with larger employers.

See the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) for information about accredited pathways for building surveyor apprenticeships. You can also consider 9 graduate careers for surveyors.

If you're exploring becoming an architect, find out more about architecture degree apprenticeships.

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) offers two apprenticeship pathways:

• Town Planning Assistant Apprenticeship (Level 4) - a standalone qualification (can also lead to the degree apprenticeship below) for those looking to provide technical and administrative support for chartered town planners.
• Chartered Town Planner Degree Apprenticeship (Levels 4 to 7) - with two entry points available, this qualification takes three to six years to complete and results in achieving the Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI) designation.

You may also be interested in engineering apprenticeships within the construction industry.

Which construction companies offer apprenticeships?

• Amey - apprenticeships at intermediate, advanced, higher and degree level. The degree-level programmes are available in areas such as civil engineering, environmental practitioner, chartered surveyor and rail.
• Arup - advanced and higher apprenticeships in building services, civil engineering, quantity surveying, rail design, transport planning and more.
• Balfour Beatty - apprenticeships in areas such as civil and mechanical engineering, quantity surveying, highways maintenance and construction management at intermediate, advanced, higher and degree level.
• Barratt Developments - higher and degree apprenticeships in construction, quantity surveying or real estate. There's also the opportunity to do technical apprenticeships in co-ordinator, project manager or designer roles.
• JLL - five-year degree apprenticeships in residential and commercial surveying, available in Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, London and Manchester.
• Mott MacDonald - advanced, degree and Scottish modern apprenticeships in fields such as civil engineering, transport planning, building services engineering, quantity surveying and project management.
• Redrow - trade apprenticeships, and technical and commercial apprenticeships.
• Savills - a five-year, part-time Level 6 surveying apprenticeship leading to an undergraduate degree and an MRICS qualification. They also offer planning apprenticeships at Level 7, which result in an MRTPI award.
• Skanska - on a Level 2 or Level 3 apprenticeship, you'll spend 80% of your time on the job and the rest in education. Roles include civil engineer, mechanical and electrical engineer, and operations positions such as plumbing and welding.
• Vistry Group - a Level 4 trainee management apprenticeship programme providing the skills required for a career in construction, quantity surveying, estimating or design and technical.

This is not an exhaustive list - lots of other companies in the sector have apprenticeship opportunities.

See the property and construction industry overview to discover other relevant industry employers.

Who are they aimed at?

Apprenticeships are traditionally aimed at school and college leavers, and are an increasingly viable alternative to university, particularly with the introduction of degree apprenticeships. The level of each apprenticeship will determine who can apply.

Intermediate and advanced apprenticeships at Level 2 and 3 are for those leaving school with GCSEs. You'll usually need good grades in English and maths.

Higher and degree apprenticeships at Levels 4 to 7 are geared towards those with A-levels or those who've already completed an intermediate or advanced apprenticeship.

In many cases, successful completion of an apprenticeship will lead to a permanent job offer with the same company, although this isn't guaranteed - always check with your employer.

Many employers in the construction industry are committed to attracting a diverse range of candidates for their apprenticeship schemes. For instance, a number of employers, including Barratt Developments, Redrow and the Vistry Group, have partnered with Women into Construction to support women looking to enter the industry. Balfour Beatty is a member of the 5% Club to ensure learning and development is made available to all.

What's involved in a construction apprenticeship?

The content of your building and construction apprenticeship will vary considerably depending on its level and subject.

For example, on the two-year Level 2 and 3 Bricklayer Apprenticeship offered by the Leeds College of Building, apprentices develop skills including how to use bricklaying tools, build simple brick/block walls and use modern construction methods such as timber frame cladding.

Meanwhile, on the Chartered Town Planner Degree Apprenticeship offered by the RTPI, apprentices spend up to six years developing knowledge in areas relating to planning law, policy and sustainability, and skills including the preparation of plans, policies and related documents, creative vision and design and project management.

A detailed overview of what's involved in a specific apprenticeship can typically be found on the employer's website.

For more general information on apprenticeships, see what is an apprenticeship?

How much will I be paid?

All apprentices are paid the National Minimum Wage (NMW), which currently stands at £6.40 per hour (from April 2024) for apprentices under 19, and those aged over 19 who are in their first year.

If you're over 19 and have completed the first year of your apprenticeship, you must be paid the minimum wage rate for your age. To check you're being paid enough, visit GOV.UK - National Minimum Wage rates.

As an apprentice you'll be paid for your normal working hours, as well as for any training that's part of your scheme. You're entitled to at least 20 days' paid holiday per year, plus bank holidays.

Salaries are determined by individual employers. For example, a residential sales apprentice (junior estate agent) at Savills can earn £20,500. This Level 2 role leads onto the Level 4 sales executive apprenticeship.

The salary range for higher and degree apprentices at Barratt Developments is £21,000 to £24,000.

See the individual websites of employers to see what's currently on offer.

How do I apply?

You can find details of how and when to apply for apprenticeships on employers' websites.

Alternatively, search for opportunities at GOV.UK - Find an apprenticeship. You'll need to select the 'construction, planning and the built environment' filter.

Construction apprenticeships are also listed, along with more general information about the qualification and your career options, on the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) website.

Apprenticeships are typically advertised throughout the year as and when vacancies become available, but be aware that some employers set application windows for each year's intake.

For example, applications for the majority of Arup's apprenticeship programmes open in late October. Alternatively, you'd apply for one of Skanska's apprenticeship schemes from January to March.

Another useful resource if you're looking for construction apprenticeships is Go Construct - Apprenticeships. This resource offers tips on finding employers, submitting applications and preparing for interviews.

For apprenticeships in England, as a minimum you'll need to be 16 or over, eligible to work in England and not in full-time education. The application process typically consists of completing an online form and then attending an interview. Learn more about how to apply for an apprenticeship.

Find out more

• Consider studying a construction management course.
• Explore property and construction jobs.
• Read our 6 tips for getting into civil engineering.