Building technician Job Information | National Careers Service

The work

Your duties would typically include:

• estimating costs for materials, labour, equipment and overheads for use in bids for tenders
• working with suppliers to negotiate and buy materials, equipment and labour at the most cost-effective prices
• checking the quality of suppliers
• helping to plan which methods to use for each construction stage
• drafting construction plans and blueprints using computer aided design (CAD) software
• monitoring building progress against agreed completion dates
• preparing construction sites before work begins
• supervising teams of building contractors on site.

You would also attend regular progress update meetings with site managers and clients.

Hours

You could work up to 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Evening and weekend working may be necessary to meet deadlines.

You would normally be office based, but you may have to make site visits when overseeing building preparations and supervising workers. You would be expected to wear protective clothing when on site.

Income

Starting salaries can be between £14,500 and £16,500 a year. Average salaries range from £17,000 to £25,000. Experienced technicians can earn over £30,000 a year.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

You may be able to get into this career through a construction Apprenticeship. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need. To find out more, visit the Apprenticeships website.

• Apprenticeships

To get on to an Apprenticeship, you may need GCSEs (grades A-C) in subjects like maths, English and design and technology, or equivalent vocational qualifications such as a BTEC National Certificate or Diploma in Construction.

You could also study for higher level qualifications, for example the BTEC HNC/HND in Construction. If you are planning to take a construction-related degree course, you may be able to apply and qualify for funding through the ConstructionSkills INSPIRE Scholarship Scheme. Contact ConstructionSkills for details about the scheme.

If you already work in building crafts, for instance bricklaying, you may be able to qualify up to technician level with further training.

See the ConstructionSkills website for more information about construction careers and qualifications.

• ConstructionSkills

The Know Your Place campaign aims to promote the construction industry as a career choice for women.

• Know Your Place

Training and development

Once employed, you could take a range of work-based NVQ Diploma qualifications, for example:

• Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Construction Site Supervision
• Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Construction Site Management
• Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Construction Contracting Operations
• Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Construction Contracting Operations Management.

The Association of Building Engineers (ABE) has information on a range of NVQ qualifications similar to those listed above. See the ABE website for more details.

• ABE

You could improve your career prospects by taking the Technical Staff Development and Qualification Programme, offered by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and the National House Building Council. You would take units that most closely matched your job role. Options include:

• processing and submitting tenders
• procurement
• planning
• managing information
• construction problems
• dispute resolution.

For more details about on-the-job training, contact the CIOB and the National House Building Council.

Skills and knowledge

To become a building technician, you will need to have:

• excellent knowledge of construction methods and building materials
• a clear understanding of health and safety issues, and Building Regulations
• good communication skills
• the ability to work well as part of a team
• a responsible attitude
• IT skills, such as knowledge of CAD software
• problem-solving skills
• good organisational skills and the ability to meet deadlines.

More information

Construction Skills CITB
Bircham Newton
King's Lynn
Norfolk
PE31 6RH
Tel: 0344 994 4400
www.cskills.org

National House Building Council
NHBC House
Davy Avenue
Knowhill
Milton Keynes
MK5 8FP
www.nhbc.co.uk

Association of Building Engineers
Lutyens House
Billing Brook Road
Weston Favell
Northampton
NN3 8NW
Tel: 0845 126 1058
www.abe.org.uk

Chartered Institute of Building
Englemere
Kings Ride
Ascot
Berkshire
SL5 7TB
Tel: 01344 630700
www.ciob.org.uk

Construction Industry Council (CIC)
26 Store Street
London
WC1E 7BT
Tel: 0207 399 7400
www.cicskills.org.uk

Opportunities

You could find opportunities with national and international building firms and contractors, central and local government, and with organisations that carry out their own construction work. These include utility companies, major retailers and the NHS.

With experience you could move into construction management roles or specialise in technical areas such as estimating, drafting or buying.

You may find the following useful for vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):

• Careerstructure
• ConstructionJobsNet
• JustConstruction
• Building4jobs

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

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