Apprentice building site inspectors help supervise all work on a construction site to ensure that safety and quality standards are fulfilled. In addition, they oversee the implementation of building designs and requirements and the management of people and subcontractors on construction sites. They also help project managers with task planning and attend site management meetings.
Responsibilities
Throughout your apprenticeship, you may help:
- inspect construction sites
- check that work is following building regulations
- make sure that work is following project plans
- measure and sample building materials to check their quality
- find defects and recommend ways to fix them
- monitor work progress
- write reports for construction managers and clients
Salary
- Apprentice building site inspectors can earn £21,000 per year
- Trained site inspectors with some experience can earn £30,000 – £40,000
- Senior site inspectors can earn £40,000 – £50,000.
Working hours
You will typically work 41 to 43 hours per week, occasional working evenings and weekends.
Working environment
You could work in an office or on a construction site.
Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Qualifications
Qualifications you can achieve as an apprentice building site inspector include:
- Level 2 Construction Site Supervisor – Entry requirements for this level include 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship. This qualification takes 36 months to complete.
Skills
On a building site inspector apprenticeship, you’ll learn:
- knowledge of building and construction
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- customer service skills
- the ability to use your initiative
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- maths knowledge
- analytical thinking skills
- the ability to analyse quality or performance
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently.
Career path and progression
Work in site management, building surveying, civil engineering, or construction management to further your career.
You may also establish your own site inspection firm and work as a consultant or in education.
You may be required to become a member of the Institute of Clerks of Works and Construction Inspectorate (ICWCI).