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Building technician

site technician construction estimator
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Construction and building
Produce

Career outlook for building technician

UK Salary Ranges

Entry-level

£19,000

Experienced

£35,000

Currently employed in Scotland

2,500

Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.

What's it like?

You would employ workers and buy materials for construction projects to get the best quality at the lowest price for your clients.

You’d support building managers to make sure that each stage of the construction project is completed on time.

You would:

  • Estimate costs for materials, labour, equipment and overheads for use in bids for tenders
  • Work with suppliers to negotiate and buy materials, equipment and labour at the best prices
  • Check the quality of suppliers
  • Help to plan which methods to use for each construction stage
  • Draft construction plans and blueprints using computer aided design (CAD) software
  • Monitor building progress against agreed completion dates
  • Prepare construction sites before work begins
  • Supervise teams of building contractors on site

Throught a project there would be regular update meetings with site managers and the clients which you’d also attend.

You’d have a good understanding of health and safety issues, and of building regulations.

Working conditions

Hours

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

Environment

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.

UK employment status

Full-time

79%

Part-time

9%

Self employed

11%

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  • Cooperating
  • Verbal communication
  • Creative
  • Problem solving
  • Developing a plan
  • Managing resources
  • Time management
  • Delegating
  • Negotiating
  • Understanding

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Getting in

Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.

Qualifications

You could do a Modern Apprenticeship and/or Higher National Certificate (SCQF level 7) or Higher National Diploma (SCQF level 8) in a construction-related subject.

Entry requirement for a Modern Apprenticeship usually requires National 5 qualifications (SCQF level 5).

Entry to a Higher National Certificate (SCQF level 7) or Higher National Diploma (SCQF level 8) usually requires National 4/5 qualifications and one to two Highers.

Useful subjects

  • English
  • Maths
  • Practical technologies subjects

You will also need

If you work in construction you may be able to qualify up to technician level with further on-the-job training.

Staff on construction sites must hold a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent. You will need to pass a health and safety test to qualify for this scheme.

Helpful to have

Once employed, depending on your duties, you could take a range of work-based qualifications:

  • National Vocational Qualification Diploma in Construction Site Supervision (NVQ level 3)
  • Diploma in Construction Contracting Operations (NVQ level 3)
  • Diploma in Construction Site Management (NVQ level 6)
  • Diploma in Construction Contracting Operations Management (NVQ level 6)