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Site supervisor

clerk of works site inspector building quality officer warranty manager
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Construction and building
Produce

Career outlook for site supervisor

UK Salary Ranges

Entry-level

£21,000

Experienced

£50,000

Currently employed in Scotland

4,300

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 check that work on a building site is being done properly and that the workers are safe

You’d oversee the quality and safety of work on a construction site. You’d check that the work matches the building plans and specifications.

You’d make sure that health and safety rules are being followed.

You would:

  • Regularly inspect the work on site
  • Compare the work with the drawings and specifications
  • Check the quality of the building materials
  • Keep a record of your findings
  • Identify where work is not good enough and suggest ways to make it better
  • Deal with other construction staff, such as contractors, engineers and surveyors
  • Report progress to construction managers, architects and clients

You might also be responsible for supervising the workforce on the building site during a project.

Working conditions

Hours

You would normally make site inspections Monday to Friday, working between 35 and 40 hours a week. In some cases, you may have to work weekends or evenings in order to meet project deadlines.

Environment

You would have a site office, but you would spend most of your time outside on site. You could be making inspections at heights from scaffolding or ladders, or underground, for example, in tunnel construction. Your role may also involve attending project progress meetings with the construction team.

UK employment status

Full-time

87%

Part-time

7%

Self employed

6%

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  • Written communication
  • Observation
  • Questioning
  • Researching
  • Making decisions
  • Negotiating
  • Analysing
  • Understanding

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Foundation Apprenticeships

Choosing a Foundation Apprenticeship as one of your subjects in S5 and S6 can help you get a head start with this type of job.

You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification (the same level as a Higher) plus valuable work placement experience and skills you can't learn in a classroom.

Interested? Find out what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.

Qualifications

There is no set entry route into this role.

Relevant experience is essential. This might be work-based experience through qualifications such as a Modern Apprenticeship in Construction: Technical (SCQF Level 7) which includes preparation for supervisory roles.

In some cases a relevant degree (SCQF level 9/10) is required.

Useful subjects

Most employers value a good general education including English and maths.

You will also need

You must hold a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to work on a site. You must pass a health and safety test to qualify for this scheme.

Helpful to have

Some employers require you to be a member of The Institute of Clerks of Works (ICWCI).

Explore more information about this job

Construction Skills Certification Scheme – Learn more about CSCS cards