Building technician
Career outlook for building technician
UK Salary Ranges
Entry-level
£19,000
£19,000
Experienced
£35,000
£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
Environment
UK employment status
Full-time
79%
Part-time
9%
Self employed
11%
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Find a jobTop skills
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- Cooperating
- Verbal communication
- Creative
- Problem solving
- Developing a plan
- Managing resources
- Time management
- Delegating
- Negotiating
- Understanding
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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)