Why do an apprenticeship
There are many reasons to pursue an apprenticeship with CoTrain, we've listed a few below but if you have any questions make sure to get in touch!
*Information on career progression has been derived from the Go Construct website created by our partner organisation CITB
Not sure which career is the one for you? Take the Go Construct Personality Quiz to find out!
Download the CoTrain Flyer to learn about our apprenticeship scheme
Hear Mark Pope, CoTrain Business Development and Apprenticeships Manager, talking about how we support our apprentices and help them kick off their careers in construction.
*** We are constantly looking for new apprentices. As the positions become available we will post them on this page so please bookmark it and CoTrain will help you. ***
Talk to us if you want to learn more about careers in construction to find the way that suits you best. Contact our Apprenticeship managers; Sarah Hall : 07483 919590 and Helen Banning : 07853 282490
There are loads of benefits to choosing a Shared Apprenticeship Scheme!
You will be working on a number of different placements throughout your two year apprenticeship, which means that you will be able to meet and learn from a wide variety of professionals in your chosen field.
You will also be involved in different projects at each site, increasing your knowledge and skill set with each change so, when your placement is over, you will have a broad range of experience which will look great on your CV.
We hope you will enjoy your apprenticeship with CoTrain. While we will do our best to ensure you are given appropriate tasks on site to complement your chosen study course, it may be necessary from time to time to move you to an alternative site for you to gain the required practical experience; there will be times you have to do general labouring tasks.
Completing your apprenticeship is only the beginning....
Technician Apprenticeship: When your apprenticeship is complete you will have achieved a BTEC 3 in “Construction in the Built Environment” alongside an NVQ3 in Construction Contracting. From here, it is recommended that you join a management trainee programme and we can help find the best fit for you.
Trade Apprenticeship: Our trade apprentices will complete two years of training with a Level 2 NVQ in their chosen field. You then have the option of working toward your Level 3 whilst continuing with your site placement.
If you would prefer to go into full-time employment, we can approach the various contractors that have hosted your placement (so it’s important to make a good impression!) to let them know you're qualified and give them first refusal.
Click the buttons below to find out where your apprenticeship can take you!
Business Administrator
Apprentice Business Administrator
Career Progression:
Apprentice Business Administrator - Business Administrator - Commercial, Estimating, Contracts, Site Management, Community Manager (dependent on your company)
*An administrator’s role is to deliver the practical and/or clerical support necessary to ensure the smooth running of general business operations or specific tasks and projects.
Once you complete your apprenticeship:
*Average salaries are in the region of £14,000.00 to £25,000.00. Salaries will vary depending on location / employer
Bricklayer
*Apprentice Bricklayer - Level 2 NVQ
Career progression: Apprentice Technician (trainee Site Manager) - Site Manager - Contracts Manager- Director/Self Employed/own business
Bricklayers lay bricks, pre-cut stone, concrete blocks and other types of building blocks in mortar to construct and repair walls, foundations, partitions, arches and other structures.
Once you complete your apprenticeship...
Starting salaries for trainee bricklayer labourers start at around £15,000 a year. This rises to between £16,000 and £23,000 when they qualify. Experienced bricklayers and college instructors can earn up to £30,000 and self-employed bricklayers set their own rates.
The UK construction industry will need an additional 1,600 bricklayers to meet demand every year from now until 2021, according to the latest Construction Skills Network research (LMI).
Carpenter/Joiner
*Apprentice Carpenter/Joiner - Level 2 NVQ
Career Progression: Apprentice Technician (trainee site manager) - Supervisor/Team Leader - Contracts Manager - Self-employed Contractor/Sub-Contractor - Site Manager - Projects Manager
A carpenter is a trained craftsperson skilled in woodwork. He or she measures, marks, cuts, shapes, fits and finishes timber – either by hand or with power tools.
Once you complete your apprenticeship...
Apprentice carpenters can earn between £5,300 and £15,000 a year, depending on their age, stage and where they live. Once they qualify, they can earn from around £18,000 for those who have just finished their apprenticeship to around £30,000 for experienced carpenters. Self-employed carpenters negotiate their own rates.
The UK construction industry will need an additional 3,850 people in the wood trades and interior fit-out to meet demand every year from now until 2021, according to the latest Construction Skills Network research (LMI).
Interior Systems / Fit Outs
*Apprentice Interior Systems/Fit-outs - NVQ Level 2
Career progression: Apprentice Technician (trainee site manager) Supervisor/Team Leader - Facilities Manager - Site Manager - Instructor/Assessor/College Tutor
The UK construction industry will need an additional 530 specialist building operatives (including partitioning systems operatives) to meet demand every year from now until 2021, according to the latest Construction Skills Network research (LMI).
Plasterer
*Apprentice Plasterer - NVQ Level 2
Career progression: Apprentice Technician (trainee site manager) - Supervisor/Team Leader - Site Manager - Dry Liner - Director/Self-Employed - Partitioning Systems Operative (see Interior Systems)
The plasterer is indispensable to most building sites – making walls and ceilings smooth and ready for decorating. Plasterers are needed everywhere, from small domestic jobs (to repair or restore parts of a person’s home) to big commercial developments including offices, schools and hospitals.
Once you complete your apprenticeship...
Plasterers are in demand and starting salaries for a trainee usually start at between £14,000 and £17,000 a year. This can rise to £25,000 when they qualify and to £28,000+ for an experienced plasterer. Self-employed plasterers set their own rates and workload. Overtime and shift allowances can increase wages.
The UK construction industry will need an additional 790 Plasterers to meet demand every year from now until 2021, according to the latest Construction Skills Network research (LMI).
Ground Worker (GCO)
*Apprentice Ground Worker/General Construction Operative - NVQ Level 2
Career progression: Apprentice Civil Technician (trainee site manager) - Supervisor/Team Leader - Construction Manager - Plant Vehicle Operative - Senior Manager/Head of Department - Highways Maintenance Operative
A general construction operative (or labourer) does many jobs on a building site, from mixing concrete to digging holes. General construction operatives have a wide range of skills and are needed right across a building site, so it’s no surprise they are in demand. They work alongside skilled tradespeople, helping to build everything from a new home to a motorway flyover.
Once you complete your apprenticeship...
Pay starts at between £11,000 and £15,000 a year, then can go up to £21,000 with training. Some projects pay overtime too.
The UK construction industry needs an additional 1,980 labourers and groundworkers to meet demand every year from now until 2021, according to the latest Construction Skills Network research (LMI).
Technician
*Apprentice Technician (Civil and Construction) - Level 3 NVQ (Level 4 and 5 also available)
Career progression: Site Manager - Contracts Manager/Construction Manager/Project Manager -
Setting-out Engineer - Civil Engineering Technician
The construction manager is one of the most senior people on a building site and pretty much everything is his or her responsibility. Any building, whether it is a skyscraper or a new building estate, a factory or even just a small project needs someone to ensure that from start to finish it is done within a specific time frame and to budget.
Once you complete your apprenticeship...
A construction manager may either hold a degree in Construction Management or will have been in construction for several years, having done their time in roles such as site supervisor or construction team leader. Their skills and experience are in demand and salaries are often around £40,000 to £55,000, depending on the size of the project.
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