Construction & the Built Environment

The broad purpose of the occupation is to conduct the general day-to-day maintenance required to keep a range of properties in a good state of repair. Property maintenance operatives conduct routine maintenance tasks, and minor planned and responsive repair works, using a broad range of fundamental trade skills including carpentry, joinery, plumbing, plastering, brick and block work, external works and associated finishing trades including tiling, painting, and decorating. Operatives use a wide variety of hand and power tools, materials, components, fixtures and fittings, ensuring work that is carried out is compliant with health and safety requirements, and meets building safety regulations and legislation. This requires them to know and understand the key principles of buildings and their construction, the range of building services that support a buildings operation, including electrical, plumbing, plant, safety systems and equipment, the techniques, and processes to prevent damage.

Duration: Approximately 27 months (24 months training + 3-month assessment window [EPA])

The apprenticeship is for those working with wood-based materials and associated products, creating and installing building components. This typically involves shaping and cutting materials, installing finished materials like partitions, doors, staircases, window frames, mouldings, timber floor coverings and erecting structural components such as floor joists and roofs. The apprenticeship will develop the knowledge and skills to be able to carry out all the work safely, using the appropriate tools and to the quality specified.

This apprenticeship includes two different options for those either working on a construction site as a Site Carpenter or in a workshop as an Architectural Joiner.

A Site Carpenter will learn to prepare and install basic building components e.g. doors, straight staircases as well as erecting structural carpentry and roof structures on a building site or in domestic and commercial premises.

The EPA practical for Site Carpentry is 2 days of structural roofing, both traditional cut roof and trussed roof, so the apprentice must get exposure to structural roofing as part of their employment.

An Architectural Joiner will learn to create building components by setting out, marking out and manufacturing basic architectural products, including doors, windows, straight staircases, and associated ironmongery.

Duration: Approximately 27 months (24 months training + 3-month assessment window [EPA])

The apprenticeship is for those working with wood-based materials and associated products to create and install complex building components. This typically involves shaping and cutting materials, installing finished materials like complex or decorative components. The apprenticeship will develop the knowledge and skills to be able to carry out all the work safely, using the appropriate tools and to the quality specified.

This apprenticeship includes two different options for those working on a construction site as a Site Carpenter or in a workshop as an Architectural Joiner.

An Advanced Site Carpenter will work on building sites in the construction of domestic and commercial properties, to learn how to prepare and install complex and bespoke building components, including irregular and complex roof structures.

Advanced Architectural Joiners will be employed in a workshop creating complex building components by setting out, marking out and creating assembled products requiring advanced skilled work including the full range of woodworking machines. There will often be a need for refurbishment or repair work of bespoke pieces.

On this course the apprentice will learn to be responsible for working in a team, leading others, using machinery and tools to create, refurbish or repair structures or components. Having attained this level of competence, they could progress further in the industry as team leaders, trade forepersons, contract or works managers.

Duration: Approximately 18 months (15 months training + 3-month assessment window [EPA])

All those on this apprenticeship will be required to work on typical plumbing elements such as hot and cold water systems and storage, supplies to dwellings and associated pipework, above-ground pipework, connection to below-ground pipework, sanitary pipework, fittings, and furniture. They will need workplace experience of working with central heating boilers, bathroom furniture, sanitary appliances and drainage systems.

Further to that, technicians will specialise in one of three areas in the final phase of the apprenticeship and will produce evidence from the workplace of:

Domestic gas fired hot water heating appliances technician: installation and maintenance of domestic natural gas systems and central heating and hot water appliances.

Domestic air source heat pumps & solar thermal systems technician: installation and maintenance of air source heat pumps and solar thermal hot water systems in domestic premises.

Non-domestic plumbing technician: installation and maintenance of plumbing systems in premises such as hospitals and healthcare premises, schools, high rise buildings, public buildings, industrial and commercial premises, etc.

Additional Qualifications: Apprentices will gain C&G City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma as part of this apprenticeship. Those doing the natural gas pathway will become Gas Safe registered for CCN1 and CENWAT once End Point Assessment is successfully completed.

Duration: Approximately 54 months (48 months training + 6-month assessment window [EPA])

The broad purpose of this occupation is to safely install, commission, decommission, carry out scheduled maintenance and repairs of gas appliances and equipment in a domestic dwelling. Appliances can include, but are not limited to, a range of work categories such as central heating boilers, ducted air heaters, cookers, space heaters and gas metering equipment. Roles in gas engineering are physical in nature and may involve lifting and moving of equipment, working at height and in confined spaces. All operatives must be registered on the Gas Safe Register for each appliance in which they are competent to undertake work on.

Gas Engineering Operatives are responsible for ensuring customer safety and always providing service excellence. Operatives will be required to explain how gas installations are designed and how appliances and controls operate, providing energy efficiency advice to customers as an integral part of the role.

Duration: Approximately 21 months (18 months training + 3-month assessment window [EPA])

Apprentices on this programme will contribute to the design, development, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of products, equipment, processes, of electric systems or services. Electrical equipment and systems may include switchboards, motors, cables, fuses, thermal relays, protective devices, heating, lighting, air conditioning and metering equipment as well as property and life safety installations and renewable energy technologies plus the installation and maintenance of electrical connections of new and emerging technologies supporting low carbon targets. The new technologies will include enhanced connectivity, green and renewable technologies including heating and cooling technologies, using where appropriate, Modern Methods of Construction including offsite and prefabricated components.

Throughout the apprenticeship programme the apprentice must be exposed to Domestic, Commercial, and Industrial work and include installation and maintenance. Their work will encompass using engineering knowledge and understanding to apply technical and practical skills.

Additional Qualifications – 18^th Edition

Duration: Approximately 54 months (48 months training + 6-month assessment window [EPA])

Individuals who have previously completed a Level 3 electrical qualification may not be required to complete the full 54 months. This will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.