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- Inspect building sites to make sure they are safe and that work is of good quality
- Option to set up your own site inspection business and work as a consultant, or move into training
- Job may require you to go up high scaffolding or into underground tunnels
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Check that building works are done properly, and that workers are following health and safety rules
- Regularly check work and compare it with project plans
- Measure and sample building materials to check their quality
- Find defects and suggest ways to fix them
- Keep in contact with contractors, engineers and surveyors
- Monitor and report progress to construction managers, architects and clients
- You may also supervise workers
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You'll split your time between an office and a construction site. You may need to go up high scaffolding or into underground tunnels, wearing appropriate protective clothing.
You may need your own transport to travel between sites.
You'll need
For this role you'll need to be thorough and pay attention to detail, have good maths knowledge and analytical thinking skills.
You'll need qualifications and several years' building experience to get into this job.
Relevant qualifications include an HND, foundation degree or degree in construction, civil engineering or surveying. You'll usually need 1 or 2 A levels for a foundation degree or higher national diploma and 2 to 3 A levels for a degree.
You could also do a construction technical professional advanced apprenticeship or construction site supervision higher apprenticeship. You'll usually need 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship and 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and college qualifications like A levels for a higher or a degree.
Alternatively, you could work as a site tradesperson, building technician or surveying assistant and move up to become a site inspector through on the job training. You could take college courses to help you progress, such as Level 3 Diploma in Construction Site Supervisory Studies, Level 4 Diploma in Construction Site Supervision or Level 4 Certificate or Diploma in Construction Site Management. Qualifications in health and safety will also be useful for this role.
You'll also usually need a CSCS card (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) to work on a building site. It would be helpful to join the Institute of Clerks of Works and Construction Inspectorate, which offers professional development and technical advice to people working in the building industry.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience, you could move into site management, building surveying, civil engineering or construction management. You could also set up your own site inspection business and work as a consultant, or move into training.
You may need to become a member of the Institute of Clerks of Works and Construction Inspectorate (ICWCI).