The apprenticeship helping people enter building control

The University of Wolverhampton - academic partner of CABE - offers a Building Control Surveyor Degree apprenticeship. Nick Warburton finds out why it’s a great gateway to the profession.

Ever since the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) introduced new competency testing requirements for building inspectors, many experienced and highly qualified individuals have chosen to retire early, leaving a shortfall of professionals.

While apprenticeships offer a strong foundation for anyone looking for a career in building control, there are only two academic institutions that provide this route – University of the Built Environment, formerly known as the University College of Estate Management (see the April 2025 issue of Building Engineer), and the University of Wolverhampton.

Both Building Control Surveyor Degree apprenticeships enable future professionals to gain invaluable on-the-job training that provides an income while individuals complete their studies. “The mantra is ‘earn while you learn,’” says Nick Williams, the University of Wolverhampton’s Programme Leader. “If they’re eligible for funding, then it’s the apprenticeship levy that picks up most of the funding – that’s because the government has identified that there is a [skills] gap there.”

In Wolverhampton’s case, the four-year degree course has partnership agreements with Local Authority Building Control (LABC) and the National House Building Council, one of the largest private sector building control providers. The student cohort is a mix of people from the public and private sector, including large and smaller employers.

More than 100 people from all over England are on the course. The weekly sessions are taught live online, although there are two ‘intensive’ residential weeks each year – one in March and the other in November.

Due to the new requirements for all building control professionals to register with the BSR whether they have a degree or not – plus to re-register every four years – Wolverhampton’s course covers the finer details of the Building Regulations in depth.

“We’ve got people who have years of experience in construction, so they already know how buildings work,” he says of the mix of apprentices. “They partly know the standards from being on the other side of the fence. For people who’ve got the relevant experience and qualifications, there is an opportunity to start at Level 5 and 6, so they can complete the course more quickly.”

At the same time, Williams recognises that many apprentices have been attracted to building control as a second career; quite often they have worked in support services, but are looking to take on a technical role.

Work-study balance

Throughout the degree, the apprentices are based at their employer four days a week and study remotely on the fifth day. The benefit of this, he says, is that the apprentices can put into practice what they’re learning in class on a weekly basis.

“We start off with a basic introduction to the Building Regulations, the statutory framework and the Approved Documents, focusing particularly on low-rise construction. And, as we move through the course into years two, three and particularly four, we look at more complex buildings,” he explains.

For example, when the apprentices reach Level 6, they will cover fire safety management strategies, fire safety engineering and sports stadia design and management, which benefits from an arrangement the university has with Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. The apprentices get the opportunity to walk around Molineux Stadium so they can “contextualise what they’ve learned” and see how the standards work in practice.

Growing your own

Dorset Council is one of the degree’s local authority providers and employs two pairs of apprentices who are two years apart.

As David Kitcatt, Service Manager for Building Control, explains, Dorset’s senior leadership team supported his ambition to invest and develop their own apprentices outside of the LABC scheme. “We have a mentoring programme and four team leaders. Each leader has an apprentice to mentor, train and develop their careers with. As the apprentices progress, they get experience across the whole of Dorset.”

Initially, the apprentices start by shadowing each leader (supported by a wider team of 22 building control surveyors) for a week, extending to a two-week period and then a month so the trainees get to see projects through.

“They will go to site and witness foundations oversight, and they will sit and work with the surveyors to do the plan-check and plan assessment,” explains Kitcatt.

“With the experience they are getting via the degree and the on-site experience, they start to take the lead on visits, but the surveyor is with them all the time. That has increased their training and knowledge all the way through.”

All four of Dorset’s apprentices continue to work under supervision as they are still class one registered building inspectors (RBIs). However, two – Tom Collier and Kristina Little – are awaiting the results from their Building Safety Competence Foundation competency exams.

Promoting the apprenticeship

Kitcatt believes the degree’s hybrid nature is critical to its success. “To send somebody up to Wolverhampton every week would be impractical and cost-prohibitive, so having the online element is essential. Combining that with the intensive weeks gives the apprentices an opportunity to meet colleagues, find out information, see the lecturers, share ideas and gel together as a cohort.”

He credits the funding levy for supporting the apprenticeship route and adds that Dorset’s senior leadership is proactive in promoting the benefits it offers (and also raising the building control profession’s profile) through career fairs, school visits and its ‘Work for Dorset’ website.

In fact, this proactive leadership approach is vital. Senior managers at local authorities and private sector building control companies must be on board to provide support and mentoring of candidates while working alongside the tutors at the University of Wolverhampton in order for apprenticeships to work.

Another important learning point, he says, is getting buy-in not only from senior management but also from the senior building control team. “Once they’ve mentored and trained the apprentice, they realise the apprentice can help them. If my team is investing time and effort in training, they get the payback as the apprentices grow and mature over the years.

“It has also been a really good lesson for my surveyors to learn how to train and how to move their skillsets forward, explaining what they do and why they do it.”

Working for Dorset

Kristina Little, one of two Area Building Control Surveyors, feels the apprenticeship route provided by Dorset and the University of Wolverhampton has helped her to further her building control career. She says: “The combination of academic studies and on-the-job-learning with my knowledgeable and supportive colleagues has equipped me with the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to fulfil my role as an RBI.”

Tom Collier, the second Area Building Control Surveyor, concurs that the hands-on experience has been invaluable. He says: “This has helped me reinforce my knowledge and apply it practically on projects I can then use when applying for my registration. My employer has been very supportive through my degree with Wolverhampton and helped me apply the academic knowledge I have learnt.”

Reece Hannah, one of Dorset’s two Assistant Building Control Surveyors, is further along the apprenticeship route. He says: “Studying with the University of Wolverhampton provides a structured learning environment where I am developing a greater understanding of the Building Act, Building Regulations, Approved Documents and other associated legislation and guidance.

“Pairing this with on-the-job learning [and] working under the supervision of colleagues provides context and reinforces my understanding of the guidance and how it is applied in real-world settings.”

Likewise, Abigail Mason is also halfway through her training and feels the apprenticeship route was the best choice for her. “The practical skills and knowledge I’ve learned through shadowing my colleagues’ on-site inspections, working closely with them on plan-checking and general on-the-job training have been vital for progressing in my role,” she says.

“Alongside this, studying with the University of Wolverhampton has furthered my knowledge of the Building Regulations in areas such as energy efficiency and accessible design. Although I’ve found some aspects of the apprenticeship challenging, I’m well supported and I’m on my way to becoming a competent and qualified building control surveyor.” 

Find out more about the course at the University of Wolverhampton at: b.link/UoW_B
Read about building control at Dorset Council at: b.link/DC_BC

Image credit | University of Wolverhampton | Dorset Council