Building Site Inspector

Typical Salary

£21,000 To £60,000

Typical Hours

41 to 43 a week

evenings / weekends

How To Become a Building Site Inspector

You can get into this job through:

a university course
a college course
an apprenticeship
working towards this role
applying directly

College / University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

construction
civil engineering
surveying

1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma

2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Once you have some construction experience, the following college courses can help you progress to site supervisor/inspector roles:

Level 3 Diploma in Construction Site Supervisory Studies
Level 4 Diploma in Construction Site Supervision
Level 4 Diploma in Construction Site Management

1 or 2 A levels, a level 3 diploma or relevant experience for a level 4 or level 5 course

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships relevant to this role include:

Level 4 Construction site supervisor
Level 4 Construction site engineering technician
Level 6 Construction site management degree apprenticeship

4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Routes into this Career

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 apply directly to work as a building site inspector. To do this, you'll need several years' construction experience. Qualifications in health and safety will also be useful.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

knowledge of building and construction
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
customer service skills
the ability to use your initiative
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
maths knowledge
analytical thinking skills
the ability to analyse quality or performance
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Day To Day Tasks

You will:

do regular inspections of construction sites
check that work is following building regulations
make sure that work is following project plans
measure and sample building materials to check their quality
find defects and recommend ways to fix them
monitor work progress
write reports for construction managers and clients

Working Environment

You could work in an office or on a construction site.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career Path & Progression

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).

Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Opportunities are not listed for this job.

Tips & Information

Registration

you'll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to train and work on a construction site

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the Institute of Clerks of Works and Construction Inspectorate, which offers professional development and technical advice to people working in the building industry.

Further information

You'll find more advice on how to become a building site inspector from Go Construct.

Restrictions & Requirements

Restrictions & Requirements are not listed for this job.