Strictly speaking, formal qualifications are not required to gain employment in the UK construction industry. Nonetheless, they remain highly advantageous for applicants to construction jobs.
An extensive set of National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) exist in the UK which provide an education on the theories involved in many vocations and trades. They are known as Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) in Scotland. You can complete an S/NVQ alongside an Apprenticeship and they contain 5 levels. Level 1 is equivalent to a site operative or labourer, Level 2 to a craftsperson, Level 3 to an advanced craftsperson, Level 4 to a manager or professional, and Level 5 to a senior manager.
It is becoming increasingly important to be able to prove that you meet a certain level of certification for a construction job, and indeed it has become a prerequisite on many construction sites. There is also now a very strong emphasis on construction industry occupational, health and safety training. This has led to the development of various certification schemes that provide construction site workers with an official photo ID card which provides proof of their qualification level.
You may find it advantageous to your prospects of finding a construction job to belong to a certification scheme, even though it is not currently required by law. Various different certification schemes exist for different roles.
If you are a carpenter or joiner, a bricklayer, a plasterer, a steel fixer or ceiling fixer, you will need to apply for the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Card, which is known as the CSR in Northern Ireland. The CSCS Card comes in a range of colours that indicate your qualification level. Trainees that are working towards a certified status have red cards, while operatives that have basic skills and that have achieved level 1 S/NVQs, or an equivalent qualification overseas, have green cards. Blue cards, meanwhile, are reserved for experienced workers that have a number of years of on-site experience but who do not have formal qualifications. Finally, skilled workers that have achieved their level 3 S/NVQs or an equivalent qualification abroad have gold cards.
As previously mentioned, you can get a job in construction via an apprenticeship, while in more specific areas there are college courses that may prove advantageous for construction jobs ranging from construction plant mechanic to painter and decorator. Keep in mind that the range of apprenticeships that are available in your area will differ depending on the nature of the local job market.
Bob Blazel writes for a range of job related topics, including skills needed for construction jobs.