Building Surveyor Apprentice

Summary

Excellent opportunity for those wishing to start a career in construction. Become part of our Property Assets team at Dover District Council and begin your construction professional. As an employer, the Council is proud to provide a supportive, friendly, diverse, and flexible working environment in which our employees can thrive.

Wage

£21,858.87 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

This is the salary for year one, and is subject to review.

Training course

Chartered surveyor (degree) (level 6)

Hours

Monday to Friday between 9am to 5pm.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

6 years

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Working within the Property Assets team and reporting to the Quantity Surveyor, the Building Surveyor Apprentice will assist the team in delivering planned works and responsive repairs to both housing and corporate stock. This will include but not limited to:

Undertake the Chartered Surveyor Apprenticeship BSc (Hons) Building Surveying, on a day release basis.
Assist the team in preparing and managing formal contract work.
With supervision, carry out property surveys, attend meetings and prepare drawings, surveys and contract details under supervision. All of this work will be carried out in connection with the Council’s diverse property portfolio. The role will work on both pre and post-contract duties.
Assist in the day-to-day running of the department's contract administration, tenant consultation and correspondence.
Involvement in all stages of work from initial definition through to completion.

Where you'll work

Honeywood Close
White Cliffs Business Park
Dover
Kent
CT16 3PJ

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

LONDON SOUTH BANK UNIVERSITY

Your training course

Chartered surveyor (degree) (level 6)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Information management - Provide data, information and advice for clients relevant to the surveying discipline.
Health and safety - Recommend solutions to ensure safe and secure working environments.
Construction technology - Provide advice relating to the construction technology of buildings and their materials.
Law - Negotiate and agree terms for acquisition/disposal of property, standard forms of building contracts or other property related contracts and liaise with legal advisers.
Consultancy - Manage instructions from engagement to completion.
Building surveys – Undertake inspections and surveys and provide advice and recommendations to clients relating to building surveys.
Prepare designs and specifications – Carry out the preparation of the design and specification of building projects from outline proposals to completion of the design and specification process.
Administer contracts – Implement administrative procedures for the running of a construction project. Issue instructions, deal with payment provisions, manage variation procedures and deal with completion and possession issues and the issuing of certificates.
Valuation and appraisal - Prepare capital and rental valuations of land and property for a range of formal and appraisal purposes and prepare client reports.
Land, property and planning law - Negotiate solutions to issues affecting both owners and occupiers of land and property including at least two of management, sales, lettings, purchase and/or planning.
Inspection and measurement – Undertake inspections of land and property and prepare related reports and advice. Use appropriate instrumentation to take measurements of land and property. Apply the appropriate guidance and use the appropriate basis to undertake measurements. Prepare and present measurements in an appropriate manner.
Tendering and procurement - Provide advice and recommendations as to appropriate procurement routes and manage the tendering processes relevant to them.
Costing and cost planning of construction works - Undertake the detailed quantification, costing and cost planning of complex construction works.
Manage efficiencies of construction contracts – Manage the construction phase of a construction project. Carry out life cycle costing and apply value engineering processes. Prepare data, reports and forecasts.
Information management - Provide data, information and advice for clients relevant to the surveying discipline.
Health and safety - Recommend solutions to ensure safe and secure working environments.
Construction technology - Provide advice relating to the construction technology of buildings and their materials.
Law - Negotiate and agree terms for acquisition/disposal of property, standard forms of building contracts or other property related contracts and liaise with legal advisers.
Consultancy - Manage instructions from engagement to completion.

Your training plan

You will attend London South Bank University 1 day per week for your study day.
The onsite university training will be based at London South Bank University, Southwark Campus.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

A Level in:

A-level or BTEC National Diploma (grade BBB or DDM)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
Administrative skills
Number skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Initiative

Other requirements

There will be on-site and office-based work with this position. This position has an element of customer-facing and will involve liaising with DDC tenants and leaseholders.

About this company

Dover District Council has an exciting agenda to deliver first class public services, putting our residents at the heart of everything we do. From building new, affordable homes to exciting regeneration schemes. As an employer, Dover District Council is proud to provide a supportive, friendly, diverse and flexible working environment in which our employees can thrive. We have a team of enthusiastic employees, delivering services they are passionate about.

http://www.dover.gov.uk (opens in new tab)

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Working within the public sector, it's usually possible to move between local authorities, universities, hospital trusts and government posts to gain broader experience and advance to a more senior position.

Most large organisations have formal channels of promotion for surveyors who take on increased technical and managerial responsibility.

With experience, you may progress to full project management, taking responsibility for the planning, control and coordination of projects from inception to completion. Success in these roles can bring the opportunity to be a departmental head or manager in the public sector and, in private practice, a director or partner.

You may choose to specialise and become an expert in one particular area, such as building defects or sustainability, or in a specific sector such as residential or retail. Another option, once you're chartered, is to set up your own private practice.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

Dover District Council

Toni Johnson

Toni.Johnson@dover.gov.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000324653.

Apply now

Closes in 18 days (Wednesday 25 June 2025)

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Cookies on Find an apprenticeship

Contents