Design, Construction and Management HNC/D Apprenticeship
Manchester City Council
Manchester (M60 2LA)
Closes on Wednesday 14 January 2026
Posted on 12 November 2025
Contents
Summary
We’re recruiting for PlanBEE Manchester. Develop your knowledge in building design and construction while working in several different companies. You’ll need to have a passion for design, construction and leadership, be analytical, methodical and good at solving problems, as well as articulate, driven and a fast learner.
- Wage
-
£24,500 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
With a starting salary of circa £24,500 per year, you’ll also benefit from a pension plan and a generous annual holiday entitlement.
- Training course
- Construction design and build technician (level 4)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday (30 minute lunch break). Exact shifts to be confirmed.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 14 September 2026
- Duration
-
2 years
- Positions available
-
15
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
- Attend meetings with various sub contractors, or the client, to discuss things like the programme, delays, and costs
- Work with various sub contractors or clients to resolve issues with ongoing projects
- Working alongside quantity surveyors to discuss quantity take-offs, variations, and orders
- Working alongside the site manager, helping to coordinate projects on-site
- Regular site visits for progress checks on construction projects
- Producing drawings/plans on software such as Revit
- Producing client documents such as stage 1 reports using Adobe software e.g. InDesign/Illustrator/Photoshop
- Attend partnership, recruitment any other events that help to promote partners and the programme
- Assist with essential building tasks such as planning, designing and project management which could include analysing client requirements and developing detailed designs, risk assessment of design solutions and managing projects
Where you'll work
Shared Service Centre Level 2
PO Box 532
Town Hall Extension
Manchester
M60 2LA
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
GATESHEAD COLLEGE
Training course
Construction design and build technician (level 4)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Apply mathematical, statistical and data interpretation tools, using analytical and computational methods to interpret and solve technical, engineering and design problems.
- Interpret and compare performance information to choose compliant materials, components and parts.
- Select and use technical literature and other sources of information and data.
- Produce design and technical drawings, designs, and models, using analytical and computer-based software packages.
- Produce technical design solutions.
- Comply with industry standards, CDM, statutory regulation and legislation, policies, and codes of practice.
- Comply with health, safety and welfare regulations, standards and guidance.
- Complete risk assessments to identify, evaluate and mitigate risk.
- Apply principles of sustainable development and assess impact.
- Apply ethical and data security principles to design projects.
- Prepare written design reports.
- Interact with the operation and maintenance of a Common Data Environment CDE and ensure this maintains integrity and follows agreed protocols and that data security.
- Handle information including validating, managing, disseminating and storing throughout all stages of a project or asset.
- Identify design defects and solve problems to advise a compliant outcome, escalate issues or concerns.
- Apply quality assurance techniques.
- Use computer based software systems and packages to manage construction projects for example BIM tools, data analytics and databases.
- Conduct site inspections of designs and report findings.
- Comply with sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance including the management and designing out of waste.
- Optimise energy use through design of efficient fabric, passive and active design solutions, low energy lighting, building controls, energy performance.
- Optimise site potential and building space.
- Communicate with internal and external stakeholders using sector specific terminology.
- Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
- Apply project management techniques. For example: project budgets, estimating, cost control, cost forecasting, and investment appraisal.
- Interpret and extract relevant information from drawings, specifications and work instructions including BIM, and other task specific modelling software
- Apply mathematical, statistical and data interpretation tools, using analytical and computational methods to interpret and solve technical, engineering and design problems.
- Interpret and compare performance information to choose compliant materials, components and parts.
- Select and use technical literature and other sources of information and data.
- Produce design and technical drawings, designs, and models, using analytical and computer-based software packages.
- Produce technical design solutions.
- Comply with industry standards, CDM, statutory regulation and legislation, policies, and codes of practice.
- Comply with health, safety and welfare regulations, standards and guidance.
- Complete risk assessments to identify, evaluate and mitigate risk.
- Apply principles of sustainable development and assess impact.
- Apply ethical and data security principles to design projects.
- Prepare written design reports.
- Interact with the operation and maintenance of a Common Data Environment CDE and ensure this maintains integrity and follows agreed protocols and that data security.
- Handle information including validating, managing, disseminating and storing throughout all stages of a project or asset.
- Identify design defects and solve problems to advise a compliant outcome, escalate issues or concerns.
- Apply quality assurance techniques.
- Use computer based software systems and packages to manage construction projects for example BIM tools, data analytics and databases.
- Conduct site inspections of designs and report findings.
- Comply with sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance including the management and designing out of waste.
- Optimise energy use through design of efficient fabric, passive and active design solutions, low energy lighting, building controls, energy performance.
- Optimise site potential and building space.
- Communicate with internal and external stakeholders using sector specific terminology.
- Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
- Apply project management techniques. For example: project budgets, estimating, cost control, cost forecasting, and investment appraisal.
- Interpret and extract relevant information from drawings, specifications and work instructions including BIM, and other task specific modelling software
Training schedule
- Construction design and build technician Level 4 (Higher national certificate)
- You’ll spend one day a week studying and developing your knowledge in building design and construction while working in several different companies and gaining a more rounded understanding of the built environment industry
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4-9)
- Maths (grade 4-9)
- Science (grade 4-9)
A Level in:
BTEC in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Passionate about construction
- Methodical
Other requirements
If you have already completed a degree level programme in a similar field you will not be eligible to join PlanBEE. If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be invited to take part in our Assessment Centre. Subject to successful completion of the assessments, you will then be invited to a formal interview with a panel of employers.
About this employer
Established by Ryder Architecture, PlanBEE is an industry wide partnership of companies who want people with a new and broader set of skills in their businesses. Comprising some of the most recognised brands in the industry and niche SMEs, they have committed to work together to shape the talent of the future and inspire people to consider a rewarding career in a broad range of technical and professional roles in Architecture, Engineering, Building Services and Construction/Site Management. The partners have a long track record of recruiting and training apprentices and graduates and have worked with Gateshead College (North East Apprenticeship Company) to develop a bespoke programme of on and off the job training which provides a salary and a fast track to graduation and professional accreditation and offers a guaranteed job to those who successfully complete. Candidates will be employed through Gateshead College and the North East Apprenticeship Company therefore ensuring they can work with a range of partner organisations in order to gain experience, knowledge and expertise in the Built Environment industry. The North East Apprenticeship Company is a registered Apprenticeship Training Agency who recruit, employ and arrange training for apprentices on behalf of employers.
After this apprenticeship
- Full time employment with one of our PlanBEE partners
- Offering a paid alternative to university with progression to full honours degree, PlanBEE Manchester is not for the faint hearted. The pace will be fast and you will be expected to excel in your development so you can progress to the next stage
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
GATESHEAD COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000000330.
Apply now
Closes on Wednesday 14 January 2026
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