What is Minimum Age for Building Site Apprenticeship?

By: Emma Jones - Updated: 25 Jun 2024 | *Discuss

 

Q.

What is the minimum age for an apprentice to work on a building site?

A.

There are 180 different types of apprenticeships available in over 80 industries, with construction being one of the most popular. It is a great way to gain practical, hands-on skills while also gaining a qualification and getting paid for it. This is the reason why apprenticeships are becoming so popular as they set you up well for a career in your chosen industry.

Within the construction industry there are many different roles that you can take on as an apprentice from bricklaying and crane operation to civil engineering and technical support. Which one suits you will depend on your qualifications and the level of NVQ you want to study for.

Whichever apprenticeship you choose though, as long as you are 16 or older, there are no restrictions about working on building sites or elsewhere.

There is also a scheme that is run for young apprentices. This applies to 14-16 year olds who want to do work experience in the industry or study towards a qualification. Young apprentices are able to gain a diploma for 10 days’ work or spend longer in work based training and work towards a NVQ qualification.

The rules on the these apprenticeships are more restricted and because of health and safety reasons, young apprentices will not be able to work on a building site.

If you are under 16 and want to be a construction apprentice though, there is still a lot you can do to work towards your goal. There are other areas of construction that you can become involved with such as plastering or plumbing, which will give you some great skills to work on.

Also, concentrate on attaining your GCSEs so that you have a sound base to move on to studying for your NVQ when you can start your apprenticeship. Also, some of the more technical apprenticeships will require passes in Maths, English and Science, so pay particular attention to these subjects.

Talk to your teacher or career advisor about construction apprenticeships and what options are available to you. Then, once you hit 16, you can get stuck in to your new career.

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