Construction Materials Technician Apprentice (Level 3) - Balfour Beatty

Construction Materials Technician Apprentice (Level 3) – Balfour Beatty

Location: Lochgilphead, Scotland, United Kingdom

Job type: Apprenticeship – Materials Level 3

Salary: £20,350 – £24,985 per year

Work hours: Monday–Thursday 8:00am–6:00pm; Friday 8:00am–12:00pm; 42 hrs per week with paid weekend overtime as required.

Benefits: 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Balfour Beatty is a leading international infrastructure group. They design, build, finance and operate the major infrastructure that we all depend on. With over 110 years of experience, they deliver projects at the heart of local communities, operating with the highest levels of quality, safety and technical expertise.

• Starting salary of £20,350 – £24,985 per year (depending on age)
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Monday to Thursday, 8:00am – 6:00pm; Friday, 8:00am – 12:00pm (working hours can fluctuate)
• 42 hours per week
• Paid weekend overtime (Saturday morning) as and when required
• Regular training and CPD opportunities
• Other rewards and benefits available to Balfour Beatty employees

Role & Responsibilities

What you’ll be doing:

• Working alongside other team members, testing the properties of construction materials including concrete, aggregates, cement, grout, and admixtures.
• Improving the performance of existing products, trialling them to provide optimal performance.
• Assisting to bring materials testing into the 21st century using new technologies (e.g., automated processes, ergonomic equipment, new recording and reporting systems).
• Developing an understanding and practical methods used to examine materials, including non‑destructive testing (NDT).
• Following testing methods to ensure safety and quality, supporting the laboratory in maintaining UKAS accreditation to BS EN ISO 17025.
• Travelling to and from sites, collecting materials to be tested.

Through training and development you’ll work towards excellence in the following areas:

• Undertake 21‑month apprenticeship to Level 3.
• Ensure all work is undertaken safely in accordance with required processes.
• Undertake testing of materials including aggregates, concrete, and asphalt in accordance with required standards, in the laboratory and on construction sites.
• Comply with the high standards of work required by the Quality Management Systems to required deadlines.
• Maintain equipment to required standards as required by the Laboratory Manager.
• Proactively communicate with senior staff to ensure effective communication.
• Attend training courses and assessments as required by the apprenticeship standard and maintaining training records.

Future Opportunities

• Level 4/5 Technician Scientist apprenticeship
• Senior technician
• Laboratory Manager
• Materials Engineer
• Project lead

Candidate Profile

• Creative and committed individual, proactive in identifying problems and defects.
• Comfortable collaborating with others to meet business demands while taking responsibility for quality and accuracy of own work.
• Flexible to work across various locations required to meet business needs, comfortable working on feet.
• Prepared for challenge to meet targets while upholding safety standards.
• Enthusiastic, collaborative, hungry to learn.
• Minimum 18 years, full UK driving licence, own car, willing to commute and travel as required.

Qualifications & Experience

Previous experience is appreciated but not essential. We look for the right attitude and aptitude to fit at Balfour Beatty.

It’s about enthusiasm, not school results. The most successful apprentices are those driven to learn more about the sector, who are upfront about what they do and don’t know, considerate, self‑reflective, and impatient to learn.

Apprenticeship Details

Over 21 months, you’ll devote a minimum of 6 hours of your working week to off‑the‑job training. This includes theory (virtual lessons, online learning) and practical training (shadowing, mentoring, assignments). This will count towards a Level 3 Laboratory Technician apprenticeship.

Eligibility: over 18, not in full‑time education, lived in the UK for 3 years, right to work in the UK. If you meet these or want to discuss further, let us know.