Construction, Building and Trades - Construction Plant Operator
Construction, Building and Trades - Construction Plant Operator
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Construction plant operators work with machinery and equipment used on building sites.
- Use 180 and 360 degree excavators
- Move earth with bulldozers and dumper trucks
- Operate a crane, under radio direction from a slinger or signaller
- Level out work areas with compactors
- Operate piling rigs and concrete pumps
- Use forklifts to unload and move building materials around the site
- Change buckets, shovels and other attachments
- Make safety checks on machines
You could work on a construction site.
Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers, noisy, at height and dirty.
Construction Plant Operators tend to work between 48 to 50 hours a week. You could work evenings and weekends away from home.
Starting: £19,000
Experienced: £36,000
You could do a college course, for example:
- Level 2 Certificate in Construction Plant Operations
- Level 3 Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment
These courses will teach you some of the skills you need. Once you finish the course, you could try to find a trainee job with a building company.
You could get into this job through a construction plant operator intermediate apprenticeship.
If you want to operate cranes, you could do a lifting technician intermediate apprenticeship.
You'll usually need some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship. If you have an EHCP you may be able to apply under the DfE exemption which allows the apprentice to use Entry level 3 English and Maths qualifications. The apprentice would have to be component enough to successfully achieve all other aspects of the apprenticeship requirements, become occupationally competent and achieve Entry Level 3 in English and Maths before the end of their apprenticeship.
You could find work as a general construction labourer to get some on-site experience. Once you're working, your employer may offer you training in plant operation.
It may be possible to apply directly to employers if you've got experience in construction or operating other types of heavy machinery.
Some employers may ask for GCSEs in subjects like English, maths and design and technology.