Construction - Site Supervisor Apprenticeship

Introduction

In a nutshell

If you're thinking about starting a career in construction or property, returning to education or want to develop your current career in the built environment sector, then our HNC Construction course is ideal for you, and you can complete your Construction Site Supervisor apprenticeship at the same time if you are currently in full-time employment with a qualifying organisation.

The HNC construction is aligned to the requirements of a professional career in the built environment as a Construction Site Supervisor, and help you learn the technical and practical skills needed to satisfy industry and employer needs.

Delivered by one of the UK's leading centres for built environment education, you'll study a wide range of construction and property -related topics. On successful completion, you will have an industry recognised qualification which will support your future career development. You also have the option of progressing onto the Construction Project Management degree upon completion of your HNC.

You will:

Study a range of modules to develop your professional and technical competencies ready for a rewarding career in the built environment
Learn how both traditional and modern methods of construction are managed to maximise the sustainability of construction projects
Build your knowledge about the practicalities and legalities involved in delivering built environment projects
Develop your understanding of how people, process and digital management combine to produce successful projects
Develop your presentation, communication and interpersonal skills

This is for you if...

1.

You are currently employed in the construction industry, and you would like to complete your Construction Site Supervisor apprenticeship and achieve a level 4 qualification

2.

You seek a fascinating future in a sector which provides variety, responsibility, and real-world impact

3.

You are interested in new physical and digital technologies and how these are practically applied in the built environment sector

4.

You have a passion for how construction projects are managed and delivered

5.

You want to develop professional and technical skills ready for a rewarding career in the built environment

Course details

All about the course

Course Delivery

The Construction Site Supervisor apprenticeship is completed within the HNC Construction programme taking two years of part-time study, on campus 1 day per week for in-person participation. This enables you to work and study at the same time completing your HNC Construction and Construction Site Supervisor apprenticeship.

This approach provides a gateway to the fascinating world of construction and the built environment, as well as offering an opportunity for students employed in the industry experience to consolidate their academic learning and complete their apprenticeship. Completing the HNC and the apprenticeship provides a platform to progress in the built environment and construction industry, as well as offering a route into further, degree level study.

You will be introduced to the built environment sector and its processes and will develop your practical competencies and industry knowledge. Course content includes sustainable construction technology, building services, legal and contractual procedures, and management. There is a particular focus on recent innovations, including modern methods of construction and digital process management (e.g. building information modelling), as well as an emphasis on the significance of the sustainability agenda relating to the built environment.

Both full-time and part-time students complete the same modules, with full-time students undertaking all six in their year of study, whilst the part-time apprenticeship students complete 3 modules per year during their two years of study.

Year one

Construction Management Practice

As a Construction Site Supervisor apprentice you will follow the Construction Management optional pathway where you will gain practical experience of setting out a site in readiness for construction. You will also develop skills relating to the process of construction planning and scheduling, preparation of method statements and risk analysis

Sustainable Construction Technology

You will learn about the challenges of creating a more sustainable built environment and follow the process of how buildings are put together, from the feasibility study, foundations all the way up to the roof. Along the way you will study the characteristics and properties of different building materials and techniques, and what impact different choices may make on the local and global environment. You will explore both traditional and modern methods of construction, and learn how these are managed and implemented using IT based approaches including Building Information modelling

Building Services and Sustainability

You will study the principles which underpin why building services (e.g. drainage, electrical, gas, heating and ventilation) are routed throughout buildings in the way that they are. You will examine how decisions relating to building services influence overall energy consumption and energy generation, as well as the critical role that building occupancy plays in the overall carbon footprint of built assets. You will learn about some of the technical aspects of building services, and the ways in which energy may be conserved, managed and generated efficiently

Year two

Construction Law, Procedure and Regulation

Construction projects are expensive, complicated and unpredictable. They pose great financial risks, and great risks to the health and safety of workers. In this module you will learn about the most significant ways that law and contracts operate to manage these complexities. You will gain a solid understanding of the legal framework surrounding the construction process, including planning permission and building regulations, with a focus on the importance of fire regulations. You will also examine the different ways that contracts are used to distribute responsibilities for design, construction and management of cost, quality and time

Management and Project Delivery

You will study the theories of how people and processes should be managed from a practical and project-based perspective. You will look at how a project should proceed throughout the entire cycle, from planning, through construction all the way to decommissioning, and how the effective collaboration between people is at the root of every successful outcome. You will examine how projects are digitally facilitated in terms of information and process management, relying on a range of different software tools. An element of your learning will also relate to the economic aspects of successful project outcomes

Integrated Project

You will work together with your fellow students and experience the process of an integrated project. You will gain a practical understanding of the multidisciplinary roles involved in a project and see how vital collaborative working is to success

Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.

What will I be doing?

TEACHING

You will develop your knowledge and skills using a blend of theoretical, collaborative and practical methods. These include:

Lectures and tutorials
Project work, both individual and group-based
Directed study
One-to-one tutorials (by appointment)
Guest lectures and site visits

INDEPENDENT LEARNING

The Apprenticeship Programme is run on a day-release basis.

When not attending lectures, tutorials or other timetabled sessions, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study and work-based learning. You must be paid by your employer for the day you attend your study day.

Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, completing research in our library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for examinations.

The programme is one of a suite of related programmes within the construction and property sector and benefits from the opportunities to exploit inter-disciplinary learning and collaborative activities.

You will engage in a variety of learning techniques such as formal lectures to primarily transfer core knowledge and information, tutorials to further explore deeper learning and explore new concepts and theories. Group work sessions, communication and collaboration activities to develop problem solving skills and application of knowledge to allow contextualisation of theory and practice on a practice-based example, and the development of interpersonal and articulation of both technical and verbal skills.

The programme is based on a modular structure over two levels with each module representing a discrete package of learning and appropriate skill development, consistent with the positioning of each module in the overall structure and complementary to the other modules at each level.

The personal development of each student is paramount, and students are encouraged at each level of the programme through appropriate structured activities and processes to engage throughout their studies. This will encompass the development of research skills to enable each student to practice self-directed research as a feature of the learning process. This will conclude with the conduct and execution of a discipline research project on a research topic of the student’s choice.

ASSESSMENT

For your HNC Construction you will be assessed using a combination of methods, including exams, projects and written coursework. Coursework is problem-focused and may typically involve case study analysis and/or essay writing.

For the apprenticeship non-integrated End Point Assessment (EPA) will be conducted by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and this will comprise submissions of Project, Portfolio of Evidence, Knowledge Test and a Professional Discussion. This will typically take place in the June / July of your second year of study enabling progression to the BSC (Hons) Construction Project Management in September of the same year.

FEEDBACK

To support your development, you will receive feedback on all practice assessments and on formal assessments undertaken by coursework. Feedback on examination performance is also available upon request from the module leader.

You will gain the benefit of other teaching and learning events such as guest lectures, site visits, and integrated projects will be provided as appropriate to enrich the learning experience.

School of Science, Engineering and Environment

Rising to the challenge of a changing world, our degree courses are designed to shape the next generation of urbanists, scientists, engineers and industry leaders.

Driven by industry, and delivered by supportive programme teams, you can develop the knowledge and skills to become unstoppable in your career.

Facilities

The School of Science, Engineering and Environment is housed in the new purpose-built engineering building providing an inspiring environment to develop ideas, work collaboratively and share best practice.

Salford is also home to Energy House1 and 2 – the only fully climate-controlled research facility of its kind in the world. Built in 2011, this full-sized, two-bed terraced house is based inside an environmental chamber that can replicate varying weather conditions. It is packed with an array of sensors that provide vital data for researchers and industry professionals. A much-expanded Energy House 2 has recently been completed.

New construction laboratories will be built as part of the Greater Manchester Institute of Technology (GMIoT) providing dedicating workshop space for HNC Construction / CSS apprentice students.

Industry Focus

As a construction site supervisor student, you might also encounter our Energy House Laboratories during your studies.

We are a leading centre for energy research and industry collaboration. We support the construction industry in tackling climate change by finding ways to use energy more efficiently in our built environment.

Through our pioneering research agenda, and world-class facilities, we help businesses understand how effective their products and services are in lowering consumers’ carbon footprint and reducing energy bills.

Explore our industry collaboration and research

Employment and stats

What about after uni?

With your HNC Construction and a Construction Site Supervisor apprenticeship completed, there will be a variety of career pathways you could pursue to develop and advance your career. These include:

Site Supervisor
Assistant Construction Project Manager
Project Planner
Health and Safety Officer

FURTHER STUDY

BSc Construction Project Management Degree Apprenticeship

A taste of what you could become

A site supervisor

Assistant Construction Project Manager

Project Planner

Health and Safety Officer

And more...

Career Links

This course is extensively informed by collaboration between the university’s academics and industry partners from the built environment. Our experienced teaching team maintain strong links with the architecture, engineering and construction sectors, both local and international.

This collaboration with the professions ensures a stimulating range of external guest lecturers, as well as career networking opportunities. You will benefit from field visits, practitioner-led lectures and real-world problem-solving work developed for and by industry.

Recent industry partners have included:

Bramhall Construction
United Utilities
Wates Construction
Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)
Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

Requirements

What you need to know

APPLICANT PROFILE

Applicants should have a passion for the Built Environment and a desire to gain an understanding of how projects are procured, built and delivered. Students should have a willingness to engage in group activities, be curious about the impact of the Built Environments carbon footprint and enthused by the positive impact we can have on people's lives, places we inhabit and the wider socio-economic environment.

It is expected that applicants must have the equivalent of GCSE English and Maths at Grade C / Grade 4 or equivalent. Plus meet Entry from Level 3 or above qualifications. If Level 3, then a minimum of 72 UCAS points. See more below.

Standard entry requirements

GCSE

English Language and Mathematics at grade C/level 4 or above (or equivalent). You must fulfil our GCSE entry requirements as well as one of the requirements listed below

UCAS tariff points

72 points

A Levels

72 points (typically BC or DDD)

BTEC National Diploma

MPP

BTEC Higher National Diploma

Pass in a related subject for entry to level 5. Related subjects include Architecture, Construction, Civil Engineering, Building Studies, Estate Management

APL Entry

An applicant who does not possess one of the qualifications which satisfies the General Academic Entry Requirement may be considered through the Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) as per the University’s Admissions and Retention Policy. 2 years construction experience or 3 years non-construction experience are required.

Scottish Highers

72 points from Higher Level.

European Baccalaureate

Please contact Admissions for further information

English Language Requirements

International applicants will be required to show a proficiency in English. An IELTS score of 6.5 (with no element below 5.5) is proof of this. If you need to improve your written and spoken English, you might be interested in our English language courses.

Irish Leaving Certificate

72 points from Higher Level.

Alternative entry requirements

Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (SAES)

We positively welcome applications from students who may not meet the stated entry criteria but who can demonstrate their ability to pursue the course successfully. Once we receive your application, we'll assess it and recommend it for SAES if you are an eligible candidate.

There are two different routes through the Salford Alternative Entry Scheme and applicants will be directed to the one appropriate for their course. Assessment will either be through a review of prior learning or through a formal test.

Please contact Admissions for further information.

How much?

As a Construction Site Supervisor apprentice your fees could be covered by the Apprenticeship funding. Total cost is £9000.

Apprenticeship Funding

The apprenticeship levy was introduced in April 2017 and requires all employers operating in the UK, with a pay bill of over £3 million each year to invest in apprenticeships.

The funding policy supports the changes to the way apprenticeships in England are paid for, underpinned by the apprenticeship levy of 0.5% of the annual pay bill for companies paying over £3 million per year.

There is also a co-investment model for companies who will not be paying into the levy. The government will cover 95% of the cost of the apprenticeship and the employer will only have to contribute the remaining 5%. Once payments have been declared to HMRC, employers will now have access to a digital apprenticeship account from which they will be able to access funding to pay for apprenticeship training.

The maximum amount of money allocated to each standard falls into one of 15 funding bands, ranging from £1,500 to £27,000.

Funding band maximum: £9,000

Additional costs

You should consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.

Much of the delivery and study involves the use of computers. Though there is some on campus provision, it would facilitate learning if students have access to their own IT resources.

Apply now

All set? Let's apply

Not in Employment

To apply for an apprenticeship, you must first be employed with a company willing to enrol you on the apprenticeship programme.

The government national apprenticeship website has further information on this. The website also advertises vacancies for apprentices.

Unfortunately, the University does not hold details of employer vacancies.

In Employment

Speak with the apprentice lead in your organisation in the first instance as they will provide the funding and will make initial contact with the Apprenticeship Services Unit. Your employer will need to confirm that they'll fund and support your enrolment with the University.

If you are currently in employment with a company that is willing to support you through an apprenticeship, then they will need to contact us in the first instance to express their interest in the apprenticeship programme and this will trigger the application process.

For general apprenticeship enquiries email apprenticeships@salford.ac.uk phone: +44 (0)161 295 3063 or complete the contact us form

Enrolment dates

September 2024

September 2025

More information