Frequently asked questions

In Britain at the moment, there are not enough homes for all the people and families that need them. As a result house prices have risen and are becoming increasingly unaffordable for many first time buyers, the private rental sector has grown and rents have increased, and more people are on social housing waiting lists than ever before.

There’s a lot of talk about how we can fix this, but the only thing that will make a real impact is if we start building the amount of homes that are actually needed. We need to work with the government, local authorities and local communities to ensure that we all pull together and fix this problem.

But we need to make sure that the homes we build are not just four walls and roof. They also need to be great places for people to live in, providing more than just shelter.

So, as you might have guessed, the main job of a house builder is to build houses! But it’s not as simple as it sounds, and there are a lot of other things that we have to do before we can even start thinking about walls, roofs and gardens!

We have to think about how people will get to their homes, which means planning and building new roads and in some instances improving existing local infrastructure. Our teams also have to think about the consequences of the weather and how that will affect those living in the new homes. So if it rains a lot, for example, the homes, roads and public spaces won’t flood.

Importantly, we also have to make sure that the homes we’re building address existing local needs. If we don’t, we could end up with a lot of empty homes!

House building really is so much more than just building houses!

Choosing a career in house building is choosing to work in an industry where you can really achieve something tangible. It’s the sort of achievement that you can look at and physically touch. It’s something that you can see through from start to finish, from a piece of land with nothing on to a thriving community where families grow, and people live.

But it’s more than just about providing homes for a nation that desperately needs them. It’s also very rewarding. At current industry rates, apprentices earn on average between £9.5k and £18k per year; and graduate trainees can earn between £20k and £28k per year. And if you’re really successful and make it to the top of the tree, as a director in a house building company you could earn between £90k and £120k per year!

The rewards are also far more than just financial. You will also receive first class training and be given the opportunity to gain industry leading qualifications.

There are many ways you can get into house building, but the most popular routes are by doing an apprenticeship or a graduate training scheme.

The majority of house builders run specific schemes aimed at helping you get into the industry at the right level and in the area you’re interested in. The schemes are often tailored around you, depending on where you live, what sites are near you and what the role is you’re doing.

You could also look at entering a University Technical College, where you can gain specialised qualifications while being taught by industry experts.

An apprenticeship gives you the opportunity to gain an industry-relevant qualification while working for or with a house builder, earning a salary whilst also gaining valuable workplace skills and experience.

Apprenticeships are open to anyone living in England, over 16 years old and not in full-time education.

Graduate training schemes can take different formats depending on which house builder you choose to apply to. Usually though, they allow university graduates to experience aspects of both the specific role that interests them and the business as a whole.

The schemes vary in length depending on the specific employer programme. And like apprenticeships, graduate training schemes offer you the opportunity to earn while you learn, all the while gaining vital workplace skills and experience.

There are limited number of spaces available on any graduate training scheme, so employers set minimum requirements to qualify for entry. Usually these will be a set criteria such as a certain number of UCAS points, a specific minimum degree grading, and sometimes relevant industry experience through voluntary work placements.

University technical colleges (UTCs) are government-funded schools that offer 14–18 year olds a great deal more than traditional schools. They teach students technical and scientific subjects in a whole new way and are educating the house builders of the future!

UTCs integrate technical, practical and academic learning and create an environment where students can thrive and develop the abilities that the industry needs.

UTCs are smaller than traditional secondary schools. They are not academically selective and charge no fees.

The number of UTCs is growing rapidly, but there are already many right across the country. To view the whole list of UTCs, visit: http://www.utcolleges.org/utcs/

If you're interested in a career in house building though, both Buckinghamshire University Technical College and West Midlands Construction UTC are perfectly suited.

At current industry rates, apprentices earn on average between £9.5k and £18k per year; and graduate trainees can earn between £20k and £28k per year. And if you’re really successful and make it to the top of the tree, as a director in a house building company you could earn between £90k and £120k per year.

House builders work extensively right across the country in villages, towns and cities, and as a result we are working on thousands of sites at any one time. Everybody needs a home to live in, so house building jobs can be found all over.

You can find out exactly where house builders main and regional offices are by clicking here.