General construction operatives have an extraordinarily wide range of skills, so it's probably no surprise to hear they're well in demand. They can be involved in tasks as diverse as concreting, formworking or timbering.
If you enjoy variety then this could be the ideal role for you. One day you could be installing timber in trenches. The next you could be concreting the floor of an office block. There are a lot of safety procedures to get to grips with, but above all, you'll have to be flexible, and happy to work indoors, outdoors or at great heights.
There are no set entry requirements to train as a construction operative, although GCSEs/Standard Grades in Maths, English and Technology may be helpful for the calculations, measurements and theory.
Apprenticeships are the usual route in and enable you earn while you learn. Entry to an apprenticeship scheme will usually involve a selection test.
The Building and Allied Trades Joint Industrial Council (BATJIC) agrees wage rates annually. Pay rates for apprentices in Scotland are set by SBATC. A good basic wage is available and can be boosted with the incentive schemes that many companies offer. You can also work overtime for extra cash.
The job also offers a good grounding for progression into supervisory roles, or even to start up your own business.
