Job Description

Construction Materials Technician Apprentice (Level 3) - Balfour Beatty

Department: Science Apprenticeship - Materials L3

Employment Type: Apprentice

Location: Teesside

Compensation: £10.85 - £12.71 / hour

Location: Net Zero Teesside, Freeport, Teesworks, Redcar, TS10 5NX

Working for Balfour Beatty

Do you want to be at the forefront of one of the world's most ambitious sustainability initiatives?

Balfour Beatty have created iconic buildings and infrastructure all over the world over the past 115 years redefining excellence and setting the industry benchmark with every project.

As a result, alongside several consortium partners; Balfour Beatty have been selected by bp (British Petroleum) to construct a first-of-a-kind fully integrated gas-fired power station with carbon capture and storage which is a key driving force behind plans to make Teesside the UK's first de-carbonised industrial cluster.

Balfour Beatty is seeking a dynamic apprentice materials technician contribute to the Net Zero Teesside (NZT) project based at our site in Redcar.

To learn more about working for Balfour Beatty and the career pathways available on this major project, visit:

🔗 About Balfour Beatty
🌐 Balfour Beatty Early Careers

The Package

• Starting salary of £10.85 - £12.71 per hour (National Minimum or Living Wage depending on age)
• Uplift of 1.5X for weekend work
• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
• Monday to Friday, 7:30am – 6:00pm (AM, PM and nights shift patterns to be implemented within the next few months)
• Weekend work requirement
• Regular training and CPD opportunities

At Balfour Beatty, diversity and inclusion are central to everything we do. They guide how we build teams, develop talent, and create opportunities for people from all backgrounds.

What will I be doing as an apprentice?

As a Construction Materials Technician Apprentice, you’ll be working with Balfour Beatty on the Net Zero Teesside (NZT) project - a pioneering initiative at the forefront of low-carbon energy and carbon capture, helping to shape the future of sustainable infrastructure in the UK.

of duties:

• Working alongside other team members, testing the properties of construction materials including concrete, aggregates, cement, grout, and admixtures.
• Improving the performance of existing products, and trialling them to provide the most optimum performance.
• Assisting to bring materials testing into the 21st century using new technologies (e.g., Switching over to automated processes, more ergonomic equipment or even new recording and reporting systems or methods).
• Developing an understanding, knowledge and practical methods used to examine materials, including non-destructive testing (NDT).
• Following testing methods to ensure safety and quality to support the laboratory in maintaining its UKAS accreditation (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) to BS EN ISO 17025 whilst operating at the highest standards required by such a prestigious project.
• Travelling to and from sites, collecting materials to be tested.

What could the future look like?

When you join Balfour Beatty the possibilities for your success are limitless. As a successful applicant, you have the potential to secure a full-time position within the company at the conclusion of your apprenticeship.

Through practical, on-the-job training, you will develop new skills and gain the competence and responsibility required for materials testing and analysis. This apprenticeship serves as a stepping stone towards a rewarding career in materials science, with the added opportunity for the apprentice to become a registered Science Technician (RSci Tech).

This programme opens up a variety of career pathways across industries including construction materials, civil engineering, geotechnical investigation, environmental consultancy, and infrastructure development, ensuring your materials science skills are in demand across multiple sectors.

This apprenticeship can also help pave the way for further educational and professional advancement. You may choose to pursue higher-level qualifications through one of our Degree Apprenticeships such as a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Applied Materials Science.

Skills, Knowledge, and Experience

About You

We’re looking for a reliable, detail-oriented individual who enjoys hands-on work and takes pride in delivering accurate, high-quality results. As a Materials Technician Apprentice, you’ll support testing, inspections, and quality checks that help ensure materials meet the high standards required on a major construction project.

You’ll feel confident working as part of a collaborative team, communicating clearly, and taking responsibility for your own work. The ability to organise your time effectively and prioritise tasks in a busy site environment is important.

The role involves working across different areas of the Net Zero Teesside site, so flexibility and adaptability are key. You should be comfortable working on your feet in an active construction environment, have a strong safety mindset, and be eager to learn and develop new skills.

Please note: Due to the nature of the role, applicants must be 18 or over, hold a full UK driving licence, have access to their own vehicle, and be willing to commute and travel as required to support the Balfour Beatty project.
Experience


We value attitude, curiosity, and commitment just as much as past experience. While previous experience can be helpful, it’s not essential — we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, especially those with a genuine interest in the field and the motivation to build a career.

You might be a school or college leaver, or someone looking to retrain. Either way, if you’re enthusiastic, proactive, and ready to learn, you’ll fit right in.
Qualifications


It’s about enthusiasm, not school results. In our experience the most successful apprentices are those who are driven to find out more about the sector, can be up front about what they do and don’t already know, are considerate, self-reflective, and impatient to learn the job role!

So how does the apprenticeship work?

Over 18 months, you’ll devote a minimum of 6 hours of your working week on ‘off the job’ training. This can include theory training (for example, virtual lessons & online learning), alongside practical training (for example shadowing, mentoring, & time spent writing assignments. Together this will count towards a Level 3 Materials Technician apprenticeship.

You’ll be trained by an expert tutor from Tiro as well as an experienced mentor at Balfour Beatty who together, will make sure you develop the knowledge, skills, and work habits you’ll need to succeed in your career.Being an apprentice is hands-on, so you’ll get the chance to learn things you might otherwise not have experienced in a university or college environment.

The best part? You’ll be earning a salary while you gain your qualifications, meaning no huge student loans to pay back at the end of the programme!

Eligibility


While we never want to hinder your job application process with obstacles, there are some minimum requirements you’ll need to meet in order to do an apprenticeship, these are rules set by the UK Government.

As a training provider, we are committed to ensuring that our apprenticeship programs deliver significant new knowledge and skills. To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate that the program will provide learning and experiences beyond their current qualifications and professional expertise.

If you already hold a Level 3, degree or equivalent higher-level qualification in a closely related field, or possess substantial relevant experience, you may not be eligible for apprenticeship funding, as these programmes are designed for individuals who require upskilling or reskilling in their chosen career pathway. You’ll need to be over 16, not in full time education, have lived in the UK for 3 years and have the right to work in the UK. If you don’t quite meet these minimum requirements yet, let us know you’re interested here and we’ll get in touch to discuss this further with you.