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The work

A clerk of works or site inspector is responsible for making sure that work carried out on a construction project conforms to client specifications, and meets quality and safety standards. They also monitor progress to deliver the project on budget and on time. Construction projects can vary in scale and size and include building works, such as house, retail and office construction or refurbishment; and civil engineering jobs, for instance maintenance and construction of railways, bridges and roads.

Clerks of works may work for a construction company, engineering firm or local authority; or they may work for a firm of inspection consultants, sub-contracted to carry out inspection work. They must be familiar with relevant Building Regulations, health and safety requirements, planning controls and construction methods.

Clerks of works’ duties include:

making visual inspections of the work
measuring and sampling materials for quality control checks
identifying defects and proposing changes to fix them
liaising with other construction staff, such as contractors, engineers and surveyors
reporting regularly to construction managers and clients detailing progress.

Clerks of works employed by a construction company may be responsible for supervising the workforce carrying out the building work.

Hours and Environment

Clerks of works normally work 35 to 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Weekend and evening work is common, particularly when deadlines are imminent.

They are based in site offices, usually in temporary cabins. A lot of time is spent out of doors in all weather conditions. Depending on the job, some work may be at heights, working from scaffolding or ladders; other jobs can involve working underground, for example tunnel construction.

Clerks of works may be based at one site for the duration of a job or they may travel between sites, carrying out regular inspections. A driving licence is often essential. Some jobs may require extended periods of time away from home.

Skills and Interests

As a clerk of works you will need:

excellent observational skills and to be able to pay close attention to detail
a broad knowledge of the construction industry, including materials, trades, building methods and legal requirements
good organisational and project management skills
good analytical skills
excellent communication and negotiating skills
good written communication skills for completing paperwork and compiling reports
the ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with staff at all levels
be physically fit and comfortable working at heights
be able to meet performance targets and deliver projects on time and on budget.

Entry

Clerks of works usually enter the role after gaining experience within the construction or engineering industry at craft and technician level. Membership of the Institute of Clerks of Works of Great Britain (ICWGB) is often required by employers.

For details about craft and technician roles in construction and engineering, see the relevant profiles in the Construction, and Manufacturing and Engineering job families.

You may be able to enter as a trainee with a company after undertaking a BTEC HNC/HND, foundation degree or degree in construction or engineering. These courses are widely available at colleges and universities. Check with them for entry requirements.

For information about foundation degrees see Foundation Degree Forward

To search for colleges and universities offering foundation degrees, HNDs and degrees see Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)

Training

For those working in this role, the NVQ/SVQ Site Inspection at levels 3 and 4 is available. Units include:

monitoring contract, quality and progress
monitor health and safety
testing and reporting on physical characteristics
manage the performance of teams and individuals.

The Institute of Clerks of Works (ICWGB) is the recognised industry-specific body for the profession. The Institute offers continuing professional development courses for members. Although you do not have to take its qualifications, they are increasingly required by employers and are recognised world-wide.

There are several membership grades for the ICWGB and each requires a certain level of experience and qualifications. For full details, see the website for the ICWGB in Further Information.

By 2010, workers within the construction sector must hold a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or be registered with an affiliated scheme. Many construction firms and their clients already insist that operatives hold a relevant CSCS card to work on site. To receive a card, a worker must hold an NVQ/SVQ or acceptable equivalent and pass a health and safety assessment.

Cards are graded according to qualifications and experience. Experienced workers without formal qualifications can use On-Site Assessment and Training (OSAT) or Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA) to achieve an award.

For details about the CSCS scheme, gradings, equivalent qualifications and applications, contact CSCS or SkillsDirect. For more detailed information about the health and safety test, training providers, OSAT and EWPA, see ConstructionSkills.

Opportunities

A wide range of organisations employ clerks of works, so opportunities for qualified staff are good. Employers include local authorities, health authorities, construction and engineering firms. There are also private companies specialising in consultancy work that employ clerks of works. Self-employment is also an option.

With experience, options include movement into site management and general construction management.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Salaries start at around £20,500 a year.
Experienced clerks of works earn between £24,000 and £30,000.
Senior clerks of works can earn up to £35,000 a year.

Further information

SkillsDirect

Tel: 0870 8505262

http://www.citb-constructionskills.co.uk/cardschemes/

Institute of Clerks of Works of Great Britain

28 Commerce Rd
Lynch Wood
Peterborough
PE2 6LR
Tel: 01733 405160

http://www.icwgb.org

Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS)

Tel: 0870 417 8777

http://www.cscs.uk.com

ConstructionSkills

Bircham Newton
King's Lynn
Norfolk
PE31 6RH
Tel: 01485 577577

http://www.cskills.org

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IMPORTANT NOTE: The information supplied in the WoWMyCV.co.uk Careers Database is designed as a point of reference, WoW Careers Services is NOT an Employment Agency and is NOT recruiting for this position, please do not send us your CVs in application for this job.

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