
Construction Materials Technician Apprentice (Level 3) - Balfour Beatty at Tiro
Tiro · Lochgilphead, United Kingdom · Onsite
- Office in Lochgilphead
Working for Balfour Beatty
- Starting salary of £20,350 - £24,985 per year (depending on age)
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Monday to Thursday, 8:00am – 6:00pm; Friday, 8:00am – 12:00pm (working hours can fluctuate depending on project demands and weather conditions)
- 42 hours per week
- Paid weekend overtime (Saturday morning) as and when required
- Regular training and CPD opportunities
- Check out some of the other rewards and benefits you will be entitled to as a Balfour Beatty employee
What will I be doing as an Construction Materials Technician Apprentice?
- 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.
- Undertake 21-month apprenticeship to Level 3.
- Ensure all work is undertaken safely in accordance with required processes.
- Undertake testing of materials including aggregates, concrete, and asphalt in accordance with required standards, in the laboratory and on construction sites.
- Comply with the high standards of work required by the Quality Management Systems to required deadlines.
- Maintain equipment to required standards as required by the Laboratory Manager.
- Proactively communicate with senior staff to ensure effective communication.
- Attend training courses and assessments as required by the apprenticeship standard and maintaining training records.
What could the future look like?
- Level 4/5 Technician Scientist apprenticeship
- Senior technician
- Laboratory Manager
- Materials Engineer
- Project lead
Skills, Knowledge, and Experience
You’ll be flexible in your ability to work across the various locations required to meet the needs of business, as well being comfortable working on your feet.
Be prepared for a challenge as you take on activities to ensure the targets are met, whilst standards are upheld to ensure the safety of your team and working environment.
To succeed in this apprenticeship, you’ll need bags of enthusiasm, be a fantastic collaborator and be hungry to learn!
Please note, due to the nature of the role, you need to be 18+, have a Full UK Driving License, access to your own car, and be happy commuting and travelling as required for the role.
So how does the apprenticeship work?
Over 21 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 Laboratory 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!

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.