Construction and infrastructure is all about the physical stuff that keeps the country moving: railways, roads, bridges, buildings, power and water. As an apprentice you might work outdoors on site, in a depot, or in a design or office team.
It’s great if you like seeing real, physical results from your work, and it’s much more than trades. Balfour Beatty, for example, has apprenticeships in civil and mechanical engineering, quantity surveying, planning, procurement, finance and IT, as well as electrician and highways maintenance roles.
Levels you’ll see
The employers we’ve researched here cover everything from intermediate up to degree level. Balfour Beatty offers intermediate, advanced, higher and degree apprenticeships, and Network Rail offers Level 3, Level 4 and Level 6 programmes.
Laing O’Rourke splits its apprenticeships into two routes: trade and technical apprenticeships at Levels 2 and 3 after GCSEs, and professional apprenticeships at Levels 4 and 6 after A levels or T Levels. Morgan Sindall Construction has site and office apprenticeships for 16 to 18 year olds and degree apprenticeships for people aged 18 and over, including a partnership with Oxford Brookes University.
Lots of roles mean travelling between sites, so check where a programme is based and how far you’d need to go.
Types of work and careers
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Civil engineering
Designing and delivering structures such as roads, bridges, railways and water systems.
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Site and construction management
Organising people, materials and safety on site so projects are built as planned.
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Quantity surveying and commercial roles
Estimating and controlling the cost of projects and managing contracts.
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Trades and technical roles
Hands-on skilled work, such as electrical installation, plant maintenance and highways maintenance.
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Rail engineering
Maintaining and improving track, signalling, electrification and other railway systems.
Compare Construction and infrastructure apprenticeships
A quick side-by-side of what each employer publishes. Pick a level to see what each employer offers at that level, and open a profile for the full details and sources.
All employers
| Employer | Levels | Length | Pay | Entry requirements | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balfour Beatty | 2–5 years | Not published | From no formal qualifications (intermediate) to three A levels (degree) | Not published | |
| Laing O'Rourke | 2–5 years | Not published | 3 GCSEs (trade) to 3 A levels or equivalent (professional) | Projects across the UK; head office in Dartford | |
| Morgan Sindall Construction | Up to 6 years (degree) | Not published | 5 GCSEs at grade 4+ incl. English and maths, plus 2 A levels at grade C | Construction sites and offices across the UK | |
| Network Rail | 3 years (Level 3 engineering) | Not published | GCSE maths at grade 5 plus three more at grade 4 (Level 3 engineering, earlier intake) | Depots within 60 minutes of home (Level 3 engineering) |
Intermediate apprenticeships (Level 2)
| Employer | Programmes at this level | Length | Pay | Entry requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balfour Beatty | 1 programme Intermediate apprenticeships | About 2 years | Not published | From no formal qualifications (intermediate) to three A levels (degree) |
| Laing O'Rourke | 1 programme Trade and technical apprenticeships | 2–4 years | Not published | 3 GCSEs (trade) to 3 A levels or equivalent (professional) |
Advanced apprenticeships (Level 3)
| Employer | Programmes at this level | Length | Pay | Entry requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balfour Beatty | 1 programme Advanced apprenticeships | 2–4 years | Not published | From no formal qualifications (intermediate) to three A levels (degree) |
| Laing O'Rourke | 1 programme Trade and technical apprenticeships | 2–4 years | Not published | 3 GCSEs (trade) to 3 A levels or equivalent (professional) |
| Network Rail | 2 programmes Level 3 Rail Engineering Technician Apprenticeship (England and Wales); Level 3 apprenticeships in finance, HR support, IT and rail infrastructure operations | 3 years | Not published | GCSE maths at grade 5 plus three more at grade 4 (Level 3 engineering, earlier intake) |
Higher apprenticeships (Levels 4–5)
| Employer | Programmes at this level | Length | Pay | Entry requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balfour Beatty | 1 programme Higher apprenticeships | About 3 years | Not published | From no formal qualifications (intermediate) to three A levels (degree) |
| Laing O'Rourke | 1 programme Professional apprenticeships | Up to 5 years | Not published | 3 GCSEs (trade) to 3 A levels or equivalent (professional) |
| Network Rail | 1 programme Level 4 Project Management Apprenticeship | Not published | Not published | GCSE maths at grade 5 plus three more at grade 4 (Level 3 engineering, earlier intake) |
Degree apprenticeships (Levels 6–7)
| Employer | Programmes at this level | Length | Pay | Entry requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balfour Beatty | 1 programme Degree and graduate apprenticeships | 4–5 years | Not published | From no formal qualifications (intermediate) to three A levels (degree) |
| Laing O'Rourke | 1 programme Professional apprenticeships | Up to 5 years | Not published | 3 GCSEs (trade) to 3 A levels or equivalent (professional) |
| Morgan Sindall Construction | 1 programme Degree apprenticeships (18 and over) | Up to 6 years | Not published | 5 GCSEs at grade 4+ incl. English and maths, plus 2 A levels at grade C |
| Network Rail | 1 programme Level 6 apprenticeships | Not published | Not published | GCSE maths at grade 5 plus three more at grade 4 (Level 3 engineering, earlier intake) |
Key figures
- Apprenticeship disciplines listed by Balfour Beatty, from electrician to quantity surveying
- 13
- Source: Balfour Beatty (opens in a new tab)
- New apprentices who joined Network Rail in the year to February 2026
- 290
- Source: Network Rail media centre (opens in a new tab)
- Typical length of Balfour Beatty apprenticeships, from intermediate to degree
- 2–5 years
- Source: Balfour Beatty (opens in a new tab)
Summary
- Construction apprenticeships are about much more than trades. They include engineering, surveying, planning, finance and IT.
- The employers we've researched offer everything from intermediate (Level 2) to degree level.
- Lots of jobs are on site and involve travelling, so check where a programme is based.
Employers we profile in this industry
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Balfour Beatty
A big construction and infrastructure company with apprenticeships at four levels and in 13 areas, from trades and highways maintenance to civil engineering and quantity surveying, lasting two to five years.
Industry: Construction and infrastructure -
Laing O'Rourke
The construction and engineering company behind major UK building and infrastructure projects. It runs trade and technical apprenticeships at Levels 2 and 3 after GCSEs, and professional apprenticeships at Levels 4 and 6 after A levels or T Levels.
Industry: Construction and infrastructure, Engineering and manufacturing -
Morgan Sindall Construction
The UK construction company. It runs site and office apprenticeships for 16 to 18 year olds with GCSEs and A levels, and degree apprenticeships in construction, surveying and engineering for people aged 18 and over.
Industry: Construction and infrastructure -
Network Rail
Runs the railway tracks, signals and stations across England, Scotland and Wales. It took on 290 apprentices in a year and 1,780 over five years, with Level 3, 4 and 6 programmes in engineering, IT, finance, HR, project management and AI.
Industry: Construction and infrastructure, Engineering and manufacturing
Sources and review
Last reviewed . Details can change after this date, so check the official source before you rely on them.