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Construction plant operators use excavators, dumper trucks, bulldozers and other heavy machinery on building sites.
You could work: evenings / weekends; away from home
There will be
0.3% fewer Construction plant operator jobs in 2029.
In your local area
As a construction plant operator, you could:
You could work on a construction site.
Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers, noisy, at height and dirty.
You can get into this job through:
You could do a college course in construction plant operations, or a broader course in construction, to learn some of the skills needed for this job.
Courses like these may help you to find a trainee position with a building company.
You could apply for a Construction Plant Operator Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.
You could also do a Lifting Technician Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, if you want to work with cranes.
These apprenticeships take between 1 and 2 years to complete. They combine training on the job with learning off site.
You'll usually need:
You could start work as a general construction labourer or groundworker to get some on-site experience. Once you're working, your employer may offer you training in plant machinery operations.
It may be possible to apply directly to employers if you've got experience in construction or operating other types of heavy machinery.
Some employers may ask for GCSEs in subjects like English, maths and design and technology.
You can find out more about how to become a construction plant operator from Go Construct.
You could move into construction site supervision, site estimating or work in plant hire and equipment sales.
You might become a supervisor or co-ordinator, with responsibility for choosing the right machinery for jobs and assessing new equipment.