Construction Materials Technician Apprenticeship (Level 3) - Balfour Beatty

Description

Location: North Hykeham, Lincoln, LN5 9ED

Expected Start Date: ASAP

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 116 years redefining excellence and setting the industry benchmark with every project.

The North Hykeham project will deliver an eight-kilometre dual carriageway linking the A46 Pennells Roundabout to the Lincoln Eastern Bypass, alongside two new bridges at Station Road and over the River Witham.

Balfour Beatty is seeking a dynamic apprentice materials technician to join their materials team and contribute to the building of the project.

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 £26,000
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Monday to Friday, 7:30am – 6:00pm
• 42 hours per week
• Occasional weekend work requirement (paid as overtime)
• 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.

Key Responsibilities

As a Construction Materials Technician Apprentice, you’ll be working with Balfour Beatty on the North Hykeham Bypass project - helping to improve the road network around Lincoln and shape the future of sustainable construction practices in the UK.

Summary of duties:

• Carry out testing on construction materials such as concrete, aggregates, cement, grout, and admixtures in line with industry standards.
  Support the improvement and trial of materials to achieve optimum performance for construction use.
• Assist in introducing new technologies and methods to modernise testing processes and improve efficiency.
• Develop knowledge of testing techniques, including non-destructive testing (NDT), and how they are applied in practice.
• Follow strict quality procedures to support UKAS accreditation and ensure compliance with BS EN ISO 17025 standards.
• Work collaboratively with the team to maintain high standards of safety, quality, and performance across the project.

About You

You’re someone who enjoys being out on site and part of real-world projects, rather than sitting behind a desk. Working outdoors, travelling between locations, and being involved in construction environments appeals to you - you like seeing how things are built and playing a role in making sure they’re done properly.

You’re practical, reliable, and detail-focused. You take pride in following procedures accurately, whether that’s measuring materials, carrying out tests, or recording results. You understand that quality and safety matter, especially in a busy site environment, and you’re comfortable working to clear standards and deadlines without cutting corners.

You learn best by doing and enjoy hands-on work using equipment and tools. You’re confident with basic maths and recording data, and you stay calm and focused even when working around machinery or in fast-paced environments. You’re happy working independently once trained, but also communicate clearly with site teams to ensure work is completed safely and correctly.

You’re motivated by being part of something tangible - contributing to projects like roads, buildings, and infrastructure - and you’re keen to build a long-term career in the construction or materials testing industry.

Please note: You must be 18+ due to the nature of the working environment and a full UK manual driving licence is required for this role.

Apprenticeship Eligibility

To apply for this apprenticeship, you must:
✔️ Be 18 or over
✔️ Not be in full-time education
✔️ Have lived in the UK for at least 3 years
✔️ Have the right to work in the UK

Apprenticeships are designed to provide new knowledge, skills and behaviours, so applicants should not already hold a Level 3, degree or higher qualification in a closely related subject, or have significant experience in the same field.

If you’re unsure whether you meet the criteria, we’d still love to hear from you - get in touch and we can advise you further.

So how does the apprenticeship work?

Start your career as a materials technician and gain hands-on experience supporting real testing and analysis in a laboratory or technical environment.

As part of this Level 3 Materials Technician apprenticeship, you’ll learn how to carry out tests, analyse data, and contribute to important projects, whether that’s in a laboratory or a more practical, site-based environment.

👉 Learn more about the programme here.

Over 20 months, you’ll combine day-to-day experience in your role with structured training delivered by expert tutors at Tiro. Our blended learning approach includes a mix of online sessions, in-person training, and hands-on support, alongside guidance from a dedicated mentor in the workplace.

You’ll spend at least 6 hours per week on off-the-job training, including virtual learning, practical activities, and applied assignments.

What your training will look like:You’ll follow a structured programme combining live sessions, online learning, and hands-on workplace training to build your skills step by step.

What could your future look like?

This apprenticeship will help you build the skills and experience needed to start your career as a materials technician and progress within the industry.

Through hands-on training, you’ll develop the competence and confidence to carry out laboratory testing and take on increasing responsibility in your role. This programme can also lead to professional recognition, such as becoming a Registered Science Technician (RSciTech).

You’ll gain experience that’s valued across a wide range of technical and scientific roles, opening up opportunities to grow and specialise in your chosen field.

If you choose to continue your development, you may also have the opportunity to progress onto higher-level qualifications, such as degree apprenticeships in Materials or Chemistry. We’re Tiro (pronounced Tea-ro — white, two sugars).

In Latin, it means novice, recruit, apprentice, beginner, and soldier — the perfect name for a company that’s been helping fearless apprentices join ambitious businesses since 2005.

We believe great apprenticeships help everyone. There are remarkable apprentices out there just waiting to be found, and fantastic employers waiting to nurture them.

We’re proud to help connect the two — supporting industries that make, test, and innovate; from polymer manufacturing and materials science to sustainable engineering and advanced technology.

At Tiro, we make great things happen for people.
And that starts with you.