New General Builder Apprenticeship: what it means for SME building firms

Small building firms often need people who can turn their hand to different tasks on site. But apprenticeship training has traditionally focused on individual trades, which doesn't always reflect the way smaller building companies work.

That's about to change. The new Level 2 General Builder Apprenticeship has now been officially published by Skills England, marking a major milestone for SME builders and construction training in England. The first training providers are expected to offer the apprenticeship from March 2027, with a wider rollout planned for September 2027.

Developed with SME employers, it will give apprentices fundamental skills across four areas – bricklaying, carpentry, plastering, and painting. For builders working across extensions, renovations and other smaller projects, it offers a training route designed with the realities of their sites in mind.

Why do SME builders need a General Builder Apprenticeship?

Traditional construction apprenticeships provide an important route into individual trades such as bricklaying and carpentry. But for a small building company, taking on an apprentice who is training in just one trade may not always make practical sense.

On an extension or renovation, for example, you may need someone who can develop the skills to work on timber structures and brickwork, then help with plastering and decorating as the project progresses.

SME builders have long called for a broader apprenticeship that better reflects this way of working. The General Builder Apprenticeship Standard has been developed to meet that need, giving apprentices fundamental skills across several areas so they can become useful across more of the work a small building company undertakes.

For employers, that could make taking on an apprentice a more practical and flexible option, while giving apprentices a broad multi-skilled introduction to building from which to develop their construction career.

What will a General Builder apprentice learn?

The Level 2 apprenticeship will develop skills in four key areas:

• Bricklaying
• Carpentry
• Plastering
• Painting

The aim isn't to train someone as a specialist in four separate trades. Instead, apprentices will become multi-skilled to an introductory level, alongside developing the wider knowledge and behaviours needed to work effectively on a construction site.

For the apprentice, experiencing several areas of construction can help them understand where their strengths and interests lie before potentially progressing into higher-level or more specialised training.

Designed around the needs of SME builders

The approval of the General Builder Apprenticeship is a significant milestone for us and the SME employers who have worked hard to make it happen.

FMB members have played a leading role through the Occupational Group (formerly known as a Trailblazer Group), bringing their experience as employers to the development of the standard and helping to ensure it reflects the skills small building firms actually need.

Annie Summun of FMB member Kisiel Ltd has led the development of the new apprenticeship as Chair of the Occupational Group.

Having led the development on the new General Builder Apprenticeship Standard, it is hugely rewarding to see this standard now available for small and medium-sized employers to train young people and career changers. It is the culmination of many hours of discussion to ensure that it would be fit for purpose, and I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the process.”

Annie Summun, Chair of the Occupational Group

The need for a broader apprenticeship route isn't new. A General Builder Apprenticeship was one of the recommendations in our Trading Up report, which looked at how collaboration could help increase construction apprenticeships and ensure training better meets employers' needs.

Seeing the new standard approved is therefore a real achievement for the employers who have helped shape it and an important step towards giving SME builders greater choice in how they train and develop their workforce.

Interested in using the new General Builder Apprenticeship?

The next step is for colleges and other training providers to offer the apprenticeship so employers and apprentices can access it.

Many colleges providing construction training may already have relevant teaching expertise and facilities across the skills included in the new apprenticeship.

If it sounds suitable for your business, here's what you can do:

1. Think about the skills your business needs. Would an apprentice with fundamental skills across several areas of general building suit the projects you undertake?
2. Speak to your local construction college or training provider. Ask whether they plan to offer the new Level 2 General Builder Apprenticeship.
3. Tell them you're interested. Even if they don't offer it yet, enquiries from local builders can help demonstrate employer demand.
4. Consider how you could support an apprentice. Think about the work they could experience and who could support and supervise their development.
5. Find out more about taking on an apprentice. Read our Ultimate guide to construction apprenticeships for more on employing and supporting an apprentice.

We will continue to support the introduction of the new apprenticeship and share further information with members as it becomes available.

Supporting the next generation of builders

SME building firms play an essential role in developing the construction workforce. To help more of them take on apprentices, training needs to reflect the work they actually do.

We're proud that FMB members have helped turn the need for a broader, more flexible apprenticeship into a new training route for the industry.

The General Builder Apprenticeship is an important step towards making apprenticeship training work better for SME builders, providing broader fundamental skills for apprentices and greater flexibility for employers.

Find out more about our work to improve skills and training in the construction industry →