Getting Into Construction as an Adult: Courses, Routes and Where to Start

You can get into construction as an adult, and you do not need experience to start. The main routes are an entry-level construction course, an apprenticeship (which is open to all ages), or starting as a labourer and training on the job. Many people successfully change careers into construction later in life.

No. Construction is one of the most accessible industries to move into at any age. There is no upper age limit, and the sector actively needs new people, so employers are used to taking on career changers and training them up. What matters far more than your age is a willingness to learn, reliability, and a practical attitude.

Plenty of people move into construction in their thirties, forties and beyond, whether they are leaving an office job, returning to work, or looking for something more hands-on. The routes in are designed to get you site-ready without needing years of prior study.

Not to begin with. Many people start in construction with no experience and no formal qualifications, usually in a labouring role, and build up from there. To get on site you need a CSCS card and a pass in the CITB Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test, both of which you can complete in a short space of time. The Green Labourer card is a starting point rather than the end goal, so most people use it to get on site and then train towards a trade qualification.

From there, you can train towards a trade qualification while you work. For more on what the industry expects, see our guides to what qualifications you need to work in construction and which CSCS card you need.

Entry-level construction course:

A short college or training-provider course that introduces basic site skills and health and safety. This is a good first step if you want to test the water before committing.

Apprenticeship:

Apprenticeships are open to adults, not just school leavers. They combine paid work with training towards a recognised qualification, so you earn while you learn. This is one of the most effective routes for career changers.

Start as a labourer:

Get your CSCS Green card and health and safety test, start in a labouring role, and train towards a trade while you work. Many skilled tradespeople began exactly this way.

Retraining and career-change courses:

Trade-specific courses in areas such as bricklaying, carpentry or groundworks can give you focused, hands-on skills to move into a particular trade.

There are construction courses for adults at every level, from complete beginner to trade qualification. The most common starting points are:

• The Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment, which is the qualification behind the CSCS Green card and one of the quickest ways to get site-ready.
• First aid and short site-skills courses, which build the practical basics employers look for.
• NVQs in a chosen trade, usually gained through an apprenticeship or while working on site, which lead to the skilled worker cards.

Some adult courses are free or funded depending on your circumstances, age and where you live, so it is worth asking your local college or training provider what support is available.

If you are in Liverpool or across Merseyside, Wirral or North Wales and thinking about a move into construction, the most practical first step is a health and safety course and a CSCS card, followed by hands-on training in your chosen area. Training locally means you can build your skills while staying close to where the work is.

The DT Hughes Training Academy in Aintree was built to help people get qualified and site-ready, from CSCS training and first aid through to the technical skills the industry needs, backed by over 40 years of real industry experience and a long history of training people up from the start. If you are ready to explore a career in construction, take a look at current opportunities with DT Hughes, or contact us today to talk through where you could start.