CITB promotes 24-month demolition operative apprenticeship with employer webinars

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has launched a push to recruit demolition contractors to its 24-month Demolition Operative Apprenticeship, delivered by the National Construction College (NCC), with two employer webinars scheduled for October and November.

CITB said on 5 October that demand for skilled demolition operatives and plant operators continues to grow, and that the programme was developed in partnership with industry.

Apprentices work towards a Level 2 Demolition Operative qualification. According to CITB, they hold a Red CCDO Apprentice Card while training and move on to a Blue CCDO Demolition/Refurbishment Card once they pass their End Point Assessment.

The programme

The apprenticeship combines workplace experience with 18 weeks of face-to-face training spread across the 24 months, CITB said. The course page gives the location as Bircham in Norfolk and lists continuous start dates.

Progress is tracked through the Aptem learning platform, with regular reviews from Apprenticeship Development Coaches, according to CITB.

Training covers health and safety legislation, demolition procedures and methods, hand and power tools, soft strip and strip-out, recycling and waste management, fuel and gas cutting, and demolition planning. It also includes lifting operations and demolition plant, including demolition robots and MEWPs, CITB said.

CITB's course page sets entry requirements at GCSE grades 3 to 9, or equivalent, in maths and English. The course page also lists Level 1 Functional Skills, working towards Level 2, with apprentices required to take the test. CITB said apprenticeship grants are available to eligible employers.

The standard behind it

Although CITB's announcement describes the apprenticeship as new, the underlying Level 2 Demolition Operative standard (ST0615) is an established occupational route. Skills England lists it with a typical duration of 24 months and a maximum funding band of £18,000, and describes the role as the entry-level route into the demolition industry.

The standard says demolition operatives demolish or part-demolish structures ranging from standard brick and concrete buildings to bridges, industrial plants and power stations.

Employers involved in creating the standard include Erith Contractors Ltd, Keltbray, Armac, Bromley Demolition, Lawson Demolition, Dalton, Cantilion, Rye Demolition, Squibb and Wring Demolition, according to Skills England.

The skills context

CITB describes itself as the employer-led and funded skills and standards body for construction in Great Britain. Its NCC delivers training from apprenticeships for new entrants through to specialist and commercial courses for experienced professionals.

The recruitment drive sits against CITB's own Construction Workforce Outlook, which forecasts that an average of 41,200 extra construction workers will be needed each year between 2026 and 2030. CITB said the figure reflects the need to support growth in construction activity, replace workers leaving the industry and sustain overall workforce levels. The outlook covers the UK, the devolved nations and nine English regions.

What happens next

CITB is holding two online briefings for employers interested in taking on a demolition apprentice. The first Demolition Apprenticeship Webinar runs on 13 October from 11am to 11.45am, and the second on 11 November from 4pm to 4.45pm.