Balfour Beatty, one of the UK's largest construction and infrastructure companies, recruits apprentices across the whole of the UK — from electrician and plant maintenance to civil engineering, quantity surveying and digital engineering. You earn while you learn, your college fees are paid, and you apply directly through the Balfour Beatty early careers site.
The quick facts
| Who | Balfour Beatty |
| What | Paid apprenticeships across construction, engineering and business roles |
| Where | UK-wide, on live infrastructure and building projects |
| Who can apply | School leavers and career changers, 16+ (requirements vary by scheme) |
| Cost | Free — salary plus funded qualifications |
| Apply | Balfour Beatty early careers |
What construction apprenticeships are on offer?
Balfour Beatty's apprenticeship programme covers far more than the trades people usually picture. Their published scheme list includes:
- Electrician — one of the most searched apprenticeships in the UK, and a trade with a genuine skills shortage.
- Civil and mechanical engineering — work on major infrastructure while studying.
- Construction management and quantity surveying — the office-and-site side of the industry, with clear routes to senior roles.
- Digital engineering, IT, data and software support — construction is now a tech industry too.
- Highways maintenance, plant maintenance, planning, procurement, finance and business support — the roles that keep huge projects running.
How to get a construction apprenticeship
- Look at the live schemes on the Balfour Beatty apprenticeships page and pick the discipline that fits you.
- Check the entry requirements — trade and Level 2/3 schemes typically ask for GCSEs; higher and degree schemes ask for more.
- Apply online and be ready for assessments or an interview. Show reliability and genuine interest — that's what site managers hire for.
- Don't wait for a perfect moment — construction apprenticeships open in waves through the year, and the big intakes go fast.
How long does a construction apprenticeship take?
Most run between two and four years depending on the trade and level. An electrician apprenticeship is typically around four years; some construction operative and support roles are shorter. You're employed and paid for the whole time.
Why construction, and why now?
The UK has a well-documented construction skills shortage, which means employers are competing for apprentices — good news for you on pay and job security. Around 1,900 people a month search for construction apprenticeships, and electrician apprenticeships alone get searched over 8,000 times a month.
Not near a Balfour Beatty project? Search live construction roles on Shine, or read our construction apprenticeships guide for every route in.
We checked the Balfour Beatty early careers page on the day this article was published.