How to Get Into Construction With No Experience: Routes, Cards and First Jobs
Want to know how to get into construction with no experience? Sites across the UK take on first-timers all the time, as long as you turn up with the right card and the right attitude. It’s important to keep an eye on the latest jobs to see what’s out there or circulate your CV so agencies can get in touch when something fits.
At a Glance:
- You need a CSCS card to work on site, and the green Labourer card is the usual first one.
- Getting it means a Level 1 health and safety award, a £23.50 CITB test and a £36 card fee.
- Apprenticeships and Skills Bootcamps let you learn on the job or retrain fast.
- Extra tickets like Slinger/Signaller or Traffic Marshal make you far easier to place.
- Agency work is one of the quickest ways to get your first shifts and build a track record.
Ready to Get Your Boots on Site?
Our local teams help new starters find work across Central and Southern England and South Wales. Register with ITS or get in touch with your nearest office for a chat about where to begin.
Getting Into Construction With No Experience: 4 Steps
- Get your health and safety qualification. Book a Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment, or a CSCS-approved alternative. CSCS says your local college, training provider or Jobcentre Plus can help.
- Pass the CITB test. This is the Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test, often called the “CSCS test”. It’s 50 questions in 45 minutes at a test centre.
- Apply for your card. Download the My CSCS app, upload your certificate and test ID, then pay the fee.
- Target entry-level roles. Register with a construction agency, check job boards and look at apprenticeships in your area.
How to Get a CSCS Card
To get a CSCS card as a beginner, you need to pass the CITB HS&E test, hold a Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment (or an approved alternative), then apply through the My CSCS app and pay £36.
CSCS stands for Construction Skills Certification Scheme. The card proves you’ve been trained to work safely, and CSCS says all construction workers should hold the right one to get on site.
Which card do beginners need?
In our experience most people start with the green Labourer card, which is for unskilled work only. Your first one lasts two years, and if you’re still labouring after that you can renew it for five years with a declaration from your employer.
Land an apprenticeship and you’ll get an Apprentice card instead, which is issued free.
What it costs in 2026
- CITB HS&E test: £23.50
- CSCS card application: £36
- Level 1 Award: prices vary by provider, so ask about funding when you book.
Test day tips
Your test pass must be from the last two years when you apply. Arrive 15 minutes early with a photo ID that shows your signature.
Once approved, your digital card is ready in the app straight away, and the physical card should arrive within five working days.
Other Routes Into Construction Jobs With No Experience
Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship means earning a wage while you train. Foundation apprenticeships are entry-level paid jobs for 16 to 21 year-olds, need no qualifications or experience and typically last eight months.
People aged 22 to 24 can join if they’re a care leaver, have an EHC plan or are in or leaving prison.
Construction and the built environment is one of the sectors covered.
Search live vacancies on GOV.UK and see our Young People in Construction page.
Skills Bootcamps
Skills Bootcamps suit adults looking to retrain. They’re flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, designed with employers in shortage sectors, including construction, and eligible people get a job interview offer at the end. They’re run locally in England, so check with your council for what’s on near you.
ITS Framework CIC
ITS Framework CIC is our not-for-profit arm. It works with contractors before a project starts, trains candidates over roughly two to three months, places them on site, and then keeps them working in skilled roles through ITS afterwards.
Along the way, people pick up tickets like Telehandler, Hoist, Slinger/Signaller and Traffic Marshal. We also work with prisons and resettlement schemes, so it’s a proper leg-up for ex-offenders too.
Entry-Level Construction Jobs in the UK: Where Most People Start
Common first roles include:
- General labourer
- Traffic marshal
- Site cleaner
- Hoist or telehandler operator (once ticketed)
- Apprentice in a trade
Browse our Trades & Labour roles to see what’s typically on offer.
Why agency work is a good way in
Temp work lets you try different sites and trades, earn from week one and build references fast. Do a good week and you’ll usually get the next booking. Keep that up and permanent offers will start coming your way.
What site managers look for in a first-timer
Site managers like to keep it simple with new starters. They want your card in hand, your own safety boots, you turning up on time and listening when you’re shown how things are done. Reliability gets you rebooked.
Start Your Construction Career With ITS
ITS has been helping people into construction since 1973, with 19 offices across Central and Southern England and South Wales.
We place candidates in temporary and permanent roles, and our local consultants know which tickets and cards will get you on site faster.
We help people from all backgrounds, including school leavers, career changers and ex-offenders. Browse current jobs, register with ITS or get in touch, and we’ll help you take the first step.
FAQs
Can I work on a building site without a CSCS card?
In most cases, no. CSCS says construction workers should hold the right card to access site, so most sites won’t let you in without one. Office-based staff who rarely visit site are the main exception.
How long does it take to get into construction with no experience?
If you move quickly, you could be site-ready within a few weeks. Do your Level 1 Award, pass the HS&E test and apply for your card. Your digital card is available as soon as it’s approved.
Am I too old to start a career in construction?
You can start at any age. The Labourer card has no age limit; Skills Bootcamps are built for adults retraining, and agency work gets you earnings while you learn. Foundation apprenticeships are mainly for 16- to 21-year-olds.
Can ex-offenders get construction jobs?
Yes. CITB runs HS&E tests in prisons, and foundation apprenticeships are open to 22- to 24-year-olds in or leaving prison. ITS works with prisons and resettlement schemes to help people into work.
