Free Level 1 Construction Course in Birmingham – University College Birmingham

CostFREE
Duration1 year
LevelLevel 1
DeliveryClassroom based
Start14 Sep 2026
Study modeFull-time
AttendanceDaytime
Awarding bodyCity & Guilds awarding body

About this course

Free Level 1 Construction Skills Course in Birmingham. Classes run full-time at University College Birmingham, with daytime attendance across one year. You'll get hands-on experience across a wide range of trades, including brickwork, carpentry, plastering, painting and decorating, plumbing, and electrical installation. The course also covers sustainable construction and retrofitting homes for energy efficiency, making it a strong starting point for green skills in the industry. English and maths are built into the programme alongside practical work. You'll have an initial assessment to confirm this level 1 construction skills qualification is the right fit for you.

Who this course is for

Do you want to learn a practical trade? Thinking of training to be a builder, plumber, carpenter, electrician or similar occupations, but not sure where to start or which career is right for you? Our Construction Multi-Skills course offers you the ideal introduction to a broad range of different trades and sectors, arming you with a great foundation of technical skills and knowledge while keeping your options wide option for a future specialism.

Our construction multi-trades course enables you to learn everything from brickwork, carpentry and joinery, plastering, painting and decorating to electrical installation and plumbing, giving you valuable training and insight into which area you may want to pursue further for your career. You will also learn important topics for the modern construction industry as a whole, including sustainable construction, green technology, property maintenance and how to retrofit houses to become more energy efficient.

Our state-of-the-art Centre for Sustainable Construction on campus provides the perfect hands-on training ground for you to practise these trades while you study. You will also develop your English and maths skills alongside your practical training, meaning that by the end of your studies, you will be fully equipped to go onto more advanced courses, apprenticeships or careers.

Entry requirements

Please refer to the University College Birmingham course page for specific entry requirements.

What you will learn

  • You'll practise core brickwork and masonry techniques.
  • You'll develop carpentry and joinery skills in a hands-on setting.
  • You'll learn plastering techniques used in residential and commercial construction.
  • You'll explore painting and decorating methods and surface preparation.
  • You'll get an introduction to plumbing and electrical installation.
  • You'll study sustainable construction, including green technology and energy-efficient retrofitting.
  • You'll develop your English and maths skills alongside your trade training.

How you will learn

You'll learn through practical, hands-on sessions in a dedicated construction training facility on campus. Classroom-based teaching covers the theory behind each trade. Assessment is through a combination of practical tasks and written work. You'll build a portfolio of evidence as you progress through the course.

What you will need to bring

The centre will provide most materials. University College Birmingham will confirm anything else you need before you start.

Where next

Jobs you could do

  • Trainee carpenter: entry-level site work after completing a level 1 construction skills course
  • Trainee plasterer: groundwork roles in residential and commercial plastering
  • Trainee painter and decorator: interior and exterior decorating work
  • Trainee bricklayer: foundational construction and masonry roles
  • Property maintenance operative: general repairs and upkeep in housing
  • Construction labourer: site support across a range of trades

What you could study next

  • Level 2 Diploma in Site Carpentry: go deeper into carpentry and joinery if that's the trade you want to pursue.
  • Level 2 Diploma in Plastering: specialist training for a career in plastering.
  • Level 2 Diploma in Painting and Decorating: the next step if decorating is your focus.
  • A construction apprenticeship: combine paid work with further study in your chosen trade.

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