Careers
What is the Building Standards Service?
The role of the service is to ensure the safety of the public and check that buildings are designed in compliance with building regulations.
Is Building Standards for you?
The role of the service is to work with designers, developers and members of the public to ensure that buildings can be used and occupied safely by ensuring that they are designed and built to comply with minimum building regulations requirements.
Site work
You'll be responsible for checking building work on site to ensure the achievement of compliance with minimum standards, in - • small house alterations • new build domestic and non-domestic buildings • high rise and complex high-profile buildings.
A varied working day
Never two days the same - Building standards differs from other surveying roles in that building standards surveyors perform what is essentially an enforcement function, ensuring compliance through the Building Scotland Act 2003.
Learning and Knowledge
Watch Listen Learn - In addition to construction technology, a building standards surveyor requires a full working knowledge of the Building Regulations and associated legislation
Is a Career in Building Standards for you?
What exactly does a building standards surveyor do?
You’d work with members of the public, architects, designers, builders and engineers as they plan and construct building projects ranging from a small house extension to a large-scale development.
You would:
• Assess building plans and specifications to determine compliance with building regulations
• Prepare and issue technical reports to designers and architects
• Work with designers and architects to find the best solutions for their clients
• Visit sites to inspect building work during development
• Liaise with developers and their clients as work progresses
• If a building has been damaged, for example by fire or bad weather, then you would survey the building and advise the owners what they need to do to make it safe. If it cannot be repaired then you would approve its demolition.
You may also on occasion check the safety at public venues like sports grounds, open-air events, cinemas and theatres and authorise entertainment licenses for events in terms of electrical work, structures and fire safety.
If you decide that a building project does not meet regulations, you would work with the applicant to make changes to the plans to ensure the work meets the Scottish building regulations.
You’d work with members of the public, architects, designers, builders and engineers as they plan and construct building projects ranging from a small house extension to a large-scale development.
You would:
• Assess building plans and specifications to determine compliance with building regulations
• Prepare and issue technical reports to designers and architects
• Work with designers and architects to find the best solutions for their clients
• Visit sites to inspect building work during development
• Liaise with developers and their clients as work progresses
• If a building has been damaged, for example by fire or bad weather, then you would survey the building and advise the owners what they need to do to make it safe. If it cannot be repaired then you would approve its demolition.
You may also on occasion check the safety at public venues like sports grounds, open-air events, cinemas and theatres and authorise entertainment licenses for events in terms of electrical work, structures and fire safety.
If you decide that a building project does not meet regulations, you would work with the applicant to make changes to the plans to ensure the work meets the Scottish building regulations.
Do you have an interest in buildings or experience in construction? Looking for a career with a good work/life balance? Discover the path your building standards career could take.
A Video presented by the LABSS Training Director and a Team Leader with the City of Edinburgh Council, Dany Henderson FRICS.
Open this link for an informative look via Skills Development Scotland - A Career in Building Standards
Open this link for an informative look via Skills Development Scotland - A Career in Building Standards
Modern Apprenticeship - Architectural Technology & Building Standards
Modern apprenticeship programme - Building Standards Partnership Course with Fife and UHI/Inverness Colleges - developed in association with the Energy Skills Partnership (ESP) and LABSS
The aim of Modern Apprenticeship programmes is to produce adaptable, multi-skilled staff who can meet the needs of your business in the present and the future.
Employing a Modern Apprentice means making a commitment to invest in their learning and personal development. In return, the Apprentice makes a commitment to work for the benefit of your organisation. This is formalised in an Individual Training Plan, which is signed by all parties.
This Architectural Technology & Building Standards partnership is an entirely on-line course with NO requirement to physically attend either college.
For a generic overview of the Modern Apprenticeship Courses provided for Building Standards Professionals see the attached updated MA booklet which gives lots of information on apprentices at UHI Inverness. This particular course comprises two elements. Delivered by both Fife College where the HNC element is provided and UHI/Inverness College who manage the SVQ element.
Enrolment should be done through UHI Inverness, and they will ensure candidates are fully enrolled on both courses –
Contact Pauline Tuthill - pauline.tuthill.ic@uhi.ac.uk.
Local Authorities should contact Pauline if they wish to place an MA on the course.
There are no other expenses to be met by Local Authorities or candidates for the training element of this partnership course
Enrolment should be done through UHI Inverness, and they will ensure candidates are fully enrolled on both courses –
Contact Pauline Tuthill - pauline.tuthill.ic@uhi.ac.uk.
Local Authorities should contact Pauline if they wish to place an MA on the course.
There are no other expenses to be met by Local Authorities or candidates for the training element of this partnership course
LABSS reflected on the importance of the modern apprenticeship course which was an integral part of the workforce strategy and the continuing need to grow the workforce. The introduction of new staff through the modern apprenticeship pathway is necessary to ensure there are more Building Standards Surveyors in the profession to ensure teams can continue to deliver the service to customers. The work by Energy Skills Partnership and both Fife and Inverness UHI Colleges is appreciated to ensure the course is available to all without distance from a college being a problem for attendance. The course was created as a distance-learning option to remove geographical barriers and enable the apprentices to access the course regardless of their work location. LABSS noted that the success of the MA course ultimately relies on commitment from local authorities.
Graduate Apprenticeship - Study towards a degree in Construction and The Built Environment while in paid, full-time employment
Overview
The purpose of this programme is to produce graduates with the skills, knowledge and behaviours to make a valuable contribution in the professional areas of Building Surveying, Quantity Surveying, Real Estate Surveying and Architectural Technology . Graduates will develop abilities across the core and emerging areas of their chosen degree pathway allowing them to apply their work-based learning in an academic context and to take their University learning into the workplace to make a valuable contribution to the creation, improvement and maintenance of the built environment.
As well as a number of common modules taught in the first and second years, there are specific modules focusing on the core competencies relevant to the individual pathways.
The application of professional skill-sets to solve scenario-based problems on all of the Construction and the Built Environment pathways is key to our work-based learning strategy.
Graduate Apprentices will spend approximately 80% of their time in work and 20% in university, with work based learning projects allowing Graduate Apprentices to attain an honours degree in 4 years, the same time as traditional full-time students.
Study towards a degree in Construction and The Built Environment while in paid, full-time employment
Fees & Funding
Graduate Apprenticeships are fully funded through Scottish Funding Council and Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS), and supported by Skills Development Scotland. Once you have been offered a Graduate Apprenticeship place, you should apply to SAAS for funding, who will pay your tuition fees directly to the university. There are no associated learning costs to the Graduate Apprenticeship employer.
All Graduate Apprenticeship applicants must meet SAAS eligibility and residence conditions to apply. Visit the SAAS website for more information.
Graduate Apprenticeships are fully funded through Scottish Funding Council and Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS), and supported by Skills Development Scotland. Once you have been offered a Graduate Apprenticeship place, you should apply to SAAS for funding, who will pay your tuition fees directly to the university. There are no associated learning costs to the Graduate Apprenticeship employer.
All Graduate Apprenticeship applicants must meet SAAS eligibility and residence conditions to apply. Visit the SAAS website for more information.
Current Building Standards Vacancies
myjobscotland provides access to current building standards vacancies in Scotland. You should also check My World of Work which provides good advice and valued information in your search for a job in Building Standards - start on "Getting a Job" page and search Building Standards. Similarly Linked-in can provide a good source for accessing job vacancies in Building Standards.
This site is a good source of accessing information on potential building standards jobs in Scotland
"Getting a Job"
This site is a good source of accessing information on potential building standards jobs in Scotland
LABSS Ambassadors
Promotion of the building standards profession can be done most effectively by the people in those job roles who can speak from their lived experience. On that basis, an Ambassadors Network has been established with people working in the profession from across Scotland. Ambassadors are taking part in outreach activities with schools, colleges and universities. Further volunteers are welcome to join the network and participate in activities that will raise awareness of what the building standards profession does.
Throughout my undergraduate Building Surveying studies, I was unsure on what I wanted to specialise in when I graduated. During my third year of study at Robert Gordons University, students are encouraged to seek a work placement for a term. The placement requires a number of learning outcomes to be achieved and acts as a great introduction to working within an organisation. I applied and was accepted to undertake a 6 month work placement within the Building Standards team at Aberdeen City Council.
A guest post by Daniel Last, sharing his experience as a Building Standards Ambassador, and his activities highlighting the profession to young people.
Access here for full list of LABSS Ambassadors.
Career Experiences
See for yourselves the enthusiasm of current Building Standards colleagues
A short video of our Training Director Danny Henderson's experiences in Building Standards
Ann-Marie Scollon, Building Standards Surveyor in West Dunbartonshire Council shares her experience of joining the profession.
A guest post by Laura Shanks from Stirling Council’s Building Standards Team
Remote Verification Inspection? This is the prominent question that triggers the most discussion within our building standards team. In recent months our team determined that Remote Verification Inspection (RVI) would be a real time virtual inspection arranged and determined by the case officer, using our existing technology with the ability to invite various parties, record proceedings and share the approved plans on screen. It was the best option to determine reasonable enquiry in the circumstances and ensure the customer was informed efficiently.
As a result of the COVID-19 crisis, local authority building standards teams have had to rethink our traditional site inspection methods and embrace virtual digital technologies.
Remote Verification Inspection? This is the prominent question that triggers the most discussion within our building standards team. In recent months our team determined that Remote Verification Inspection (RVI) would be a real time virtual inspection arranged and determined by the case officer, using our existing technology with the ability to invite various parties, record proceedings and share the approved plans on screen. It was the best option to determine reasonable enquiry in the circumstances and ensure the customer was informed efficiently.
As a result of the COVID-19 crisis, local authority building standards teams have had to rethink our traditional site inspection methods and embrace virtual digital technologies.
An example of a pathway to a career in Building Standards. Hear the experiences of a Senior Building Standards Officer from school, through university to an appointment as a Building Standards Officer.
Before becoming a Building Standards officer I worked for a number of small local Architectural Practice’s for 3 years as a fully qualified Architectural Technologist, with a BSc (Hons) degree from Robert Gordon University, which involved drafting and submitting Planning and Building Warrant drawings and applications on a wide range of small to large Domestic and Non-Domestic proposals. Alongside this work I was also working towards gaining a professional qualification and becoming a member of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists and held an Associate Membership for 2 full years before becoming a Building Standards Officer.
Building Standards
What is Building Standards?
The role of the service is to ensure the safety of the public and check that buildings are designed in compliance with building regulations. The checking process runs from design stage through to construction and completion. The service is provided by each of Scotland’s 32 Local Authorities and they are looking for people to join this exciting profession.
What exactly does a building standards surveyor do?
You’d work with members of the public, architects, designers, builders and engineers as they plan and construct building projects ranging from a small house extension to a large-scale development.
You’d work with members of the public, architects, designers, builders and engineers as they plan and construct building projects ranging from a small house extension to a large-scale development.
The Professional Framework aims to improve the profession by ensuring individuals operate within their level of competence, and have the skills and experience required whilst undertaking the verification role. The result is a sustainable verification service with professionals to meet the demands of the service.
This national Competency Assessment System (CAS) aims to achieve the following objectives:
a) facilitating the greater use of shared resources and expertise with a common understanding of competency
b) improving consistency by having a national basis for measuring the competency of building standards surveyors
c) improving the competency of building standards surveyors
a) facilitating the greater use of shared resources and expertise with a common understanding of competency
b) improving consistency by having a national basis for measuring the competency of building standards surveyors
c) improving the competency of building standards surveyors
Search for information on learning and courses for you
Workforce Strategy
Over the next 3 years, actions from the strategy will assist local authority verifiers to improve their operational resilience, develop entry points for a career into the building standards profession and promote building standards as a rewarding professional career in the public sector.
This strategy is for building standards and for people who want to join the building standards profession and build a career that makes a positive impact on all of our communities.
The aim of the workforce strategy is to have a first class building standards service for customers that is able to respond to future challenges and is sustainable for the long term.
The aim of the workforce strategy is to bring to the fore the importance of having the right blend of skills and experience to carry out their role as a verifier, maintaining and building their capacity and capability to deliver a sustainable service into the future.
This is the third Delivery Status Report for the Workforce Strategy which outlines the progress made on delivery of the five core projects.
Partnership working between Local Authority Building Standards Scotland (LABSS), Building Standards Division (BSD) and other key partners is continuing. Partnership working is ensuring the projects are delivered on-time and in the best interests of verifiers
Partnership working between Local Authority Building Standards Scotland (LABSS), Building Standards Division (BSD) and other key partners is continuing. Partnership working is ensuring the projects are delivered on-time and in the best interests of verifiers
You can access the Closure Report here and the associated Scottish Government Building Standards Division Blog here.
The workforce strategy was designed to be delivered over three years from October 2020 and that period has now ended. A formal closure report is published today highlighting the progress achieved and detailing the work that will continue.
The closure report summarises delivery of the strategy actions across five projects with details on specific outcomes and benefits for all building standards verifiers.
The closure report summarises delivery of the strategy actions across five projects with details on specific outcomes and benefits for all building standards verifiers.