Design and construction management (degree)
- Level
- 6
- Typical duration
- 48 months (about 4 years)
- Max funding band
- £18,000
- Route
- Construction and the built environment
Leading, managing and coordinating the design and/or construction process on building and infrastructure projects.
About the role
This occupation is found in the construction industry. Design and Construction Managers are based in a design studio, office or on a construction site. They work for small or large organisations within a design or construction project team. The broad purpose of the occupation is the leadership, management and coordination of the design and/or construction process on building and infrastructure projects, acting as the link between designers (i.e. architects, engineers) construction teams and project stakeholders. The role can encompass overseeing internal and external design consultants, controlling the development of the design concept and translating this into the final building or installation. In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with the project team, such as bid management, estimating, pre-construction management, project planning and programming. On-site, this role is more construction information focused, maintaining and co-ordinating the flow of design information to enable construction work to proceed efficiently, as well as facilitating cost control and the buildability review processes. An employee in this occupation will develop design proposals, which meet the requirements of the project brief, managing the design information and translating it to construction teams on site. They will ensure that potential risks have been taken into account in all designs and that health and safety regulations have been adhered to and will help to ensure that the project is completed to the specification outlined in the design and to agreed parameters of cost and programme, which may sometime require adherence to statutory consents and legislation. They will ensure the project has minimal impact on the environment and the local community and that sustainability objectives are realised, for the life cycle of the project, managing interfaces between the various stakeholders associated with the design and construction process. Assisting in contract administration and compliance for the project, they will ultimately contribute to the management of project handover and completion to the customer/client, and be instrumental in recording feedback from stakeholders leading to the implementation of best practice in future projects.
How it compares
At 48 months (about 4 years), it is longer than average for a degree-level apprenticeship (the average across all 172 Level 6+ standards is 39 months).
The funding band — the maximum an employer's levy can contribute to training costs — is £18,000, below the £21,500 average for degree-level standards. Apprentices never pay tuition either way.
Typical job titles
- Architectural Technologist
- Design Manager
- Building Information Modelling (BIM) Manager
- Construction Design Manager
What you'll learn
The official standard defines 11 knowledge areas, 11 skills, 7 behaviours. This is the actual assessed content of the apprenticeship — worth reading before an interview, because competency questions are usually written straight from these lists.
Knowledge 11
- K1: Design Procedures: Know how to identify, assess and challenge client requirements and user factors, evaluate resources and assess environmental impact.
- K2: Health and Safety: Know how to identify, control and mitigate hazards and risks and incorporate health and safety considerations into design at an early stage and ensure compliance with associated regulations.
- K3: Regulations: Know how to assess and advise on regulatory and legal requirements and constraints, including Construction Design and Management (CDM) Regulations and Building Regulations.
- K4: Project Brief: Know how to prepare, present and agree proposals for client briefs and develop design programmes to meet the requirements of the brief.
- K5: Project Management: Know how to select and form a design team and agree responsibilities and processes prior to construction and monitor design team's working methods during construction, including the preparation of design and construction programmes.
- K6: Teamwork: Understand the importance of working in teams and how to lead others towards common goals. Know how to develop and maintain relationships with other stakeholders.
- K7: Design Documentation: Know how to create and manage design information and the control of documentation associated with design.
- K8: Construction Technology: Know how to evaluate and select materials, components and systems. To be able to generate design solutions and plan associated construction activities.
- K9: Procurement: Know how to select from various procurement methods and contracts, understanding their relative merits.
- K10: Value Management: Understand and be a practitioner of value management including value engineering so that the project's value for money is maximised.
- K11: Risk Management: Understand the nature of risk and its effect on the management of a project.
Skills 11
- S1 Client and User Requirements: Be able to identify and assess client and user requirements and conduct feasibility studies so that the design reflects client needs.
- S2 Sustainability: Be able to identify, assess and manage sustainable solutions to client requirements and minimise environmental impact of project over building lifecycle.
- S3 Health and Safety: Be able to identify, assess and manage hazards and risks throughout the project lifecycle.
- S4 Project Management: Be able to select, form and manage the project team and agree responsibilities and processes.
- S5 Regulations: Be able to assess, advise and meet statutory regulations and legal constraints.
- S6 Design Development: Be able to prepare, present and agree proposals for project briefs, make recommendations, develop programmes and develop detailed designs for construction.
- S7 Specifications and Information Management: Be able to identify and prepare detailed designs and manage the project model (BIM), including integrating, evaluating and recommending changes.
- S8 Tenders and Contracts: Be able to select and evaluate tenders, choose and agree appropriate specialist contractors and control contractual compliance during construction.
- S9 Value Management: Be able to work with the project team to enhance value and/or reduce costs while meeting the project brief.
- S10 Risk Management: Be able to identify, assess and manage threats and hazards while optimising project opportunities.
- S11 Project Handover: Be able to manage project handover and completion and assemble operations and Maintenance Manuals for the building's end users.
Behaviours 7
- B1: Exercise Professional Judgement: Be able to work within own level of competence and know when to seek advice from others and when to be able to advise clients.
- B2: Demonstrate Commitment to Code of Ethics: Work within the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technology™s, Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) or equivalent professional body's code of conduct and demonstrate integrity and professionalism in all activities.
- B3: Innovation: Focus on areas for process improvement and learn from innovative solutions. Challenge current practice and be open minded about how to improve and implement a new way of working.
- B4: Collaboration: Understand the existence of team dynamics and application of personal strengths and weaknesses in group situations. Awareness of collaborative frameworks and contract / organisational level of collaboration.
- B5: Teamworking and communication: Be able to work with others towards common goals and understand different techniques for communication and negotiation.
- B6: Client care: Demonstrate knowledge and ability to manage expectations and identify improvements.
- B7: Maintain CPD: Identify own development needs and take appropriate action to meet those needs. Use own knowledge and expertise for the benefit of others.
Live vacancies
1 live vacancy for this course right now:
-
Architectural Technologist - Apprentice
Bptw LLP · London (SE10 9QX) · £23,000 a year
Closes in 7 days (Friday 31 July 2026 at 11:59pm) · starts 7 September 2026
Live adverts from the government's Find an apprenticeship service, checked 2026-07-24. Closing dates move fast — apply on the official service.
Universities registered to deliver it
4 universities are on the government provider register for this standard. Registration means they can deliver it — live vacancies depend on employer partnerships each recruitment cycle.
- London South Bank University
- Sheffield Hallam University
- University of Greater Manchester
- University of Lancashire
Featured programmes
Related courses in Construction and the built environment
Architect (integrated degree)
Working on the design of new buildings and the redesign of existing buildings.
Architectural assistant (integrated degree)
Working with Architects and other professionals such as Engineers, to design buildings and deliver architectural projects.
Building control surveyor (integrated degree)
Providing an impartial, independent and accountable third party service to confirm that building work achieves compliance with minimum standards.
Building services engineer
Official sources
- Official standard page (Skills England)
- Registered training providers (Find apprenticeship training)
Occupational summary, duties, knowledge, skills and behaviours reproduced from the ST0044 apprenticeship standard (last updated 2023-02-16) — contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Always check the official page before applying: standards get revised.