Where Cardiff's work is
- Cardiff Crossrail, Phase 1. A council cabinet report recommended awarding Stage 2 of the main works to John Graham Construction Ltd, starting in June 2026 and finishing in summer 2028 (Cardiff Council cabinet report, March 2026). The £100m phase links a new station on the south side of Cardiff Central, through Callaghan Square, to Cardiff Bay (Business Live). The report mentions twin tracks through Callaghan Square, sustainable drainage and "complex utility diversions within a constrained corridor", and asks the contractor to maximise social value. Our read: expect civils, drainage, traffic management, track and electrical work, often at night and weekends.
- Lovell's Cardiff and Vale partnership. Lovell has contracts with Cardiff Council and the Vale of Glamorgan Council for about 2,500 homes across 25 developments over 10 years, at least half affordable. It's part of Cardiff Council's plan for more than 4,000 new homes (Lovell).
- Waungron Road, Llandaff. Wates Residential topped out 44 council homes in October 2026 beside Waun-gron Park station, under the Cardiff Living programme. The homes use ground source heat pumps and solar panels (Wates Residential). Our read: low-carbon council housing in Wales makes heat pump and solar PV skills worth having.
Onsite Construction Academy: Cardiff's free route
The academy is funded and run by the council's Into Work Advice Service (Into Work Cardiff).
- Training: re-employment skills, accredited Level 2 safety certificates, the Level 1 health and safety award and the CSCS card qualification. It may also help you get Personal Track Safety (PTS) for rail work.
- Afterwards: introductions to local contractors for jobs and apprenticeships, plus on-site work experience.
- Who: Cardiff residents aged 16+, with no upper age limit, who aren't in full-time education. Jobseekers, career changers and returners are all welcome.
- Apply: call 02920 871 071 or email EmployerLiaison@cardiff.gov.uk.
Our read: for a newcomer, this combination of card, site time and employer contact at no cost is hard to beat in Cardiff.
CITB test centres in and around Cardiff
| Centre (Pearson/CITB listing) | Postcode | Directions (per listing) |
|---|---|---|
| Pearson Professional Centres-UK Cardiff, 1 Caspian Point, Cardiff Bay | CF10 4DQ | Cardiff Bay station, via Lloyd George Avenue |
| Pearson Professional Centres-UK Newport (Gwent), Clarence House | NP19 7AA | Cross Newport Bridge towards Clarence Place |
| Pearson Professional Centres-UK Bridgend, Brackla House | CF31 1BZ | Bridgend station, via Nolton Street |
| Alpha Safety Training - Cardiff (ITC), Dowlais Road, Ocean Way | CF24 5TW | Not given |
Pearson says there's no on-site parking or drop-off at Caspian Point. The Alpha Safety row is from CITB's Internet Test Centre map. Book online, on 0344 994 4488, or in Welsh on 0344 994 4490 (CITB booking). Pearson VUE's CITB finder shows the rest of South Wales.
What the green card takes
No law makes the card compulsory, but CSCS notes that most principal contractors want it (CSCS FAQs). You'll need the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment, which the Onsite academy includes (CSCS), plus a pass in the £23.50 CITB Operatives test, where 45 out of 50 is the pass mark (CITB). The card is £36 in the My CSCS app and is usually processed within 48 hours (CSCS). Renewing after the first two years needs an employer declaration.
Apprenticeships in Wales
Search through Careers Wales, the official Welsh service, rather than the English gov.uk site. Onsite Construction Academy trainees also get links to contractor apprenticeships (Into Work Cardiff). Our read: Lovell's 10-year programme and Cardiff Living give contractors years of work, which makes taking on apprentices more likely, so check their careers pages.
Your first Cardiff site job
- Ring Into Work about the academy. It's free and ends with contractor introductions.
- Ask about PTS. It opens up rail and tram work like Crossrail.
- Register with agencies covering Cardiff and the M4. Take your card, right-to-work share code, references and PPE.
- Be clear on pay. CIS contractors must deduct 20% from each payment, or 30% if you haven't registered (GOV.UK), and self-employed workers don't get holiday pay (GOV.UK).
- Search DWP's Find a Job (jobs.service.gov.uk).
Travelling to Cardiff sites
Crossrail runs between Cardiff Central, Callaghan Square and the Bay. Waungron Road is in Llandaff beside Waun-gron Park station. Lovell's sites are spread across Cardiff and the Vale, so some need a car. Check the journey for a 7am start before you say yes.
Pay
The National Careers Service gives £23,000 to £35,000 a year for a construction labourer on 40 to 44 hours a week. It's an England guide, but a fair benchmark (National Careers Service). We found no official Cardiff figure.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a free CSCS card in Cardiff?
If you're eligible, yes. The council's Onsite Construction Academy offers free training including the Level 1 health and safety award and the CSCS card qualification to Cardiff residents aged 16+ who aren't in full-time education. Call 02920 871 071 (Into Work Cardiff).
Where is the CSCS test centre in Cardiff?
Pearson's Cardiff centre is on the ground floor of 1 Caspian Point, Caspian Way, Cardiff Bay, CF10 4DQ, a walk from Cardiff Bay station (Pearson VUE). Newport and Bridgend are the next nearest Pearson centres.
Who is building Cardiff Crossrail?
A Cardiff Council cabinet report recommended John Graham Construction Ltd for Stage 2 of Phase 1, with work from June 2026 to summer 2028 (Cardiff Council).
What is Personal Track Safety (PTS)?
It's the safety certification for working on or near the railway. Most building sites don't need it, but rail and tram schemes usually do. Cardiff's Onsite Construction Academy says it may be able to help trainees get it (Into Work Cardiff).
Cardiff jobs and upcoming projects
Each of Lovell's 25 developments goes through planning before trades are hired. building-jobs.co.uk shows live construction jobs and upcoming projects in Cardiff, with pages for labouring jobs in Cardiff, groundworks jobs in Cardiff and electrical jobs in Cardiff.
Reviewed 30 October 2026. Council schemes and Welsh funding rules change, so check with Into Work Cardiff or the provider first.
How we research these guides: sources, dates and corrections — read the method.