How to get construction work in Edinburgh: Granton and more

Who's building in Edinburgh

• Granton Waterfront, north Edinburgh. Work began on 7 October 2026 on 847 net zero homes, 387 of them affordable, plus 14 commercial units and a new primary school. Cruden is the council's development partner. It's the first phase of a £1.3bn plan for 3,500 homes and Scotland's largest coastal park (City of Edinburgh Council). The council says it wants local young people to gain construction skills and qualifications on site.
• The council's new-build framework. Lot 1 of a four-year framework worth around £350m went live in March 2026, as part of a record £1.6bn housebuilding pledge and an ambition for 25,000 affordable homes (City of Edinburgh Council). The Lot 1 contractors are (Construction News, March 2026):
  • 1 to 30 homes: Fleming Buildings, A.S. Homes and Campion Homes.
  • 31 to 100 homes: CCG, McTaggart, Cruden and Robertson.
  • 100+ homes: CCG, Cruden, Ogilvie and McTaggart.
• Long-term need. The council cites an assessment showing need for 36,000 to 52,000 new homes in Edinburgh between 2021 and 2040, of which 24,000 to 35,000 should be affordable (same framework release).

Our read: that contractor list is your target list. Most of Edinburgh's council-funded homes in the next few years will be built by those firms and their subcontractors.

Where to sit the CITB test in and near Edinburgh

Drivers are pointed to Q-Park Omni or St James Quarter, five minutes' walk from Union Street. Advance Training in Livingston is on CITB's ITC map. Book with CITB on 0344 994 4488 or online, or compare Scottish dates on Pearson VUE.

The Scottish route to a green card

Main contractors in Edinburgh will usually want a card, even though CSCS says no law requires one (CSCS FAQs). In Scotland the qualification for the green Labourer card is the SCQF Level 4 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment (CSCS). Pair it with CITB's Operatives test, which costs £23.50 (CITB), then pay £36 in the My CSCS app (CSCS). The first card lasts two years.

Construction courses in Edinburgh

• Edinburgh College, Introduction to Construction (SCQF Level 4, full time). Offered at the Granton campus among others, it covers carpentry and joinery, painting and decorating and plasterwork, along with health and safety and tool skills. The college encourages, but doesn't require, a work placement, and the course leads on to trade-specific study (Edinburgh College).
• Granton Waterfront Construction Pathway. Edinburgh College runs it with local schools and Cruden, giving pupils and students hands-on experience and a route into apprenticeships. When the council reported on it, 264 S3 pupils, 195 S4 pupils and 307 full-time college students were taking part (City of Edinburgh Council).

Ask the college about funding before paying a private provider.

Modern apprenticeships in Edinburgh

Search apprenticeships.scot, Scotland's official service for Modern and Foundation Apprenticeships, rather than the English site. The framework contractors (CCG, Cruden, McTaggart, Robertson and the rest) all build in the city, so check their careers pages for apprentice intakes. If you're at school in north Edinburgh, ask about the Construction Pathway, which is designed to lead to apprenticeships. The council also notes that part of the Scottish Government's backing for Granton, up to £2.1m a year over 20 years, depends on delivering construction skills training for local secondary pupils (City of Edinburgh Council).

Breaking in with no experience

1. Get the SCQF Level 4 award and your card, through a college course or a funded provider.
2. Contact the framework contractors and their subcontractors. New council schemes will go to the firms listed above.
3. Register with agencies covering Edinburgh and the Lothians, with your card, right-to-work share code, references and PPE.
4. Understand CIS. Subcontractors registered under the scheme have 20% taken off; others lose 30% (GOV.UK).
5. Browse Find a Job for Lothian employers.

Getting around Edinburgh

Granton Waterfront and Edinburgh College's Granton campus are in north Edinburgh, on the Firth of Forth. The Union Street test centre is a short walk from the Picardy Place tram stop. Check the first bus before agreeing to a 7:30am start.

Earnings

There's no official Scottish labourer figure that we could find. England's National Careers Service range of £23,000 to £35,000 gives a rough comparison. Get apprentice and agency rates in writing.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I sit the CITB test in Edinburgh?

Pearson's Edinburgh centre is at Suite 1, 2nd floor, Cairncross House, 25 Union Street, EH1 3LR. From the Picardy Place tram stop, head towards Leith Walk and take the first left down Union Street (Pearson VUE).

What qualification do I need for a CSCS card in Scotland?

You need the SCQF Level 4 health and safety award plus a pass in CITB's Operatives test (CSCS). Then apply for the £36 card.

Who is building Granton Waterfront?

Cruden is the City of Edinburgh Council's development partner for the 847-home first phase, which started on 7 October 2026. It's part of a £1.3bn plan for 3,500 homes on the waterfront (City of Edinburgh Council).

Does Edinburgh College offer construction courses?

Yes. Its full-time SCQF Level 4 Introduction to Construction, offered at Granton and other campuses, covers carpentry and joinery, painting and decorating and plasterwork, and leads on to trade courses (Edinburgh College).

Edinburgh jobs and projects

Framework schemes appear as planning applications before trades are hired. building-jobs.co.uk tracks live construction jobs and upcoming projects in Edinburgh, with labouring jobs in Edinburgh, carpentry jobs in Edinburgh and plastering jobs in Edinburgh.

Facts checked 30 October 2026. Course intakes and council schemes in Edinburgh change, so confirm with the college, CITB or the contractor first.