Leicester's current schemes
- Stocking Farm, north-west Leicester. The council has contracted Clegg Construction for an £18.8m redevelopment (Leicester City Council, 26 October 2026):
- 50 energy-efficient council homes, work on five maisonettes, six supported living flats in the 19th-century farmhouse and 16 extra-care apartments.
- Site preparation and demolition began in October 2026. The homes are due to start early in 2027, with everything complete by mid-2028.
- Lanesborough Road and Austin Rise. Mercer Building Solutions won a £12,547,715 contract for 45 affordable council homes, with estimated dates of 17 August 2026 to 16 April 2028. Geda Construction, Lovell Partnerships and Torsion Construction also bid (Find a Tender, July 2026).
- National funding. The 28 October 2026 Budget provided an extra £1.5bn for around 10,000 social and affordable homes in England, prioritised for Social Rent and especially council homes (GOV.UK, Budget 2026).
Our read: with both contracts running into 2028, trades hired on them could get close to two years' work. Traditional housing builds like these suit bricklayers, groundworkers, carpenters, roofers and labourers. The losing bidders are active in the region too, so they're worth a call.
Leicester test centres
| Test venue (as Pearson or CITB name it) | Postcode | How to find it (from the listing) |
|---|---|---|
| Pearson Professional Centres-UK Leicester, Rutland Centre, 56 Halford Street | LE1 1TQ | From the Clock Tower along Gallowtree Gate, left into Halford Street; next to the Curve |
| Keith Cook Training Limited (ITC), Springfield Farm, Oaks in Charnwood | LE12 9YA | Not given |
| Pearson Professional Centres-UK Nottingham, Chiltern House, Castle Gate | NG1 7AR | Up Lister Gate from the Broadmarsh, then along Castle Gate |
| Pearson Professional Centres-UK Coventry, 9 Little Park Street | CV1 2UR | A short walk from Coventry station |
Keith Cook Training appears on CITB's map of Internet Test Centres. Phone CITB on 0344 994 4488 or book online, and turn up a quarter of an hour early with photo ID. Other Midlands slots show on Pearson VUE's search.
Leicester labourers: the card
Start with the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment, the qualification CSCS asks labourers for (CSCS). Next comes the CITB Operatives test, which costs £23.50 and has a pass mark of 45 out of 50 (CITB). Finally, the card itself is £36 through the My CSCS app, and CSCS warns against paying anyone more (CSCS).
Expect two years from a first Labourer card; renewal then depends on an employer vouching for you (CSCS). The law doesn't demand the card, yet main contractors generally do (CSCS FAQs).
Leicester College and free Level 2s
Leicester College teaches construction from Level 1 to Level 5, with T Levels for school leavers. You can start on a multi-trade Level 1 and then specialise in brickwork, plastering, carpentry and joinery, electrical installation, painting and decorating, plumbing, heating and gas, or general on-site construction. The college also runs construction apprenticeships and arranges site visits through its trade links (Leicester College).
Free Level 2s. The government's free courses for jobs offer covers a Level 2 in construction for over-19s who are out of work or paid below £25,750. If you're on Universal Credit, you may be able to study full time for as long as 16 weeks without losing your claim (GOV.UK). Leicester College can say which of its courses are covered.
Apprenticeships around Leicester
Leicester College works with employers on construction apprenticeships (Leicester College). Search gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship for Leicester and Leicestershire vacancies. Foundation apprenticeships are aimed at people without experience and open to anyone aged 16 to 21 (apprenticeships.gov.uk). Our read: contractors on two-year council schemes are well placed to take on an apprentice, so ask Clegg and Mercer directly.
Starting out with no experience
- Ask Jobcentre Plus whether it can fund your Level 1 course and test.
- Find out who holds the groundworks and brickwork packages on the Clegg and Mercer sites, and contact those subcontractors.
- Register with agencies covering Leicester and the M1/M69, with your card, right-to-work share code, references and PPE.
- Read the payslip terms. A CIS contractor keeps back 20% for tax, rising to 30% for unregistered workers (GOV.UK), and self-employed work carries no paid holiday (GOV.UK).
- Try the government's Find a Job site for smaller Leicestershire builders.
Getting to Leicester sites
The Halford Street centre is close to the Clock Tower in the city centre. Stocking Farm is in the north-west of the city. Check the first bus before accepting a 7:30am start.
What labourers earn
No official figure exists for Leicester alone. Nationally for England, the National Careers Service puts labourers between £23,000 and £35,000 on a 40 to 44 hour week.
Frequently asked questions
Which address do I go to for the CITB test in Leicester?
Suite 3A, Third Floor, Rutland Centre, 56 Halford Street, LE1 1TQ, next to the Curve theatre and opposite The Exchange café (Pearson VUE).
Is any Leicester construction training free?
If you're 19 or over and unemployed or earning below £25,750, you can get a Level 2 construction qualification free in England (GOV.UK). Leicester College can tell you which courses qualify.
Who is building the Stocking Farm homes?
Clegg Construction, under an £18.8m contract from Leicester City Council, with the homes due to start early in 2027 (Leicester City Council).
What courses does Leicester College offer?
Construction from Level 1 to Level 5, including a multi-trade Level 1, trade specialisms, T Levels and apprenticeships (Leicester College).
Leicester jobs and projects
Council schemes go through tender and planning before trades are hired. Browse Leicester construction jobs and upcoming projects on building-jobs.co.uk, or go straight to labouring jobs in Leicester, bricklaying jobs in Leicester and plumbing jobs in Leicester.
Last verified 30 October 2026. Funding rules and contract timings change, so check with the college or the council before acting.
How we research these guides: sources, dates and corrections — read the method.