What's being built in Manchester
- Red Bank, Victoria North. Developer FEC has appointed HG Construction on £225m of contracts for four buildings. NT02, with 316 homes over 34 storeys, was due to start straight away and finish by 2029. The three NT03 buildings (579 homes) are expected to start in early 2027, once Building Safety Regulator Gateway 2 approval comes through (Construction Enquirer).
- Fewer homes on site, a big pipeline. Deloitte's Manchester Crane Survey 2026 counted 8,023 homes under construction across Manchester and Salford city centres, the first time below 10,000 since 2016. The planning pipeline is 15,332 homes. It also logged a record 3,894 student bedspaces and 1,621 hotel rooms under way.
- Refits dominate offices. The same survey says refurbishment is 68% of Manchester's office pipeline, up from 30% a decade ago. Our read: dryliners, joiners, electricians and decorators should target refurbishment contractors, not just tower builders.
- The Town Hall restoration. Lendlease, the contractor on the Town Hall project, says it has created more than 100 apprenticeships there, many in specialist heritage and conservation skills (Lendlease).
When a contract like Red Bank is announced, groundworks, frame, drylining and M&E subcontractors usually recruit a few weeks later. Note the main contractor, then watch the hoardings for package names.
Where to sit the CITB test in Greater Manchester
| Centre (Pearson/CITB listing) | Postcode | Nearest station or stop |
|---|---|---|
| Pearson Professional Centres-UK Manchester, Universal Square | M12 6JH | Ardwick station, next to the site |
| Pearson Professional Centres-UK Stockport, Kingsgate | SK4 1LW | Stockport bus and rail stations, along the A6 |
| Pearson Professional Centres-UK Oldham, Whitney Court | OL4 1DB | Near the former Oldham Mumps station |
| Dynamis Enterprises Ltd (ITC), Exeter Close, Ardwick | M12 4AW | Not given |
Pearson's Manchester listing says there's no public parking at Universal Square, so use the train or the Hyde Road buses. The Dynamis row comes from CITB's Internet Test Centre map. For dates at any centre, search Pearson VUE's CITB finder or call CITB on 0344 994 4488 (CITB booking).
The Labourer card, step by step
CSCS doesn't run the training. It sends you to colleges, training providers or Jobcentre Plus for the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment (CSCS Labourer card). With that award in hand, pass the CITB Operatives test (£23.50, 50 questions, 45 minutes, 45 needed to pass) (CITB), then pay £36 in the My CSCS app (CSCS).
The first card runs for two years. CSCS also warns that skilled workers holding a Labourer card "will be refused site access", so if you have an NVQ, apply for the card that matches it (CSCS). Before paying for any "card package", read CSCS's warning about sites charging more than £36 (CSCS).
Free construction courses in Manchester
- GC Education and Skills, CSCS and Green Technologies. A fully funded 13-day course (9:30am to 3pm) at various sites across Greater Manchester, with monthly starts. It includes the Level 1 health and safety award, an introduction to retrofit, solar and wind, and leads to a two-year Labourer card if you pass the test. You must be 19+ and unemployed (GC Education and Skills).
- Skills Academies, Introduction to Construction. A free classroom course for Greater Manchester residents aged 19+ who are unemployed or on a low income, with three Level 1 qualifications, a funded CSCS card application and interviews with local employers (Skills Academies).
- The Manchester College, Openshaw campus. Twenty-five construction workshops on Ashton Old Road for plumbing, electrical, carpentry and joinery, brickwork, plastering and decorating. The college says Ashburys station and the Etihad Campus Metrolink stop are a 10-minute walk away (The Manchester College).
- UCEN Manchester runs higher-level construction and engineering courses for people aiming at supervisory or technical roles (UCEN Manchester).
Manchester construction apprenticeships
- PlanBEE Manchester. A two-year higher apprenticeship in design, construction and management, developed by Manchester City Council, Manchester Life, Ryder Architecture and Gateshead College. Apprentices rotate between employers on schemes including the Our Town Hall project, Ancoats and New Islington, and the page quotes a salary of about £24,500 from day one. You need A levels or an equivalent Level 3 (Gateshead College). Gateshead College says 98% of PlanBEE graduates have gone on to work for a sponsor company or elsewhere in construction (Gateshead College).
PlanBEE applications are closed for now. The college says applications for the September 2027 intake open at the end of 2026 (Gateshead College).
- Our Town Hall heritage trades. Lendlease's 100-plus Town Hall apprenticeships focus on conservation skills (Lendlease). Ask Manchester City Council and Lendlease about any remaining project roles.
- Trade apprenticeships. The Greater Manchester Apprenticeship and Careers Service lists local vacancies, and Find an apprenticeship covers the rest of England.
Getting hired with no experience
- Get the card first. A funded course is the quickest route if you're eligible.
- Line up two or three agencies. Bring a photo of your card, your right-to-work share code, two references and your own PPE, and say how far you'll travel.
- Ask how you'll be paid. CIS contractors deduct 20% from your pay, or 30% if you're not registered (GOV.UK), and self-employed workers get no holiday or sick pay (GOV.UK).
- Target named jobs. Check HG Construction's careers page and the subcontractors on the Red Bank hoardings.
- Use DWP's Find a Job (jobs.service.gov.uk) for smaller local firms.
Pay
For England, the National Careers Service puts construction labourers on £23,000 (starter) to £35,000 (experienced) a year, typically 40 to 44 hours a week (National Careers Service). We haven't found an official Manchester-only figure.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the CSCS test centre in Manchester?
Pearson Professional Centres-UK Manchester is in the Blue Zone of Universal Square, Devonshire Street North, M12 6JH. Pearson says Ardwick station is next to the site and there's no public parking (Pearson VUE). Stockport and Oldham are the next nearest Pearson centres.
Can I get a free CSCS card in Manchester?
If you're 19+ and unemployed, GC Education and Skills runs a fully funded 13-day course with monthly starts that leads to a two-year Labourer card once you pass the test (GC Education and Skills). Your Jobcentre work coach can tell you about other funded places.
What is PlanBEE Manchester?
It's a paid two-year higher apprenticeship in design, construction and management, backed by Manchester City Council and Manchester Life. Apprentices rotate between firms on city projects, including the Town Hall restoration. Applications for the September 2027 intake were due to open at the end of 2026 (Gateshead College).
Which trades are in demand in Manchester?
Deloitte found refurbishment makes up 68% of the city's office pipeline, alongside thousands of homes and student beds under construction (Deloitte). Our read: drylining, joinery, M&E and finishing trades are a good bet, plus groundworks and labouring on new-build towers.
How much does it cost to get a CSCS card in Manchester?
The card costs £36 in the My CSCS app (CSCS) and the CITB test is a separate £23.50. Funded courses in Greater Manchester can cover the Level 1 award, so check eligibility before paying anyone.
Track Manchester jobs and projects
Most of these schemes appear as planning approvals or contract awards before anyone advertises. building-jobs.co.uk tracks live construction jobs and upcoming projects in Manchester, with separate pages for labouring jobs in Manchester, dry-lining jobs in Manchester and electrical jobs in Manchester.
Researched 30 October 2026. Apprenticeship intakes and funded course rules in Greater Manchester change, so check with the provider before you apply or pay.
How we research these guides: sources, dates and corrections — read the method.