Council-led schemes in Oxford
- Mill Lane, Old Marston. Work began in March 2026 on 80 affordable homes (32 rent, 48 shared ownership), delivered by OX Place, the council's housing company, and built by Howarth Contractors. To suit the conservation area, they use light brick and stone facades, tiled roofs and timber weatherboarding, with a low-carbon, fabric-first design, new pedestrian and cycle links and a village green (Oxford City Council, March 2026).
- Blackbird Leys district centre. Peabody and construction partner the Hill Group broke ground on a new community centre in February 2026, after the former swimming pool was demolished. It's expected to be ready for interior fit-out by the end of summer 2027, with three large halls and office space. It's part of a wider regeneration bringing affordable homes, shops, green space and better roads and cycle routes (Oxford City Council, February 2026).
- Oxpens River Bridge, West End. The council appointed Jacksons Civil Engineering to build a pedestrian and cycle bridge between Oxpens Meadow and Grandpont Nature Park, a key part of the West End regeneration. In January 2026 the council expected work to start that spring (Oxford City Council, January 2026).
Our read: heritage-sensitive housing like Mill Lane rewards skilled bricklayers, roofers and carpenters, not just volume trades.
Where to take the CITB test near Oxford
| Venue | Postcode | Pearson's directions, in brief |
|---|---|---|
| Pearson Professional Centres-UK Oxford, top floor, 58 St Aldates | OX1 1ST | About 70m from the Police Station towards Folly Bridge; buzz number 1 |
| Safety Services (UK) Ltd (ITC), Hanborough Business Park, Long Hanborough | OX29 8LJ | Not given |
| Pearson Professional Centres-UK Reading, Greyfriars Gate | RG1 1NU | From Reading station via Station Hill, about 150m along Greyfriars Road |
| Pearson Professional Centres-UK Aylesbury, Midshires Business Park | HP19 8HL | Walk from the Fairford Leys village bus stop |
Safety Services (UK) is listed on CITB's ITC map. Reserve a slot through CITB itself, on 0344 994 4488 or via its website, rather than a reseller that charges extra, and arrive 15 minutes before the start with ID. Pearson VUE shows open dates.
Oxford green card route
CSCS sets out the labourer route (CSCS): hold the Level 1 health and safety award, then pass CITB's Operatives test, a £23.50, 50-question paper (CITB). The card costs £36 in the My CSCS app, and most applications are dealt with in about two days (CSCS).
Renewal after the first two years requires an employer declaration (CSCS). The card is a contractor requirement rather than a legal one (CSCS FAQs).
Courses in Oxford
- City of Oxford College (Activate Learning), The Leys. It offers a general construction multi-skills course plus bricklaying, carpentry, electrical installation and plumbing, with employer-led projects, industry placements and progression to an HNC in Construction Management (City of Oxford College).
- Government-funded Level 2. Unemployed adults, or those earning under £25,750, aged 19 and over can take a construction Level 2 without fees. Universal Credit claimants can often train full time for up to 16 weeks (GOV.UK).
Oxford apprenticeships
ODS (Oxford Direct Services), the council-owned company, says many of its apprenticeships have no minimum entry requirements, and lists benefits including bus travel subsistence and 29 days' leave a year (ODS).
ODS says its 2026 apprenticeship recruitment has closed and applicants should come back in May 2027 (ODS).
For other employers, filter the national apprenticeship search by Oxfordshire. If you're 16 to 21 with no experience, the foundation apprenticeship is built for you (apprenticeships.gov.uk).
With no experience
- Get the Level 1 award and card, asking Jobcentre Plus whether it can fund the course.
- Note May 2027 for ODS in your diary.
- Ask Howarth, the Hill Group and Jacksons which subcontractors are hiring labourers.
- Join agencies along the A34 and M40, and ask if the work is PAYE or CIS. CIS takes 20% at source, or 30% if you haven't registered (GOV.UK).
- Browse Find a Job for Oxford maintenance firms.
Getting to Oxford sites
Mill Lane is in Old Marston, north-east of the centre. Blackbird Leys is to the south-east, and Oxpens is in the West End. Plan how you'll get there for a 7:30am start before saying yes.
Pay
Oxford has no official labourer rate that we could find. The National Careers Service range for England is £23,000 to £35,000 a year. If you go self-employed, holiday pay doesn't apply (GOV.UK).
Frequently asked questions
Where in Oxford do I sit the CITB test?
Pearson's Oxford centre is on the top floor of 58 St Aldates, OX1 1ST, about 70 metres from the Police Station towards Folly Bridge. Buzz number 1 at the door (Pearson VUE).
When do ODS apprenticeships open?
ODS says 2026 recruitment has closed and to come back in May 2027, and that many of its apprenticeships have no minimum entry requirements (ODS).
Does City of Oxford College teach construction?
Yes. At The Leys it runs multi-skills and trade courses in bricklaying, carpentry, electrical installation and plumbing, with routes to an HNC (City of Oxford College).
Who is building the Mill Lane homes?
Howarth Contractors, for OX Place, the city council's housing company (Oxford City Council).
Oxford jobs and projects
Council schemes go through planning before contractors hire. building-jobs.co.uk has Oxford's live jobs and upcoming projects, plus labouring jobs in Oxford, bricklaying jobs in Oxford and plumbing jobs in Oxford.
Information checked 30 October 2026. Recruitment windows move, so confirm with ODS or the college first.
How we research these guides: sources, dates and corrections — read the method.