Standard Plan ahead Construction and the built environment

Construction: net zero units arrive and the craft standards keep moving

The route where new provision and defunding are happening at the same time.

Construction carries fifteen recorded changes. Three are new units approved in March 2026: Solar PV Installation and Maintenance and EV Charging Point Installation and Maintenance, both Level 3 at £950, and Permanent Modular Building Assembly at Level 2 for £3,200. Low Carbon Heating Technician at Level 3 moved to version 1.2 in May 2026 and remains the anchor programme for heat pump installation at £22,000 over 36 months.

Three foundation apprenticeships give an eight-month entry route at Level 2 and £4,000 each: Building Services Engineering, Onsite Trades and Finishing Trades.

On the craft standards, Craft Bricklayer moved to version 1.2, Craft Painter and Decorator to 1.2, Floorlayer Wood Based to 1.1 and Fire Safety Engineer to 1.2. Domestic Electrician at Level 3 had its funding band raised from £15,000 to £19,000, a substantial correction.

Against all of that, Facilities Management Supervisor at Level 3 is one of the sixteen standards losing funding from September 2026, removing a supervisory progression step from the route.

What follows: construction now has the most complete ladder of any route for net zero work — foundation apprenticeship, T-Level specialism in low carbon heating from September 2026, full technician standard, and short units for upskilling existing installers. The constraint is no longer qualification structure but employer placement capacity, which is untested at volume in this specialism.

Every changed standard on this route — 45

Kept current from the register, so it reflects today rather than when this was written.

L3 Low Carbon Heating TechnicianVersion 1.1 retired; 1.2 current
Open
L2 Permanent Modular Building Assembly (unit)Updated to version 1
Open
L3 EV Charging Point Installation and Maintenance (unit)Updated to version 1
Open
L3 Solar PV Installation and Maintenance (unit)Updated to version 1
Open
L2 Lightning Protection OperativeVersion 1.0 retired
Open
L6 Fire Safety EngineerVersion 1.1 retired
Open
L2 Floorlayer Wood BasedVersion 1.0 retired
Open
L3 Domestic ElectricianFunding band raised from £15,000 to £19,000
Open
L3 Craft BricklayerVersion 1.1 retired
Open
L3 Craft Painter and DecoratorVersion 1.1 retired
Open
L2 Insulation Installation OperativeUpdated to version 1
Open
L3 Construction Equipment Maintenance TechnicianVersion 1.0 retired
Open
L2 Building Services Engineering foundation apprenticeshipUpdated to version 1
Open
L2 Finishing Trades foundation apprenticeshipUpdated to version 1
Open
L2 Onsite Trades foundation apprenticeshipUpdated to version 1
Open
L2 SteeplejackUpdated to version 1
Open
L3 Craft PlastererUpdated to version 1
Open
L2 ThatcherUpdated to version 1
Open
L5 Heritage Construction SpecialistUpdated to version 1
Open
L2 Fitted Interiors InstallerUpdated to version 1
Open
L2 StonemasonVersion 1.1 retired; dispensation in place
Open
L3 Construction Support TechnicianUpdated to version 1
Open
L7 Chartered Landscape ProfessionalStatus changed from Retirement consultation to Approved
Open
L3 Fall Protection TechnicianUpdated to version 1
Open
L4 Town Planning AssistantUpdated to version 1
Open
L2 Mastic AsphalterUpdated to version 1
Open
L4 Land ReferencerStatus changed from Retirement consultation to Approved
Open
L2 PlastererUpdated to version 2.2
Open
L2 Supply Chain PractitionerLevel changed from 3 to 2
Open
L6 Construction Site SupervisorDuration changed from 36 to 48 months. Level changed from 4 to 6. Updated to version 1
Open
L4 Civil Engineering TechnicianLevel changed from 3 to 4
Open
L4 Construction Site SupervisorUpdated to version 1
Open
L6 Construction Site Management (degree)Duration changed from 60 to 36 months. Updated to version 1
Open
L6 Construction Site Management (degree)Duration changed from 60 to 36 months. Updated to version 1
Open
L3 Ambulance Support WorkerDuration changed from 12 to 36 months. Updated to version 1.3
Open
L2 BricklayerUpdated to version 1.2
Open
L2 Painter and DecoratorUpdated to version 1.3
Open
L2 Supply Chain Warehouse OperativeDuration changed from 12 to 18 months. Updated to version 1
Open
L2 ScaffolderDuration changed from 24 to 18 months. Updated to version 1.2
Open
L2 Carpentry and JoineryUpdated to version 1.4
Open
L3 BricklayerDuration changed from 24 to 36 months. Level changed from 2 to 3
Open
L3 Facilities Management SupervisorUpdated to version 1.2. Status changed from Defunded from Sept 2026 to Approved
Open
L3 Installation and Maintenance ElectricianDuration changed from 42 to 54 months
Open
L3 Pharmacy Services AssistantDuration changed from 12 to 36 months. Level changed from 2 to 3. Updated to version 1.3
Open
L3 Surveying TechnicianUpdated to version 1
Open
All articles Published 5 May 2026. Always check the source before acting on a compliance deadline.

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